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Health and Consumers Directorate-General (DG SANCO). Unit D1, Animal Health and Standing Committees HOWARD BATHO HEAD OF THE IMPORT AND OIE SECTOR . Imports of animals and animal products from third countries into the EU – VETERINARY SERVICES AND BIPS.
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Health and Consumers Directorate-General(DG SANCO) Unit D1, Animal Health and Standing Committees HOWARD BATHO HEAD OF THE IMPORT AND OIE SECTOR
Imports of animals and animal products from third countries into the EU – VETERINARY SERVICES AND BIPS
The EU is the largest importer of agricultural products in the world!
The European Union: 27 Member States 500 million consumers
Institutional Triangle: Decision Makers Council of the EU European Parliament Financial control Interpretation of law European Court of Auditors European Commission European Court of Justice Advisory Committees Economic & Social Committee Committee of the Regions
01/12/2007 Principal Adviser Director General Robert Madelin 01 Audit and evaluation 03 Science & Stakeholder relations SANCO structure 02 Strategy and analysis Deputy Director General with special responsibility for Directorates D, E, F and Scientific Matters P. Testori Coggi 04 Veterinary control programmes C Public Health & Risk assessment A General Affairs B Consumer Affairs Principal Adviser D Animal Health & Welfare E Safety of the Food Chain F Food & Veterinary Office D1 E1 F1 Biotechnology and Plant health Country profiles, coordination of follow-up Co-ordination & institutional relations Policy analysis & development; relations with consumer organisations; international relations Programme management Animal Health and Standing Committees Health Information D2 E2 F2 Hygiene & Control measures Food of animal origin: mammals Legal affairs Animal Welfare and Feed Unfair commercial practices & other consumer protection legislation Health threats F3 Food of animal origin: birds and fish Financial resources and controls Product and service safety D3 E3 Chemicals, contaminants, pesticides International questions (multilateral) Health determinants F4 Food of plant origin Information: systems and publications Protection of legal, economic and other consumer interests D4 E4 Food Law, nutrition and labelling International questions (bilateral) Health strategy F5 Animal nutrition import controls, residues Human resources Enforcement and consumer redress Health measures F6 Quality, planning and development Administrative Affairs Grange Risk assessment
Objective of EU health legislation • To ensure a high level of safety in relation to public, animal and plant health in the EU • To ensure that trade and imports in animals and their products can take place in safe conditions
Conditions relating to imports are equivalent to those for domestic producers • Food must conform to our standards, irrespective of its origins
The international context of EU legislation • It follows WTO rules and its SPS (Sanitary and Phytosanitary) Agreement which follows OIE & CODEX standards • It is scientifically based: the European Food Safety Authority (in Parma, Italy) gives scientific advice to the Commission and to Member States
Yes, we do have high food safety standards • Need them to prevent introduction of animal and plant diseases • Serious consumer concern about food safety issues • Enable trade within the EU and with Third Countries • Result – high standards but equivalent for internal trade and imports
General principle Animal products or live animals should only be authorised for entry into the Community if there is no potential risk to animal or public health relating to: origin • product animal
Risk assessment • Origin • Country • Establishment • Product • Type: beef offal, sheep meat… • Treatment: temperature, pH, deboned… • Purpose: human consumption, feed… • Animal • Species • Disease
Implementing legislation - Import requirements • Origin • Animal health status • Animal health legislation • Structure and powers of veterinary services • Product • Certificate • Animal (transport, clinical exam, slaughter…) • Treatment (temperature, deboned…) • Animal • Certificate • Quarantine • Testing
Controls at EU border In order to enter the EU, live animals and products of animal origin must be subjected on arrival to veterinary checks at the external frontiers of the Community at border inspection posts (BIPs) • BIPs must be approved and listed by Commission services for different commodities, including animals • Advance warning of the import must be given to the authorities responsible for the BIP • Dedicated line for animals • Documentary, identity, physical check are carried out in the BIP (Commission Decision 94/360/EC) • TRACES
The control chain • Import legislation: • Origin • Product Enforcement Third country BIP European Community • Controls on intracommunity trade • animal identification • animal by-products and waste Community-wide measures and controls • disease prevention • bio-security On-farm measures and controls
The legislative framework Animal Health Directive 2002/99/EC Public health Regulations (EC) No 852/2004, 853/2004 and 854/2004 (Hygiene package) Legal basis Implementing Legislation Import requirements (list of third countries/certificates/etc) Veterinary checks: Directives 97/78/EC and 91/496/EEC and official controls: Regulation (EC) No 882/2004 (Feed and Food) Enforcement legislation
COUNCIL DIRECTIVE 2002/99/EC laying down the animal health rules governing the production, processing, distribution and introduction of products of animal origin for human consumption (OJ No. L 18, 23.1.2003, p. 11)
COMMISSION DECISION (2005/93/EC) as regards transitional provisions concerning the introduction and the storage period for consignments of certain products of animal origin in customs warehouses in the Community
COMMISSION DECISION 2005/92/EC as regards animal health conditions, certification and transitional provisions concerning the introduction and storage period for consignments of certain products of animal origin in free zones, free warehouses and premises of operators supplying cross border means of sea transport in the Community
Personal and illegal imports • Council Regulation (EC) No 745/2004 • Lays down permanent rules preventing personal consignments of meat and milk from entering the EU • Awareness to Passengers • Enforcement • Information on the results of the enforcement of this regulation must be sent by MSs to the Commission every year (before 1 March).
INTERNATIONAL CATERING WASTE • What happens to it? • Incinerated or deep buried • Are you sure? • Check it!! ONE OF THE KEY CRITICAL POINTS
Conclusion • EU legislation is not an obstacle to trade, it is essential to trade • Follows WTO/SPS international guides • No point in having good conditions for imports if no veterinary control at BIP. • Not possible to have a zero risk! • Don’t forget catering waste NOT for pig feed.
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