Directorate-General for Health & Consumers

1. Directorate-General forHealth & Consumers EU Requirements of a Border Inspection Post Michael Glavin Unit D3

2. In order to enter the EU, live animals and products of animal origin must: • comply with specific health condition • be subject on arrival to veterinary checks at the external frontiers of the Community at BIPs • BIPs must be approved and listed by Commission services • Prior inspection by FVO required before listing

3. EU Border Controls - Imports • 27 Member States – 295 BIPs

4. Requirements for the approval of BIPs: Legal basis: • For products of animal origin: Art. 6 and Annex II to Council Directive 97/78/EC and Commission Decision 2001/812/EC • For live animals: Art. 6 and Annex A to Council Directive 91/496/EEC

5. Requirements for the approval of BIPs: “All BIPs in order to be approved and to maintain approval must provide the facilities, personnel, equipment, and operate the procedures in the post, as specified in Community legislation.” “The facilities in approved BIPs must be constructed, equipped, maintained and operated in line with the requirements set down in relevant Community legislation.”

6. ‚ Infrastructure • Facilities for checks to be performed: unloading, inspection , storage ƒ  Equipment Situation Social facilities • • Office for administration • Materials for taking samples, seals etc … Located in the immediate vicinity of • « ANIMO/TRACES system» the point of entry in customs designated area „ Personnel … • adequate in number Documentation and records • placed under the responsibility of the • EU Legislation official veterinarian • Records of consignments accepted and rejected • assisted by specially trained • Records of analyses carried out auxiliary staff (o.vet. takes decisions) Requirements for the approval of BIPs: Commission Decision 2001/812 /EC Conditions for the approval of BIPS

7. Requirements for the approval of BIPs:Situation • Location in the immediate vicinity of the point of entry of the territories listed in Annex I to 97/78/EC and in a designated customs area in accordance to Art 38 (1)(a,b) of Regulation (EEC) No 2913/92. The facilities should constitute one complete working unit. • Be placed under the authority of an official veterinarian who must be responsible and present during checks • Be inspected by the Commission in collaboration with the competent authority of the MS

8. Requirements for the approval of BIPs: Infrastructure • Identity, physical and laboratory checks must be carried out at the inspection facility in a way to avoid cross contamination of the products, taking also into account the temperature controlled conditions under which the products are transported. • For unpacked HC-products all checks must be carried out under shelter from the weather and provision shall be made for the hygienic handling and protection during unloading and loading.

9. Requirements for the approval of BIPs: Infrastructure for products • Construction must provide an adequate degree of hygiene and avoid cross contamination • In unloading, inspection or storage rooms must have • Smooth washable surfaces of walls • Clean and easily cleaned ceiling • Adequate natural and artificial lighting • Adequate hot and cold water supply in all inspection rooms

10. Requirements for the approval of BIPs : Minimum infrastructure for products • Office and archive • Social rooms (changing room, toilets, hand washingbasins) • Unloading area enclosed or covered by roof • Inspection room for veterinary checks including sampling • Storage rooms or areas for detained consignments (each separate at ambient, chilled and frozen temperature) • HC and NHC-products should be handled in separate unloading areas, inspection rooms and storage facilities • Room or secure place for means of cleansing and disinfection 8. The services of a specialised laboratory able to carry out special analyses on the samples taken at the BIP 9. The services of plants (rendering plant and incineration plant) nearest to the BIP for the destruction of rejected at the BIP consignments in the context of Regulation (EC) No 1774/2002

11. Requirements for the approval of BIPs : Minimum infrastructure for live animals • Dedicated access lane to avoid waiting • Unloading facilities • Inspection facilities • Housing (for feeding, watering and treatment) • Adequate space, lighting and ventilation for the number of animals to be inspected • Facilities must be easy to clean and disinfect • Sufficiently large premises for the staff carrying out veterinary checks i.e. office including changing room, showers and toilets • Facilities for taking and processing the samples for the routine checks • The services of a specialised laboratory to carry out the special tests on the samples taken • The services of an undertaking in the immediate vicinity which has the facilities and equipment to house, feed, water, treat and if necessary slaughter the animals • Facilities and equipment for cleaning and disinfecting • Sufficient number of veterinary and auxiliary staff (continue)

12. Requirements for the approval of BIPs : Minimum infrastructure for live animals 13. Equipment for rapid exchange of information with other BIPs and veterinary authorities 14. If the BIP serve as stopping or transfer point for animals during transport, suitable facilities for unloading, watering, feeding, proper housing also for treatment or if it is necessary facilities for slaughtering on the spot to avoid unnecessary suffering 15. For quarantine centres all the above are necessary except 1, 9, 12, 14. In addition must: - be placed under permanent control and responsibility by the official veterinarian - be located at a distance from holdings or other places where animals are kept which are likely to be infected by contagious diseases - have an efficient control system so as to ensure adequate surveillance of the animals

13. Requirements for the approval of BIPs : Equipment for products Administrative equipment: Telephone, Fax, ANIMO/TRACES system terminal (computer), photocopier Technical equipment (minimum): 1. To weigh consignments (e.g. weighbridge) 2. To open and examine consignments 3. To clean and disinfect (adequately stored) or effective and documented system for cleaning/disinfecting by an external agent 4. Refrigerating equipment for the controlled environment rooms (continue)

14. Requirements for the approval of BIPs:Equipment for products 5. In inspection rooms: • Table with smooth washable surfaces easy to clean and disinfect • Sampling equipment (saw, knife, tin opener, means of sampling and containers for samples) • Sealing tape and numbered seals or clearly marked labels to ensure traceability • A thermometer for surface and also core temperature, weighing scales and for fresh products a pH meter • Thawing equipment or micro wave oven • Facilities for storage of samples (e.g. fridge/freezer) and suitable containers for transport of samples ( e.g. box isolated from external influences for keeping temperature as required)

15. Requirements for the approval of BIPs:Equipment for live animals • Administrative equipment: Telephone, Fax, ANIMO/TRACES system terminal (computer), photocopier • Technical equipment: -Sampling containers -Means of restraint -Crush, catching equipment -Sedatives -Scissors, pincers -Emergency slaughter (euthanasia, captive bolt, knife) -Stainless steel table -Microscope -Stethoscope -Thermometer -Fridge/deep freezer -Numbered seals

16. Requirements for the approval of ICs: A BIP may be split into different inspection centres, these shall • Be located within the same customs designated area or district as the BIP under which the IC is listed; • Be located within a reasonable working distance from the designated central office of the BIP and be demonstrably under the control of the official veterinarian; • Keep a specific record of the consignments examined at the IC; • Facilities should be appropriate to the volume and type of various products passing through the IC.

17. Requirements for the approval of ICs: Inspection centres do not have to provide: • Archiving facilities • TRACES-terminal • Photocopier Inspection centres have to provide: • Veterinary check legislation and documentation relevant and necessary for the veterinary checks carried out in the IC

18. Requirements for the approval of BIPs:Personnel • The BIP is placed under the authority and responsibility of an official veterinarian who may be assisted by specially trained auxiliary staff • The official veterinarian shall ensure that all updating of the databases is done for all consignments introduced in the EU • The BIP staff must be sufficient in number and trained to carry out the documentary, identity and physical checks including sampling for laboratory checks. Records of training must be kept

19. Requirements for the approval of BIPs: Documentation At the designated central office must be at least: • Up-to-date list of third countries or parts of them authorised to send products to the Community or to certain Member States • Copies of Decisions specifying the model public/animal health certificate for the respective product or any other accompanying document • Up-to-date list of establishments in third countries authorised to dispatch products to the Community or nationally approved in case of non-harmonised products • Copies of safeguard Decisions prohibiting imports to the Community (continue)

20. Requirements for the approval of BIPs: Documentation • Up-to-date list of approved BIPs with all details (e.g. phone, fax etc) • Current list of free zones, free warehouses, customs warehouses approved under Art 12.4 and of ship suppliers under Art. 13 of Directive 97/78/EC, in all Member States • Up-to-date list of establishments approved for the receipt of channelled products (e.g. processed animal protein) in the Member State under Art. 8.6 of Directive 97/78/EC • Up-to-date relevant EC legislation relating to products and procedures covered by veterinary checks

21. Requirements for the approval of BIPs: Records • Up-to-date information for refused and re-dispatched consignments from the EU territory; each MS shall communicate this to the other MS and the Commission; each CCA shall communicate this to each BIP • Register for all consignments introduced in the BIP in accordance to Commission Decision 97/394/EC for the minimum data for all animals and animal products in computerised format • Register for re-dispatched from the BIP according to Commission Decision 97/152/EC in computerised format. Also for destroyed or transformed for other than human consumption use. Also for deadlines for action by the official veterinarian for rejected (60 days), sent in transit (30 days) or channelled (15 days) where follow up action is required. (continue)

22. Requirements for the approval of BIPs: Records • Register for all samples for laboratory tests indicating the kind of laboratory test and the result of the test • Register on the reduced frequency of physical checks according to Commission Decision 94/360/EC, if necessary in computerised format • Records of checks for kitchen waste from international means of transport • Records of regular checks at the free zones, free warehouses, customs warehouses and ship suppliers • Records for the training carried out for the BIP staff in relation to veterinary checks

23. Requirements for the approval of BIPs:Co-operation • Close co-operation is necessary between the various services involved in consignments coming from third countries and in particular with the Customs services for gathering information and for that also access to their databases is foreseen • Co-operation amongst customs, port/airport/rail/road authorities is necessary to ensure a proper overview of consignments arriving, transiting or transhipping in the relevant areas of the BIP

24. Proper job carried out at the BIP is beneficial to all involved parties and consumers

25. LEGAL REFERENCES • Council Directive 97/78/EC of 18 December 1997 laying down the principles governing the organisation of veterinary checks on products entering the Community from third countries - OJ L 24, 30.01.1998, p 9 • Council Directive 91/496/EEC of 15 July 1991 laying down the principles governing the organisation of veterinary checks on animals entering the Community from third countries and amending Directives 89/662/EEC, 90/425/EEC and 90/675/EEC - OJ L 268, 24.09.1991, p 56 • Commission Decision 2001/812/EC of 21 November 2001 laying down the requirements for the approval of border inspection posts responsible for veterinary checks on products introduced into the Community from third countries – OJ L 306, 23.11.2001, p 28 • Commission Decision 2001/881/EC of 07 December 2001 drawing up a list of border inspection posts agreed for veterinary checks on animals and animal products from third countries and updating the detailed rules concerning the checks to be carried out by the experts of the Commission - OJ L 326, 11.12.2001, p 44 • Commission Decision 2004/292/EC of 30 March 2004 on the introduction of the Traces system and amending Decision 92/486/EEC – OJ L 94, 31.03.2004, p 63 • Commission Decision 97/394/EC of 06.06.1997 establishing the minimum data required for the databases on animals and animal products brought into the Community - OJ L 164, 21.06.1997, p 42 • Commission Decision 97/152/EC of 10 February 1997 concerning the information to be entered in the computerised file of consignments of animals or animal products from third countries which are re-dispatched - OJ L 59, 28.02.1997, p 50 • Commission Decision 97/794/EC of 12 November 1997 laying down certain detailed rules for the application of Council Directive 91/496/EEC as regards veterinary checks on live animals to be imported from third countries – OJ L 323, 26.11.1997, p 31 • Commission Decision 94/360/EC of 20 May 1994 on the reduced frequency of physical checks of consignments of certain products to be implemented from third countries – OJ L 158, 25.06.1994, p 41 • Regulation (EC) No. 1774/2002 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 3 October 2002 laying down health rules concerning animal by-products not intended for human consumption – OJ L 273, 10.10.2002, p 1