Course on Veterinary Checks in portal BIPs Hamburg, 02 – 05 May 2011 Patricia Langhammer, DG SANCO, Unit G 6

Responsibilities for import control legislation European Commission Directorate-General for Health & Consumers Unit G6 – International Questions – EU Border Import Controls Section Head of Unit: Ella Strickland Lead officials: Michael Glavin & Patricia Langhammer

A training initiative of the European Commission Directorate-General for Health and Consumers for EU and third country officials who undertake controls on food safety and veterinary issues. Legal basis: Article 51 of Regulation (EC) No 882/2004

What is BTSF ?

Areas covered: Food law Feed law Animal health rules Animal welfare rules Plant health rules

General objectives: High levels of competence and awareness of EU rules amongst official control staff Ensure more uniform, objective and efficient controls throughout the EU High levels of consumer protection, animal health and welfare and plant health Level playing field for food businesses Enhance trade of safe food

Third country specific aims: Help third countries to better understand and meet EU standards Reduce rejections at EU borders and the burden on EU border inspectors Ensure fair trade with third, particularly developing countries Safer food for third country consumers and a more diverse product range in the EU

BTSF in figures from 2006 to 2010 in general: Around 520 events More than participants Budget of approx. € 54 million Approx one third of this global activity covers third countries. BTSF in figures for 2011: around 130 events ´26 different thematic areas, approximately participants, approx. € 14 million

1.HACCP 2.Animal by Products 3.Animal Welfare 4.BIPs Airport 5.BIPs seaport/roads/rail 6.Zoonoses/microbiological criteria 7.Food Hygiene and Control 8.Food Contact Materials 9.Plant Protection Products 10.Plant Health Control 11.TSE 12.Food/feed of non-animal origin Programmes launched up to present day + EU-third countries 13.Feed law 14.Animal Health Controls (Aquaculture) 15.Animal Health Controls (bees/zoo animals) 16.TRACES for EU Member States 17.Quality schemes 18.Audit systems 19.Support for EU controls 20.EU food standards 21.Avian Influenza 22.Food Testing/SPS issues 23.GMO analysis 24.RASFF and TRACES

New EU programmes Support for EU controls Internal auditing Organic farming/geographical indications TRACES in Member States E-learning : Pilot phase (first 5 modules)

Border Inspection Posts with 1 course in an airport and 1 in a port (AT + UK) 2007 with 3 courses in an airports and 3 in a ports (AT + IT) 2008 expanded to cover also road/rail BIPs with 2 courses (LT), 2 airport courses (AT) and 2 portal courses (NL) 2009/2010 with 1 course in an airport (AT), 2 road/rail courses (PL) and 5 portal courses (UK) Conclusions: practical approach proved successful concept, improved harmonised application of veterinary checks and general performance of BIPs and CAs, enhanced awareness for detection of fraud, BTSF decided to relaunch courses for BIPs

Border Inspection Posts – 2011/ day workshops in seaports (DE) 2 3-day in road/rail BIP (PL) 3 3-day in airport (UK) 40 participants per workshop mixture between plenary sessions and practical workshops with practical exercises in BIPs Main subjects: EU legislation, live animals/products of animal/non-animal origin, FVO findings in BIPs, TRACES, import/transit control, information exchange, co-operation with customs, discussion of common problems – e.g. poor certification, composite products

Import/transit control legislation Unit G 6 Import Control Section responsible for: Veterinary checks legislation Directives 91/496/EEC and 97/78/EC Approval of Border Inspection Posts (BIPs) Decision 2009/821/EC

Review of import/transit control legislation Started with a questionnaire to MS in 2007 Memorandum with Conclusions agreed by the Agricultural Council in December 2008 Report of the Commission on the effectiveness of import controls on all goods of SANCO responsibilitiespresented to the Agricultural Council and the EP in December 2010

Review: what we have done so far Launch of a website for border controls Guidance documents agreed with MS in Working Group sessions and adopted by the Standing Committee for the Food Chain and Animal Health: –CITES –Certification for import of fishery products –General Guidance for transit and transhipment Enhanced co-operation with DG TAXUD and involvement in the Single Window Project

Who knows our website ? The EC Health and Consumer DG has published a website for veterinary border controls

Review: what has been decided System based on Directives 91/496/EEC and 97/78/EC has proved to work well Organisation and functioning of BIPs will remain Introduction of more risk based physical checks Consolidation of an integrated approach to official controls Simplification of the legal framework Clarification and coherence of the legislation involved

Review: what has been decided Revision of Regulation (EC) No 882/2004 –In application since 2006 –Commission Report of 2009 concluded: A solid and innovative system on an integrated and horizontal approach is in place –However, experience (MS CAs, FVO) has showed that adjustments are necessary in a number of areas

Review: what has been decided Integration of general principles of import controls on live animals, animal products, plant products and seeds in the framework of the official control Regulation (EC) No 882/2004 Integration of general principles regarding residue controls in Regulation (EC) No 882/2004 and repeal Directive 96/23/EC Review of requirements for inspection fees Alignment of Regulation (EC) No 882/2004 with the review of the Animal Health Law, the Plant Health Law and the Modernised Customs Code

Inspection Fees OC on residues of vet med Veterinary border controls AH related controls AH related controls PH related controls PH related controls Seeds&PM related controls Seeds&PM related controls Recast Review of Reg. (EC) No 882/2004 (Single proposal) Review of Reg. (EC) No 882/2004 (Single proposal)

General principle for imports/transits Animal products and live animals should only be authorised for entry into the EU if there is no potential risk to animal or public health relating to origin animal product

Risk criteria considered for imports Origin Country Establishment Residue control Animal Species Disease Product Type: beef offal, sheep meat… Treatment: temperature, pH, deboned… Purpose: human consumption, feed…

Import/transit requirements will remain Origin Animal + public health status + legislation Structure and power of veterinary services Results of FVO missions Animal Certificate Quarantine Testing Product Certificate Animal (transport, clinical exam, slaughter…) Treatment (temperature, deboned…..)

Review: what will change Repeal of Directives 91/496/EEC and 97/78/EC Detailed requirements will be laid down in secondary legislation based on Regulation (EC) No 882/2004 Development of a more risk based approach to physical checks at EU borders taking account of: –RASFF data and Article 20/24 data – re-enforced checks –Results of FVO reports –Laboratory results national monitoring plans for border controls –Known scientific data (EFSA) –Safeguard Decisions and Safeguard Cell data Use of TRACES for data mining to identify risky consignments for physical checks

Review: what needs to be addressed Further problematic areas to be addressed –Re-enforced checks – a Guidance Document and the integration in TRACES is in preparation –Re-import of live EU animals rejected at the border –Certification issues –Implementation of pre-notification –Channelled, split consignments, rejections, re- imports

Review: what we continue Enhance harmonised import controls in all MS and BIPs – to avoid “BIP shopping” Regular missions of the Food and Veterinary Office – performance of CAs Regular working group meetings to tackle problematic issues and to develop guidance or new legislation BTSF - programme

Review: challenges Co-ordination With other Directorate Generals, TAXUD Within the different Units in SANCO Internal and external Task Forces and Working Groups Consultation MS CAs (Heads of Food Agencies, CVOs, COPHs) Commission to present a proposalto the Council and the Parliament by spring 2012

Thank you for your attention !