Annexes to COM(1996)170-1 - Principles governing the organization of veterinary checks on products entering the EC from third countries - Main contents
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| dossier | COM(1996)170-1 - Principles governing the organization of veterinary checks on products entering the EC from third countries. |
|---|---|
| document | COM(1996)170  |
| date | December 18, 1997 |
TERRITORIES LISTED IN ARTICLE 1
1. The territory of the Kingdom of Belgium.
2. The territory of the Kingdom of Denmark with the exception of the Faroe Islands and Greenland.
3. The territory of the Federal Republic Germany.
4. The territory of the Kingdom of Spain with the exception of Ceuta and Melilla.
5. The territory of the Hellenic Republic.
6. The territory of the French Republic.
7. The territory of Ireland.
8. The territory of the Italian Republic.
9. The territory of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg.
10. The territory of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Europe.
11. The territory of the Portuguese Republic.
12. The territory of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
13. The territory of the Republic of Austria.
14. The territory of the Republic of Finland.
15. The territory of the Kingdom of Sweden.
ANNEX II
APPROVED REQUIREMENTS FOR BORDER INSPECTION POSTS
In order to obtain Community approval, border inspection posts must have:
- the staff necessary to check the documents (public health and animal health certificates or any other document laid down by Community legislation) accompanying the products,
- sufficient numbers, in relation to the quantity of products dealt with by the border inspection post, of veterinary and auxiliary staff specially trained to carry out checks that products correspond to the accompanying documents and systematic physical checks of each product consignment,
- sufficient staff to take and process random samples of product consignments presented at a given border inspection post,
- sufficiently large premises available to the staff responsible for carrying out veterinary checks,
- appropriate hygienic premises and facilities for carrying out routine analyses and taking samples in accordance with this Directive,
- appropriate hygienic premises and facilities for taking and processing the samples for the routine checks laid down in Community rules (microbiological standards),
- the services of a specialised laboratory able to carry out special analyses on the samples taken at that post,
- premises and cold stores for the storage of part-consignments taken for analysis and products whose release for free circulation has not been authorised by the veterinary officer responsible for the border inspection post,
- appropriate equipment for the rapid exchange of information, in particular with other border inspection posts (through the computerised system provided for in Article 20 of Directive 90/425/EEC or the Shift project),
- the services of an establishment qualified to carry out the treatment provided for in Directive 90/667/EEC.
ANNEX III
PHYSICAL CHECK OF THE PRODUCTS
The aim of the physical check of the animal products is to ensure that the products still meet the purpose mentioned on the veterinary certificate or document: the guarantees of origin certified by the third country must accordingly be verified while ensuring that the subsequent transport of the product has not altered the original guaranteed condition, by means of:
(a) sensory examinations: smell, colour, consistency, taste;
(b) simple physical or chemical tests: cutting, thawing, cooking;
(c) laboratory tests to detect:
residues,
pathogens,
contaminants,
evidence of alteration.
Whatever the type of product, the following must be carried out:
(a) a check on the conditions and means of transport to identify in particular any shortcomings or breaks in the cold chain;
(b) the real weight of the consignment and that indicated on the veterinary certificate or document must be compared, and the whole consignment weighed where necessary;
(c) the wrapping materials and all markings (stamps, lavels) thereon must be checked to ensure their conformity with Community legislation;
(d) the temperature required by Community legislation must be checked to ensure compliance during transport;
(e) en entire set of packages, or samples in the case of bulk products must be examined before undergoing sensory examination and physical, chemical and laboratory tests.
The tests must be carried out on a whole range of samples drawn from the entire consignment, which may be partially unloaded where necessary to ensure that all parts of it are reached.
The examination must cover 1 % of the items or packages in a consignment, from a minimum of two items/packages to a maximum of ten.
However, depending on the products and the circumstances, the veterinary authorities may insist on more extensive checks.
In the case of bulk goods, at least five samples must be taken from various parts of the consignment;
(f) where random laboratory tests are undertaken which cannot provide immediate results, and there is no immediate danger to public or animal health, the consignment may be released.
However, where the laboratory tests have been carried out because of a suspicion of irregularity or previous tests have given positive results, the consignments may not be released until the test results are negative;
(g) the means of transport must be fully unloaded only in the following cases:
- loading was done in such a way as to make access to the entire consignment impossible by partial unloading alone,
- sample checks have revealed irregularities,
- the previous consignment has shown irregularities,
- the official veterinarian suspects irregularities;
(h) once the physical check has been completed, the competent authority must certify the check by closing and officially stamping all the opened packages and by resealing all the containers, the number of the seal being then entered on the border transit document.
ANNEX IV
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