This Website provides you with information on;

• New EU control and food hygiene rules – food hygiene package 
  The first of January 2006 marks a significant milestone for food safety in the EU, with the entry into application of a large updated body of food and feed legislation. The Food “Hygiene Package”, the Regulation on microbiological criteria for  foodstuffs, the Regulation on official feed and food controls and the Feed Hygiene Regulation, constitute a complementary set of rules to tighten and harmonise EU food safety measures.

• Interesting tables, explanations and all the relevant legislation
  Vetimpleg is more than just a collection of documents!
  It is a completely up to date, simple menu based or product search developed  menu system, which allows you, in a few comfortable steps, to obtain the required  information. Not only in a consolidated version but also in a version that combines all the relevant legislation and includes all the tables, lists and certificates! 

• General elements for all animals and (live) animal products (horizontal legislation)
  For nearly all (live) products of animal origin and live animals, countries of origin must be on a positive list of eligible countries for the relevant product or animal. The eligibility criteria are:
  • Exporting countries must have a competent veterinary authority which is responsible throughout the food chain. The Authorities must be empowered, structured and resourced to implement effective inspection and guarantee credible certification of the relevant veterinary and general hygiene conditions.
    The country or region of origin must fulfil the relevant animal health standards. This implies that the country should be a member of the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) and should meet that organisation’s standards and reporting obligations. Adequate veterinary services must ensure effective enforcement of all necessary health controls.
  • The national authorities must also guarantee that the relevant hygiene and public health requirements are met. The legislation contains specific requirements on the structure of establishments, equipment and operational processes for (live) products of animal origin. These provisions are aimed at ensuring high standards and at preventing any contamination of the product during processing.
  • A monitoring system must be in place to verify compliance with EU requirements on residues of veterinary medicines, pesticides and contaminants.
    A suitable monitoring programme must be designed by the competent authority and submitted to the European Commission for initial approval and yearly renewal.
  • Imports are for certain areas only authorised from approved or registered establishments which have been inspected by the competent authority of the exporting country and found to meet EU requirements. The authority provides the necessary guarantees and is obliged to carry out regular inspections
  • For certain categories of (live) products of animal origin or live animals special requirements are in force.
  • An inspection by the Commission’s Food and Veterinary Office is almost always necessary to confirm compliance with the above requirements. Such an inspection mission is the basis of establishing confidence between the EU Commission and the competent authority of the exporting country.
  • Imports of (live) products of animal origin and live animals must enter the EU via an approved Border Inspection Post of the EU under the authority of an official veterinarian. Each consignment is subject to a systematic documentary check, identity check and, as appropriate, a physical check. The frequency of physical checks for products of animal origin depends on the risk profile of the product and also on the results of previous checks.

• Specific rules for products of animal origin and live animals (vertical legislation)
  Imports of (live) products of animal origin and live animals into the European Union are subject to veterinary certification – which is based on the recognition of the competent authority of the non-EU country by the Directorate-General for Health and Consumer Protection. The general health requirements applicable to the imports of animals are laid down in a number of Council Directives.
  In addition to the general health requirements, specific requirements for individual animals and (live)products of animal origin  are also required which take into account such issues as the evolving disease and hygiene situation in exporting countries that may pose a risk to animal or public  health in the EU.
  These requirements are set out in many different specific Decisions of the European Commission.

• Information on new developments
  The Hygiene Package and Official Food and Feed Controls Regulation will be completed with a series of implementing, transitional and specific rules.The coming months/years new Commission regulations and Commission Decisions will appear for futher specification and to bring in line all the import requirements with the new package of legislation.
  The Animal By-products Regulation will probably be replaced by a new Regulation and further harmonization of the requirements for imports into the EU of live products is to be expected.  Animal welfare rules and animal health requirements for live animals will be amended the coming years.

• Agreements between the European Community and certain third countries
  The objective of  Agreements between the European Community and third countries is to facilitate  trade in live animals and animal products by establishing a mechanism for the recognition of equivalence of sanitary measures maintained by the two Parties consistent with the protection of public and animal health, and  to improve communication and cooperation on sanitary measures.