Foodlaw-Reading
Dr David Jukes, The University of Reading, UK
|
|
Commission Audits News, 12 April 2019
 |
Overview report: Safety of Imported Food - How EU Member States Apply Special Import Controls A copy of this report is available on this site (click on image). |
How safe is the food we import? How do we identify risks? How are these risks mitigated? Certain types of food and feed, or in some cases, certain producers or exporting countries, may be more likely to pose specific risks to human or animal health and, as such, are subject to special import conditions. This report explains the mechanisms the EU has put in place to safeguard public and animal health in such cases and how Member States are implementing these special checks.
Fifteen audits took place over a two-year period in twelve Member States. Whilst the overall evaluation is quite positive, a number of recommendations were made to further strengthen the checks being carried out, and this has resulted in a more robust import control system in the EU.
The lessons learned from these audits will inform the discussions the Commission is currently having with the Member States on the development of the new framework for import controls laid down in the Official Control Regulation (EU) 2017/625. The EU and its Member States are committed to ensuring that import controls are fit for purpose and provide the necessary assurances to European citizens that imported food meets the same high level of food safety standards as that produced within the Union.
