The Commission presented for general discussion a draft Commission Recommendation regarding a co-ordinated programme for the official control of foodstuffs for 2002 (SANCO/3573/2001-Rev.2). In this proposal the Member States are invited to carry out inspections and controls including, where indicated, taking samples with the aim of:
The Committee welcomed in general this proposal and a few improvements were suggested for clarity and a better presentation of the data, particularly in the Annex. Some concern was expressed about the requirement for laboratories to be accredited in conformity with article 3 of Directive 93/99/EEC, sampling and methods of analysis of genetically modified foodstuffs. On these points most of the Member States requested the Commission to introduce more flexibility in the Recommendation.
This proposal will be reviewed according the results of the discussion and submitted for consultation at the next meeting of the Committee.