FSA Interested Parties Letter (OCR 005), 25 November, 2009
A copy of the letter is available on this site. See: Interested parties Letter - Import Controls (non-POAO)
I wrote to you about the above implementing rules on 3 August. I am now writing to update you on developments following a Commission Working Group meeting in Brussels on 30 October.
Annex I of EC Regulation 669/2009
The Commission advised that there would not be a further opportunity to amend the list of “high- risk” food of non-animal origin in Annex I of Regulation 669/2009 before the Regulation comes into force on 25 January 2010. This is because making changes while the new Regulation is being implemented would create additional burdens. In addition, the Commission thought it was important to wait and consider the quarterly reports data which would reflect controls carried out at the Designated Points of Entry. Suggestions from Member States, regarding the review of Annex I, will then be considered.
Technical guidance document
The Commission, prior to the Working Group meeting, circulated to Member States the draft Technical Guidance Document prepared by Dutch and Irish representatives with the support of the Food Law Enforcement Practitioners committee (FLEP). This is an informal grouping of European food law enforcement practitioners, where consistent enforcement in the European Union is discussed and established.
The draft Technical Guidance Document aims to support the consistent interpretation of Regulation (EC) No 669/2009 and the Commission has invited comments from Member States.
We would welcome your views on whether the draft guidance, which is at Appendix 1 to this letter, sufficiently explains the requirements of the Regulation. I shall be grateful to receive any comments or views by 18 December.
Training Course for Officials on EC Regulation 669/2009
The Commission said that the first workshop on the new imports controls will most likely to be delivered in mid January 2010 in Rome and one participant per Member State is expected to attend.
UK application measures
The FSA carried out a full public consultation on the draft Official Feed and Food Controls Regulations 2009 and associated guidance between 14 September and 6 November. We are grateful for the comments that we have received and a summary of the responses will be published on the Agency’s website in due course.