Commission e-News, 6 December 2013

IMPORTS - EU updates list of imports of plant origin subject to reinforced border checks

Controls performed at European Union borders on the basis of Regulation (EC) No 669/2009 continue to deliver results and, as a consequence, the EU is removing some products from the list of feed and food of non-animal origin that are subject to an increased level of official controls by national competent authorities at the border.

As a result of the satisfactory results reported by Member States, hazelnuts from Azerbaijan, mace, ginger and curcuma from India, mace from Indonesia and brassica vegetables from Thailand will be de-listed from the Regulation's Annex I. This means that these products will no longer be subject to the reinforced scheme (the checks performed by competent authorities will again be 'routine' ones).

At the meeting of the Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health on 4 December 2013, Member States endorsed the Commission's proposal to amend the Annex to the Regulation by reflecting the abovementioned changes.

The amendments are expected to enter into force as of 1 January 2014.