Foodlaw-Reading
Dr David Jukes, The University of Reading, UK
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Council Minutes, 24 March 2014
The following is an extract from the Minutes of the Agriculture and Fisheries Council meeting held on the 24 March 2014:
The Council decided not to oppose the adoption of a Commission regulation granting derogation from certain provisions of annex II to regulation 852/20041 as regards the transport of liquid oils and fats by sea (6648/14).
Regulation 852/2004 on the hygiene of foodstuffs requires that bulk foodstuffs in liquid, granulate or powdered form be transported in receptacles and/or containers/tankers reserved for the transport of foodstuffs (chapter IV of annex II). However, that requirement is not practical when applied to the transport in seagoing vessels of liquid oils and fats for human consumption. In addition, the availability of seagoing vessels reserved for the transport of foodstuffs is insufficient to serve the continuing trade in such oils and fats.
The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) assessed the criteria for acceptable previous cargoes for edible fats and oils and a list of substances taking into account those criteria. On that basis, the proposed regulation should repeal and replace the existing directive 96/31 which hitherto granted derogation as regards the transport of liquid oils and fats by sea.
This Commission regulation is subject to regulatory procedure with scrutiny. This means that now that the Council has given its consent, the Commission may adopt the regulation, unless the European Parliament objects.
