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 amending annex III to regulation 853/20042, and annex I to regulation 854/20043 as regards the specific requirements for handling large wild game and for the post-mortem inspection of wild game (7193/14).
Regulation 853/2004 provides, inter alia, requirements for the production and placing on the market of meat from wild game. Food business operators are to ensure that such meat is placed on the market only if it is produced in compliance with annex III to that regulation. Annex I to regulation 854/2004 sets out the specific requirements for official controls concerning wild game meat.
Trade in unskinned large wild game from a hunting site to an approved game-handling establishment situated in the territory of another member state is a common practice which accounts for a significant part of the wild game meat produced in the EU. The amendment supplements the provisions of regulation 853/2004 concerning this trade and transport with a certification of compliance with the EU provisions at the place of origin. The amendment to regulation 854/2004 provides that the official veterinarians check that the relevant certificate accompanies the consignment and take into account the information contained in that certificate.
This Commission regulation is subject to the 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.
