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Foodlaw-Reading
Dr David Jukes, The University of
Reading, UK
Providng access to food law since May 1996 |
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Last updated,
18 January, 2023
EU Legislation: Official Control of Food
On this Page:
For information on the UK, see separate page: Official Control in the UK
Summary
Note: The topic of official controls overlaps with hygiene legislation. See: Food Hygiene Legislation of the EU.
For all areas of legislation, the EU has left it to Member States to provide national enforcement and court procedures. With different legal practices and varied national control systems (whether centrally operated or managed or a federal or locally based system), harmonisation has never been considered practical or required. However, ensuring minimum standards of control has been necessary so as to provide confidence in the quality and safety of products from other Member States - and to provide minimum standards for products entering the EU from third countries (non-Member States).
Perhaps the earliest move towards this was the adoption of minimum requirements for intra-Community trade in fresh meat - Directive 64/433. This required meat which was being 'sent from its territory to that of another Member State' to comply with minimum health requirements. In particular it had to have been inspected ante and post mortem by an 'official veterinarian'. It also required that the slaughterhouse and the cutting premises needed to have been approved by the 'competent central authority'. Subsequent controls on other products of animal origin mostly contained similar requirements.
With the moves to create the 'Internal Market', increased trade amongst Member States meant that, with no border checks, there needed to be confidence in the national control systems applied by each Member State. This meant that minimum requirements had to be set and applied more widely in the food sector. As a starting point, a Directive (Directive 85/591) was adopted providing for the establishment of common methods of sampling and analysis. More significant were the setting of minimum control standards by Directive 89/397/EEC (on 'Official Controls') and, later, Directive 93/99/EEC (on 'Additional Measures'). The food safety crises of the 1990s led to the adoption of the general food law (Regulation 178/2002) and the Commission was also committed to the adoption of a fully updated and expanded set of minimum requirements for national official food controls. This was achieved with the adoption of Regulation 882/2004. However the more detailed controls on products of animal origin (with the requirement for veterinary inspection) were combined into a separate document - Regulation 854/2004.
Most recently a very significant widening of the official controls has been adopted which provides for a more standardised control structure across several related sectors. This now integrates the controls covering food and feed law, rules on animal health and welfare, plant health and plant protection products. The new Regulation 2017/625 entered into force in December 2019. Numerous additional implementing measures with supporting controls were adopted to replace those previously linked to the earlier controls.
The following diagram illustrates this history:
A larger version of this figure (as pdf) is also available. See: Development of Official Controls
The following diagram illustrates the changes introduced by Regulation 2017/625 (and perhaps explains its lengthy title!):
A larger version of this figure (as pdf) is also available. See: Regulation 2017/625 - Overview
For additional information, see the Official Controls and Enforcement page on the Commission's website: Official controls and enforcement
The 2017 Regulation
Quick Link to Consolidated Text
(but check below for additional amendments not yet included) :
Regulation (EU) 2017/625 (December 2019 version) |
This Regulation applied from 14 December 2019. For details of the adoption of this Regulation, see below.
- Regulation (EU) 2017/625 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 15 March 2017 on official controls and other official activities performed to ensure the application of food and feed law, rules on animal health and welfare, plant health and plant protection products, amending Regulations (EC) No 999/2001, (EC) No 396/2005, (EC) No 1069/2009, (EC) No 1107/2009, (EU) No 1151/2012, (EU) No 652/2014, (EU) 2016/429 and (EU) 2016/2031 of the European Parliament and of the Council, Council Regulations (EC) No 1/2005 and (EC) No 1099/2009 and Council Directives 98/58/EC, 1999/74/EC, 2007/43/EC, 2008/119/EC and 2008/120/EC, and repealing Regulations (EC) No 854/2004 and (EC) No 882/2004 of the European Parliament and of the Council, Council Directives 89/608/EEC, 89/662/EEC, 90/425/EEC, 91/496/EEC, 96/23/EC, 96/93/EC and 97/78/EC and Council Decision 92/438/EEC (Official Controls Regulation) (OJ L95, 7.4.2017, page 1)
- Corrigendum to Regulation (EU) 2017/625 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 15 March 2017 on official controls and other official activities performed to ensure the application of food and feed law, rules on animal health and welfare, plant health and plant protection products, amending Regulations (EC) No 999/2001, (EC) No 396/2005, (EC) No 1069/2009, (EC) No 1107/2009, (EU) No 1151/2012, (EU) No 652/2014, (EU) 2016/429 and (EU) 2016/2031 of the European Parliament and of the Council, Council Regulations (EC) No 1/2005 and (EC) No 1099/2009 and Council Directives 98/58/EC, 1999/74/EC, 2007/43/EC, 2008/119/EC and 2008/120/EC, and repealing Regulations (EC) No 854/2004 and (EC) No 882/2004 of the European Parliament and of the Council, Council Directives 89/608/EEC, 89/662/EEC, 90/425/EEC, 91/496/EEC, 96/23/EC, 96/93/EC and 97/78/ EC and Council Decision 92/438/EEC (Official Controls Regulation) (OJ L 95, 7.4.2017) (OJ L137, 24.5.2017, page 40) [Very minor corrections]
As amended by:
- Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2019/2127 of 10 October 2019 amending Regulation (EU) 2017/625 of the European Parliament and of the Council as regards the date of application of certain provisions of Council Directives 91/496/EEC, 97/78/EC and 2000/29/EC (OJ L321, 12.12.2019, page 111)
Implementing Measures
Note: Incomplete - includes only those which have links to food. For a complete list, see the Commission document: Official Controls Regulation 2017/625 Delegated and implementing acts.
- Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2019/624 of 8 February 2019 concerning specific rules for the performance of official controls on the production of meat and for production and relaying areas of live bivalve molluscs in accordance with Regulation (EU) 2017/625 of the European Parliament and of the Council (OJ L131, 17 May 2019, page 1)
Amendment:
- Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2022/2258 of 9 September 2022 amending and correcting Annex III to Regulation (EC) No 853/2004 of the European Parliament and of the Council on specific hygiene requirements for food of animal origin as regards fishery products, eggs and certain highly refined products, and amending Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2019/624 as regards certain bivalve molluscs (OJ L 299, 18.11.2022, page 5)
- Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2019/625 of 4 March 2019 supplementing Regulation (EU) 2017/625 of the European Parliament and of the Council with regard to requirements for the entry into the Union of consignments of certain animals and goods intended for human consumption (OJ L131, 17 May 2019, page 18) [Repealed by Rgulation 2022/2292 from 15 December 2022]
- Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/626 of 5 March 2019 concerning lists of third countries or regions thereof authorised for the entry into the European Union of certain animals and goods intended for human consumption, amending Implementing Regulation (EU) 2016/759 as regards these lists (OJ L131, 17 May 2019, page 31)
- Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/627 of 15 March 2019 laying down uniform practical arrangements for the performance of official controls on products of animal origin intended for human consumption in accordance with Regulation (EU) 2017/625 of the European Parliament and of the Council and amending Commission Regulation (EC) No 2074/2005 as regards official controls (OJ L131, 17.5.2019, page 51)
Amendment:
- Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2022/2503 of 19 December 2022 amending and correcting Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/627 as regards practical arrangements for the performance of official controls in live bivalve molluscs, fishery products, or related to UV-radiation (OJ L 325, 20.12.2022, page 58)
- Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/628 of 8 April 2019 concerning model official certificates for certain animals and goods and amending Regulation (EC) No 2074/2005 and Implementing Regulation (EU) 2016/759 as regards these model certificates (OJ L131, 17.5.2019, page 101)
- Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/723 of 2 May 2019 laying down rules for the application of Regulation (EU) 2017/625 of the European Parliament and of the Council as regards the standard model form to be used in the annual reports submitted by Member States (OJ L124, 13.5.2019, page 1)
- Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2019/1012 of 12 March 2019 supplementing Regulation (EU) 2017/625 of the European Parliament and of the Council by derogating from the rules on the designation of control points and from the minimum requirements for border control posts (OJ L165, 21.6.2019, page 4)
- Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/1013 of 16 April 2019 on prior notification of consignments of certain categories of animals and goods entering the Union (OJ L 165, 21.6.2019, page 8)
- Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/1014 of 12 June 2019 to lay down detailed rules on minimum requirements for border control posts, including inspection centres, and for the format, categories and abbreviations to use for listing border control posts and control points (OJ L165, 21.6.2019, page 10)
- Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2019/1602 of 23 April 2019 supplementing Regulation (EU) 2017/625 of the European Parliament and of the Council concerning the Common Health Entry Document accompanying consignments of animals and goods to their destination (OJ L250, 30.9.2019, page 6)
- Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2019/1666 of 24 June 2019 supplementing Regulation (EU) 2017/625 of the European Parliament and of the Council as regards conditions for monitoring the transport and arrival of consignments of certain goods from the border control post of arrival to the establishment at the place of destination in the Union (OJ L255, 4.10.2019, page 1)
- Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/1715 of 30 September 2019 laying down rules for the functioning of the information management system for official controls and its system components (the IMSOC Regulation) (OJ L261, 14.10.2019, page 37)
- Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/1793 of 22 October 2019 on the temporary increase of official controls and emergency measures governing the entry into the Union of certain goods from certain third countries implementing Regulations (EU) 2017/625 and (EC) No 178/2002 of the European Parliament and of the Council and repealing Commission Regulations (EC) No 669/2009, (EU) No 884/2014, (EU) 2015/175, (EU) 2017/186 and (EU) 2018/1660 (OJ L277, 29.10.2019, page 89)
Amendment:
- Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2022/913 of 30 May 2022 amending Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/1793 on the temporary increase of official controls and emergency measures governing the entry into the Union of certain goods from certain third countries implementing Regulations (EU) 2017/625 and (EC) No 178/2002 of the European Parliament and of the Council (OJ L 158, 13.6.2022, page 1)
- Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/1873 of 7 November 2019 on the procedures at border control posts for a coordinated performance by competent authorities of intensified official controls on products of animal origin, germinal products, animal by-products and composite products (OJ L289, 8.11.2019, page 50)
- Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/2007 of 18 November 2019 laying down rules for the application of Regulation (EU) 2017/625 of the European Parliament and of the Council as regards the lists of animals, products of animal origin, germinal products, animal by-products and derived products and hay and straw subject to official controls at border control posts and amending Decision 2007/275/EC (OJ L312, 3.12.2019, page 1)
- Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2019/2074 of 23 September 2019 supplementing Regulation (EU) 2017/625 of the European Parliament and of the Council as regards rules on specific official controls on consignments of certain animals and goods originating from, and returning to the Union following a refusal of entry by a third country (OJ L316, 6.12.2019, page 6)
- Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2019/2090 of 19 June 2019 supplementing Regulation (EU) 2017/625 of the European Parliament and Council regarding cases of suspected or established non-compliance with Union rules applicable to the use or residues of pharmacologically active substances authorised in veterinary medicinal products or as feed additives or with Union rules applicable to the use or residues of prohibited or unauthorised pharmacologically active substances (OJ L317, 9.12.2019, page 28)
- Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2019/2122 of 10 October 2019 supplementing Regulation (EU) 2017/625 of the European Parliament and of the Council as regards certain categories of animals and goods exempted from official controls at border control posts, specific controls on passengers’ personal luggage and on small consignments of goods sent to natural persons which are not intended to be placed on the market and amending Commission Regulation (EU) No 142/2011 (OJ L321, 12.12.2019, page 45)
- Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2019/2123 of 10 October 2019 supplementing Regulation (EU) 2017/625 of the European Parliament and of the Council as regards rules for the cases where and the conditions under which identity checks and physical checks on certain goods may be performed at control points and documentary checks may be performed at distance from border control posts (OJ L321, 12.12.2019, page 64)
- Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2019/2124 of 10 October 2019 supplementing Regulation (EU) 2017/625 of the European Parliament and of the Council as regards rules for official controls of consignments of animals and goods in transit, transhipment and onward transportation through the Union, and amending Commission Regulations (EC) No 798/2008, (EC) No 1251/2008, (EC) No 119/2009, (EU) No 206/2010, (EU) No 605/2010, (EU) No 142/2011, (EU) No 28/2012, Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2016/759 and Commission Decision 2007/777/EC (OJ L321, 12.12.2019, page 73)
- Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2019/2126 of 10 October 2019 supplementing Regulation (EU) 2017/625 of the European Parliament and of the Council as regards rules for specific official controls for certain categories of animals and goods, measures to be taken following the performance of such controls and certain categories of animals and goods exempted from official controls at border control posts (OJ L321, 12.12.2019, page 104)
- Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/2128 of 12 November 2019 establishing the model official certificate and rules for issuing official certificates for goods which are delivered to vessels leaving the Union and intended for ship supply or consumption by the crew and passengers, or to NATO or a United States’ military base (OJ L321, 12.12.2019, page 114)
- Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/2129 of 25 November 2019 establishing rules for the uniform application of frequency rates for identity checks and physical checks on certain consignments of animals and goods entering the Union (OJ L321, 12.12.2019, page 122)
- Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/2130 of 25 November 2019 establishing detailed rules on the operations to be carried out during and after documentary checks, identity checks and physical checks on animals and goods subject to official controls at border control posts (OJ L321, 12.12.2019, page 128)
- Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2021/1353 of 17 May 2021 supplementing Regulation (EU) 2017/625 of the European Parliament and of the Council with regard to the cases and conditions under which competent authorities may designate official laboratories which do not fulfil the conditions in relation to all the methods they use for official controls or other official activities (OJ L291, 13.8.2021, page 20)
- Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2022/931 of 23 March 2022 supplementing Regulation (EU) 2017/625 of the European Parliament and of the Council by laying down rules for the performance of official controls as regards contaminants in food (OJ L 162, 17.6.2022, page 7)
- Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2022/1644 of 7 July 2022 supplementing Regulation (EU) 2017/625 of the European Parliament and of the Council with specific requirements for the performance of official controls on the use of pharmacologically active substances authorised as veterinary medicinal products or as feed additives and of prohibited or unauthorised pharmacologically active substances and residues thereof (OJ L 248, 26.9.2022, page 3)
- Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2022/1646 of 23 September 2022 on uniform practical arrangements for the performance of official controls as regards the use of pharmacologically active substances authorised as veterinary medicinal products or as feed additives and of prohibited or unauthorised pharmacologically active substances and residues thereof, on specific content of multi-annual national control plans and specific arrangements for their preparation (OJ L 248, 26.9.2022, page 32)
- Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2022/2292 of 6 September 2022 supplementing Regulation (EU) 2017/625 of the European Parliament and of the Council with regard to requirements for the entry into the Union of consignments of food-producing animals and certain goods intended for human consumption (OJ L 304, 24.11.2022, page 1)
Corrected by:
- Corrigendum to Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2022/2292 of 6 September 2022 supplementing Regulation (EU) 2017/625 of the European Parliament and of the Council with regard to requirements for the entry into the Union of consignments of food-producing animals and certain goods intended for human consumption (OJ L 304, 24.11.2022) (OJ L 316, 8.12.2022, page 100)
COVID-19 Amendments
- Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2020/466 of 30 March 2020 on temporary measures to contain risks to human, animal and plant health and animal welfare during certain serious disruptions of Member States’ control systems due to coronavirus disease (COVID-19) (OJ L98, 31.3.2020, page 30) as amended by:
- Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2020/714 of 28 May 2020 amending Implementing Regulation (EU) 2020/466 as regards the use of electronic documentation for the performance of official controls and other official activities and the period of application of temporary measures (OJ L167, 29.5.2020, page 6)
- Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2020/1087 of 23 July 2020 amending Implementing Regulation (EU) 2020/466 as regards the performance of official controls and other official activities by specifically authorised natural persons, the performance of analyses, testing or diagnoses and the period of application of temporary measures (OJ L239, 24.7.2020, page 12)
- Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2020/1341 of 28 September 2020 amending Implementing Regulation (EU) 2020/466 as regards the period of application of temporary measures (OJ L314, 29.9.2020, page 2)
- Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/83 of 27 January 2021 amending Implementing Regulation (EU) 2020/466 as regards the performance of official controls and other official activities by specifically authorised natural persons and the period of application of temporary measures (OJ L29, 28.1.2021, page 23)
- Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/984 of 17 June 2021 amending Implementing Regulation (EU) 2020/466 as regards the period of application of temporary measures (OJ L216, 18.6.2021, page 202)
Guidance Documents
|
Questions & Answers on Commission Regulation (EC) No 2017/625 (Official Controls Regulation)
Provided by the Commission in April 2017. Available on this site (click on image). |
Former Legal Documents
- Regulation (EC) No 882/2004 of the European Parliament and of
the Council of 29 April 2004 on official controls performed to ensure
the verification of compliance with feed and food law, animal health
and animal welfare rules (OJ L165, 30.4.2004)
[Incorrect formatting used - see Corrigendum for corrected version]
- Corrigendum to Regulation (EC) No 882/2004 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 29 April 2004 on official controls performed to ensure the verification of compliance with feed and food law, animal health and animal welfare rules (OJ L 165, 30.4.2004) (OJ L191, 28.5.2004, page 1) [Full reprint of the text of the Regulation]
- Corrigendum to Regulation (EC) No 882/2004 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 29 April 2004 on official controls performed to ensure the verification of compliance with feed and food law, animal health and animal welfare rules ( OJ L 165, 30.4.2004 . Corrected version in OJ L 191 of 28.5.2004 ) (OJ L204, 4.8.2007, page 29) [Correcting place of signature to 'Brussels']
Amendments:
- Commission Regulation (EC) No 776/2006 of 23 May 2006 amending Annex VII to Regulation (EC) No 882/2004 of the European Parliament and of the Council as regards Community reference laboratories (OJ L136, 24.5.2006, page 3) [Provides an extended listing of Community reference laboratories]
- Council Regulation (EC) No 1791/2006 of 20 November 2006 adapting certain Regulations and Decisions ... by reason of the accession of Bulgaria and Romania (OJ L363, 20.12.2006, page 1) [Minor amendments to take account of accession of Bulgaria and Romania from 1 January 2007]
- Commission Regulation (EC) No 180/2008 of 28 February 2008 concerning the Community reference laboratory for equine diseases other than African horse sickness and amending Annex VII to Regulation (EC) No 882/2004 of the European Parliament and of the Council (OJ L56, 29.2.2008, page 4) [Additional laboratory added to listing]
- Council Regulation (EC) No 301/2008 of 17 March 2008 adapting Annex I to Regulation (EC) No 882/2004 on official controls performed to ensure the verification of compliance with feed and food law, animal health and animal welfare rules (OJ L97, 9.4.2008, page 85) [Updating listing of territories cover by Regulation]
- Commission Regulation (EC) No 737/2008 of 28 July 2008 designating the Community reference laboratories for crustacean diseases, rabies and bovine tuberculosis, laying down additional responsibilities and tasks for the Community reference laboratories for rabies and bovine tuberculosis and amending Annex VII to Regulation (EC) No 882/2004 of the European Parliament and of the Council (OJ L201, 30.7.2008, page 29) [Addition of 3 further reference laboratories]
- Commission Regulation (EC) No 1029/2008 of 20 October 2008 amending Regulation (EC) No 882/2004 of the European Parliament and of the Council to update a reference to certain European standards (OJ L278, 21.10.2008, page 6) [Replacing a reference to EN45002 and EN45003 by one to EN ISO/IEC 17011]
- Regulation (EC) No 596/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 18 June 2009 adapting a number of instruments subject to the procedure referred to in Article 251 of the Treaty to Council Decision 1999/468/EC with regard to the regulatory procedure with scrutiny — Adaptation to the regulatory procedure with scrutiny — Part Four (OJ L188, 18.7.2009, page 14) [Procedural amendments]
- Commission Regulation (EU) No 87/2011 of 2 February 2011 designating the EU reference laboratory for bee health, laying down additional responsibilities and tasks for that laboratory and amending Annex VII to Regulation (EC) No 882/2004 of the European Parliament and of the Council (OJ L29, 3.2.2011, page 1) [Adding a reference laboratory for bee health]
- Commission Regulation (EU) No 208/2011 of 2 March 2011 amending Annex VII to Regulation (EC) No 882/2004 of the European Parliament and of the Council and Commission Regulations (EC) No 180/2008 and (EC) No 737/2008 as regards lists and names of EU reference laboratories (OJ L58, 3.3.2011, page 29) [Fully updated listing of reference laboratories]
- Commission Regulation (EU) No 880/2011 of 2 September 2011 correcting Regulation (EU) No 208/2011 amending Annex VII to Regulation (EC) No 882/2004 of the European Parliament and of the Council and Commission Regulations (EC) No 180/2008 and (EC) No 737/2008 as regards lists and names of EU reference laboratories (OJ L228, 3.9.2011, page 8)
- Commission Regulation (EU) No 563/2012 of 27 June 2012 amending Annex VII to Regulation (EC) No 882/2004 of the European Parliament and of the Council as regards the list of EU reference laboratories (OJ L168, 28.6.2012, page 24) [Amendment to reference laboratory]
- Council Regulation (EU) No 517/2013 of 13 May 2013 adapting certain regulations and decisions in the fields of free movement of goods, freedom of movement for persons, company law, competition policy, agriculture, food safety, veterinary and phytosanitary policy, transport policy, energy, taxation, statistics, trans-European networks, judiciary and fundamental rights, justice, freedom and security, environment, customs union, external relations, foreign, security and defence policy and institutions, by reason of the accession of the Republic of Croatia (OJ L158, 10.6.2013, page 1) [Includes Croatia in Annex I list of territories]
- Regulation (EU) No 652/2014 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 15 May 2014 laying down provisions for the management of expenditure relating to the food chain, animal health and animal welfare, and relating to plant health and plant reproductive material, amending Council Directives 98/56/EC, 2000/29/EC and 2008/90/EC, Regulations (EC) No 178/2002, (EC) No 882/2004 and (EC) No 396/2005 of the European Parliament and of the Council, Directive 2009/128/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council and Regulation (EC) No 1107/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council and repealing Council Decisions 66/399/EEC, 76/894/EEC and 2009/470/EC (OJ L189, 27.6.2014, page 1) [Updated financial provisions]
- Commission Regulation (EU) 2017/212 of 7 February 2017 designating the EU reference laboratory for peste des petits ruminants, laying down additional responsibilities and tasks for this laboratory and amending Annex VII to Regulation (EC) No 882/2004 of the European Parliament and of the Council (OJ L33, 8.2.2017, page 27) [Adding a reference laboratory for peste des petits ruminants]
- Commission Regulation (EU) 2018/455 of 16 March 2018 laying down additional responsibilities and tasks for the European Union reference laboratory for fish and crustacean diseases and amending Annex VII to Regulation (EC) No 882/2004 of the European Parliament and of the Council (OJ L77, 20.3.2018, page 4)
- Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2018/1587 of 22 October 2018 revoking the designation of the Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy, as a European Reference Laboratory for the residues listed in Annex I, Group B(3)(c) to Council Directive 96/23/EC (OJ L264, 23.10.2018, p. 20)
Final Consolidated Text
The final consolidated version of the Regulation incorporating all the amendments is available. See:
Internal Market Controls
- Council Directive 89/397/EEC of 14 June 1989 on the official control of foodstuffs (OJ L186, 30.6.1989, page 23)
- Council Directive 93/99/EEC of 29 October 1993 on the subject of additional measures concerning the official control of foodstuffs ( OJ L290, 24.11.1993, page 14)
Updating the Official Control Regulation
In May 2013, the Commission published a proposal to update and replace Regulation 882/2004. See:
- COM (2013) 0265 -
Proposal for a REGULATION OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL on official controls and other official activities performed to ensure the application of food and feed law, rules on animal health and welfare, plant health, plant reproductive material, plant protection products and amending Regulations (EC) No 999/2001, 1829/2003, 1831/2003, 1/2005, 396/2005, 834/2007, 1099/2009, 1069/2009, 1107/2009, Regulations (EU) No 1151/2012, [….]/2013 [Regulation laying down provisions for the management of expenditure relating to the food chain, animal health and animal welfare, and relating to plant health and plant reproductive material], and Directives 98/58/EC, 1999/74/EC, 2007/43/EC, 2008/119/EC, 2008/120/EC and 2009/128/EC (Official controls Regulation)
The Commission published the following communication on the 6 January 2017. See:
- COM/2017/06 - COMMUNICATION FROM THE COMMISSION TO THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT pursuant to Article 294(6) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union concerning the position of the Council at first reading on the adoption of a Regulation on official controls and other official activities performed to ensure the application of food and feed law, rules on animal health and welfare, plant health and plant protection products, amending Regulations of the European Parliament and of the Council (EC) No 999/2001, (EC) No 396/2005, (EC) No 1069/2009, (EC) No 1107/2009, (EU) No 1151/2012, (EU) No 652/2014, (EU) 2016/429 and (EU) 2016/2031, Council Regulations (EC) No 1/2005 and (EC) No 1099/2009 and Council Directives 98/58/EC, 1999/74/EC, 2007/43/EC, 2008/119/EC and 2008/120/EC, and repealing Regulations of the European Parliament and of the Council (EC) No 854/2004 and (EC) No 882/2004, Council Directives 89/608/EEC, 89/662/EEC, 90/425/EEC, 91/496/EEC, 96/23/EC, 96/93/EC and 97/78/EC and Council Decision 92/438/EEC (Official Controls Regulation)
After agreement with the Council, the new controls were passed by the European Parliament on the 15 March 2017. Publication of the text was in April 2017 as Regulation (EU) 2017/625 - see above for details.
The following are some news items relating to this and to the development of additional implementing measures::
- 6 May 2013 Smarter rules for safer food: Questions and Answers on the Commission proposals to modernise, simplify and strengthen the agri-food chain in Europe
- 6 May 2013 Smarter rules for safer food: Commission proposes landmark package to modernise, simplify and strengthen the agri-food chain in Europe
- 8 May 2013 Commission proposes revisions to food and feed regulations [FSA Announcement]
- 1 August 2014 FSA Consultation: The Official Feed and Food Controls (England) and The Food Safety and Hygiene (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2014
- 15-16 December 2014 Proposed EU Legislation: Council Discussions
- 9 March 2015 Official Controls Charges in Approved Meat Premises: Consultation on a Proposal for a New Discount System
- 26 October 2015 Official control in the food chain - Adoption of the Council position
- 16 June 2016 MEPs and ministers agree to beef up official food checks from farm to fork
- 16 June 2016 Statement by Commissioner Andriukaitis on the political agreement reached on the EU proposal for revision of the provisions on official controls along the food chain
- 10 October 2016 Official controls in the agri-food chain - Political agreement at Council Meeting [For document containing text - see: Official Controls – Political Agreement]
- 19 December 2016 Council discussions: Official controls - Council adopts its position at first reading [Council Minute]
- 19 December 2016 Official controls along the agri-food chain: one step closer to adoption [Press Release]
- 15 March 2017 Tougher food inspections from farm to fork (EP Press Release)
- 15 March 2017 Enforcement of rules along the agri-food chain in the EU: Q&A on the new Official Controls Regulation
- 7 April 2017 New Regulation on Official Controls published in the Official Journal
- 15 March 2017 Statement by Commissioner Andriukaitis on the Adoption of the Regulation on Official Control
- 7 December 2017 New EU reference laboratories for contamination of bivalve molluscs and transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSEs): Council Discussions
- 12 December 2017 Draft delegated regulation: COMMISSION DELEGATED REGULATION (EU) …/... supplementing Regulation (EU) 2017/625 of the European Parliament and of the Council by establishing European Union reference laboratories for pests of plants
- 27 September 2018 Commission consultation: Practical arrangements for official controls of food of animal origin
- 27 September 2018 Commission consultation: Establishing specific rules for official controls on meat & live bivalve mollusc production and relaying area
- 9 October 2018 Commission consultation: New lists of non-EU countries authorised to import animal products
- 9 October 2018 Commission consultation: New rules on food imported from non-EU countries
- 12 October 2018 Commission consultation: Consignments subject to border control checks - additional categories
- 29 October 2018 Commission consultation: Rules on a crisis management plan for food and animal feed
- 15 January 2019 Commission Consultation: Border controls for livestock and goods
- 15 January 2019 Court of Auditors Report: EU food safety system overstretched
- 16 January 2019 Commission Consultation: Draft Delegated Regulation on rules derogations on the designation of border control posts and from border control post requirements
- 17 January 2019 Time to improve checks of chemicals in food, recommends EU report
- 17 January 2019 Commission Consultation: Delegated Regulation on specific training requirements for staff for performing physical checks
- 13 February 2019 Commission Consultation: Regulation on the measures to be taken in case of non-compliances related to VMPs and their residues
- 13 December 2019 Speech: Commissioner Kyriakides at the "smarter rules for safer food and plant health” conference
This page was first provided on 19 July 2010
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