Problems remain in the import control system in Hungary, according to a report by the EU Food and Veterinary Office (FVO) published on 31 October.
The European Commission experts carried out an audit in Hungary from 25 November to 3 December 2015 to evaluate the official control system for imports and transits of live animals and products of animal origin.
The FVO notes that several issues, including insufficient awareness of the requirements for identity and physical checks, and incomplete identification of consignments for controls, in a number of border inspection posts “weaken the compliance and effectiveness of the official controls”. Verification of the import control system has “been under development” since the last audit in 2014 but “had not been fully implemented at the time of the (2015) audit. The system still fails to identify deficiencies and corrective actions are not taken when they are detected”, the report states. The FVO notes, too, that two out of three recommendations issued in two audit reports carried out during 2014 have “only been partially addressed”.
The report sets out a number of recommendations for the competent authorities, aimed at rectifying the identified shortcomings and/or further enhancing the control measures in place. (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)