Problems exist in the Japanese animal health control system. This means the country cannot export pig and poultry meat to the EU, states a report from the EU Food and Veterinary Office (FVO).
The FVO report sets out the findings of an audit made in Japan from 11 to 24 October 2017. Japan requested authorisation to export meat of domestic pigs, poultry meat, eggs and egg products, and raw milk and dairy products to the EU. The aim of the audit was to evaluate animal health controls applied by the Japanese authorities.
“There is a robust and generally effectively implemented animal health control system”, FVO experts say. However, they conclude that some features of the design and implementation of that system do not allow the authorities to give equivalent guarantees to the EU system. “Current arrangements for pig traceability do not allow Japan to provide reliable animal health certification in relation to all animals that could participate in the EU export chain”, the report reads. Controls on the use of catering waste for feeding pigs are also insufficient to effectively prevent the spread of animal disease, the experts say. In addition, the EU deems current arrangements for controls on highly pathogenic avian influenza insufficient. (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)