Brussels, 23/06/2003 (Agence Europe) - The Food and Veterinary Office (FVO) of the European Commission published guidelines on Monday, explaining to third countries the EU's rules on importing livestock and animal products. These guidelines include the legislative provisions in force, and were put together in response to the specific needs of third countries observed at various FVO inspection trips to these countries. The aim of this procedure is to facilitate access by their products to the Union market.
Commissioner David Byrne explained that these deadlines "will facilitate the importation of safer foodstuffs, because for the first time we are explaining in non-legal language what is expected of importers". "Food imports must offer the same level of safety as those produced in our own Member States", he added.
These guidelines: - explain the general principles behind the current third-country approval system for livestock and animal products imported to the Member States of the Union; - describe the administrative procedures to be followed when the national authorities of a third country make a request; - provide information on EU requirements on animal health, welfare and food safety, especially at slaughter.
The Commission points out that Community veterinary legislation imposes a series of requirements to ensure imports fulfil animal health and food safety standards, at least equivalent to those applied to production in the Union and to exchanges between Member States. In conformity with its obligation under the agreement on sanitary and phytosanitary measures (SPS), the Commissions informs the WTO of all regulatory measures taken in veterinary and phytosanitary fields. These measures are then communicated to WTO members to allow them to state the consequences these will have on their exchanges. The guideline document has the additional advantage of bringing together in one document all the essential texts, including those which entered into force prior to the SPS agreement.