VETERINARY CHECKS IN EUROPE

Products of animal origin entering the EU from third countries are subject to stringent checks before released on the common European market.The main legislative pieces detailing these checks are laid out in CD 97/78/EC and CD/93/13/EEC (now regulation 136/2003/EC), while there are many other regulations that lay out further details, regarding certification, frequency of checks, approved establishments, transhipments, rejected consignments, etc.The veterinary checks are compulsory for all products of animal origin, a term that includes all types of meat and meat products, hides and skins, manure, bone and bone meal, honey, fish maws, lards and fats, hay and straw, processed animal proteins for human or not for human consumption, milk and milk products, blood, semen, pharmaceutical products, some cosmetic products, egg and egg products, etc.In principle the veterinary checks are carried out in the following manner:DOCUMENTARY CHECKMeans the examination of the veterinary certificate(s) or veterinary document(s), or other document(s) accompanying a consignment.This should be done before the container is opened, carefully checking that commercial documents and other documents accompanying the consignment tally with information provided in health certificates and ship manifest.Incorrectly identified consignments are usually singled out by customs authorities who in turn notify port health authorities, and consignment will not be released until satisfactory documentation has been provided.Consignments that do not conform to the requirements of the regulation will be rejected.IDENTITY CHECKMeans a check by visual inspection to ensure that the veterinary certificate(s) or veterinary document(s) or other document(s) provided for by veterinary legislation tally with the product itself.This check is carried out after the documentary check and means that the container number and seal number is checked; the container is opened and the contents inspected to make sure that the number of packages correspond to the number of packages declared on certificates or other documents accompanying the consignment; the packages themselves are inspected to make sure that official identifying marks (health marks, production dates, etc) are identical to those declared, packages are also inspected to make sure that they conform to packaging rules and rules of hygiene, etc.It is quite common that consignments do not match the description provided in official certificates or other documents accompanying the consignment. In such cases, the Official Veterinary Surgeon gets in contact with the consignee (usually the importer) or his agent to clarify matters. In most cases such problems are resolved through providing the necessary documentation, or supplying other information, however it should be noted that generally new health certificates, issued after the consignment was received at the port of destination, would not be accepted. This is due to the fact that the undersigning veterinary surgeon in exporting country can have very little knowledge of the consignment, such as detailed in CD/93/96/EC on certification.Consignments not satisfying the check will be rejected.It is worth noting that during my time working at the Felixstowe Border Inspection Post (2000 – 2001), 10% of all Argentine consignments were rejected due to failure to comply with these regulations. PHYSICAL CHECKMeans a check on the product itself, which may include checks on packaging and temperature and also sampling and laboratory testing.In other words, it is an extended version of the identity check and includes opening the product and performing an organoleptic test, as well as taking bacteriological and other samples as defined by schedule laid out in CD/94/360/EC.Consignments failing to comply with the provisions of this check will be rejected and depending on the severity of the reason for failing the check, future consignments from the same exporter/consignor, may be singled out for extensive checks.* Hanne Martine Stabursvik, Norwegian veterinary surgeon working and living in Argentina. Member of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons, UK. One of her specialties is the veterinary checks on imported products of animal origin in the EU. She teaches animal welfare at the Universidad del Salvador, Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria and works with specialists in the field from all over the world. She is also a member of the Red Alimentaria.

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