Controls performed at European Union borders on the basis of Regulation (EC) No 669/2009 continue to deliver results and, as a consequence, the EU is removing some products from the list of feed and food of non-animal origin that are subject to an increased level of official controls by national competent authorities at the border. As a result of the satisfactory results reported by Member States, curry from India will be de-listed from the Regulation’s Annex I. This commodity will therefore no longer be subject to the reinforced scheme (the checks performed by competent authorities will again be ‘routine’ ones).
Concerning new listings, the following commodities will be added to the list of feed and food which are subject to reinforced border checks: table grapes (food) from Peru at a control frequency of physical and identity checks of 10% for the possible occurrence of pesticide residues and dried apricots (food) from Turkey at a control frequency of 10% for the possible presence of high levels of sulphites or of undeclared sulphites. Moreover, the control frequency for Brassica oleracea originating from China (‘Chinese broccoli’) will be increased from 20% to 50% in light of the high degree of non-compliance with the relevant Union legislation detected in the course of the controls carried out by the Member States on this commodity.
The Regulation will be amended by extending the transitional period referred to in its Article 19 for an additional term of five years, so as to allow the smooth entry into force of any new requirement that might result from the ongoing review of the provisions applicable to designated points of entry and to border controls in general.
At the meeting of the Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health on 6 June 2014, Member States endorsed the Commission’s proposal to amend the Annex to the Regulation by reflecting the abovementioned changes.
The amendments are expected to enter into force as of 1 July 2014.
(Source: DG Sanco)
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