This report describes the outcome of an audit carried out by the Food and Veterinary Office (FVO) in Hungary from 25 March to 1 April 2014 to assess how the competent authorities evaluate the performance and effectiveness of their system of official import controls (regarding live animals and products of animal origin).
The report concludes that the Hungarian authority is developing the activities for verification of effectiveness of the official import controls including the setting of relevant objectives and indicators to measure the extent to which these objectives are met.
The verification activities do not ensure compliance of the official import controls with EU legislation. This is due to the lack of implementation of verification in some border inspection posts (BIPs) for a long period of time. The competent authority has not considered the risk of absence of verification of the official import controls and has not planned such activities for a period of two years. The above undermine the verification of effectiveness of the official import controls as required by article 8 of Regulation (EC) No 882/2004/EC.
The results of the verification activities are foreseen to be used for planning of the official controls and also on planning future verification activities. Activities like performance assessment of personnel, national database (EVIR) to monitor the output of the audits are potential tools to assess effectiveness of the official import controls, not currently used as such. In addition, process
and performance audits as foreseen in the new Quality management procedure can be a means of assessment of the appropriateness and effectiveness of the official import controls.
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