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Food Safety

Products of animal origin for human consumption

Movements between the EU Member States

Rules concerning the production, processing and distribution within the Union of products of animal origin from terrestrial animals are set out in Chapter 6, Title I, of Regulation (EU) 2016/429 of the European Parliament and of the Council on transmissible animal diseases and amending and repealing certain acts in the area of animal health ('Animal Health Law') according to which movements of such products within the Union are not required to be accompanied by an animal health or official certificate.

These rules are supplemented by additional rules concerning products of animal origin, which are allowed to be moved from a restricted zone subject to emergency measures or disease control measures or originate from animals of species subject to those measures, set out in Article 3 of Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2020/2154.

The model certificate, which apply to such commodities, is set out in Chapter 1 of Annex II to Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2020/2235.

Rules concerning the production, processing and distribution within the Union of products of animal origin from aquatic animals (other than live aquatic animals), are set out in Chapter 3, Title II, Part IV of Regulation (EU) 2016/429. These rules are supplemented by additional rules, which are set out in Articles 22 to 28 of Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2020/990.

The model certificates, which apply to such commodities, are set out in Chapters 6 and 7 of Annex I to Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2020/2236, as relevant.

Entry into the Union

The rules concerning the animal health requirements for the entry into the Union of products of animal origin are set out in Part V of Regulation (EU) 2016/429 of the European Parliament and of the Council on transmissible animal diseases and amending and repealing certain acts in the area of animal health ('Animal Health Law').

These rules are supplemented by the general rules, which are set out in Part I, and the specific rules concerning products of animal origin, which are set out in Parts IV and V, of Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2020/692 supplementing Regulation (EU) 2016/429 as regards rules for entry into the Union, and the movement and handling after entry of consignments of certain animals, germinal products and products of animal origin.

The rules concerning the public health requirements for the entry into the Union of products of animal origin are set out in:

  • Regulation (EC) No 999/2001 of the European Parliament and of the Council laying down rules for the prevention, control and eradication of certain transmissible spongiform encephalopathies;
  • Regulation (EC) No 178/2002 of the European Parliament and of the Council laying down the general principles and requirements of food law, establishing the European Food Safety Authority and laying down procedures in matters of food safety;
  • Regulation (EC) No 852/2004 of the European Parliament and of the Council on the hygiene of foodstuffs;
  • Regulation (EC) No 853/2004 of the European Parliament and of the Council laying down specific hygiene rules for food of animal origin;
  • Regulation (EC) No 396/2005 of the European Parliament and of the Council on maximum residue levels of pesticides in or on food and feed of plant and animal origin
  • Commission Regulation (EU) 2023/915 on maximum levels for certain contaminants in food and repealing Regulation (EC) No 1881/2006;
  • Regulation (EU) 2017/625 of the European Parliament and of the Council on official controls and other official activities performed to ensure the application of food and feed law, rules on animal health and welfare, plant health and plant protection products (Official Controls Regulation);
  • Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2019/624 concerning specific rules for the performance of official controls on the production of meat and for production and relaying areas of live bivalve molluscs in accordance with Regulation (EU) 2017/625;
  • Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2022/2292 supplementing Regulation (EU) 2017/625 of the European Parliament and of the Council with regard to requirements for the entry into the Union of consignments of food-producing animals and certain goods intended for human consumption;
  • Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/627 laying down uniform practical arrangements for the performance of official controls on products of animal origin intended for human consumption in accordance with Regulation (EU) 2017/625

Products of animal origin intended for human consumption shall originate from a non-EU country or territory, or zone thereof, listed, as relevant, in:

  1. Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/404 laying down the lists of third countries, territories or zones thereof from which the entry into the Union of animals, germinal products and products of animal origin is permitted in accordance with Regulation (EU) 2016/429;
  2. Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/405 laying down the lists of third countries or regions thereof authorised for the entry into the Union of certain animals and goods intended for human consumption in accordance with Regulation (EU) 2017/625;

In addition, such products, except those for which the Union is not a final destination, shall, where appropriate, originate from EU approved establishments listed in accordance with Article 13(2) of Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2022/2292 or, if the products originate from a Member State, in accordance with Article 4(2) of Regulation (EC) No 853/2004.

Model animal health/official certificates, official certificates and private attestation for entry into the Union of products of animal origin intended for human consumption are set out Annexes III and Annex V to Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2020/2235 laying down rules for the application of Regulations (EU) 2016/429 and (EU) 2017/625 of the European Parliament and of the Council as regards model animal health certificates, model official certificates and model animal health/official certificates, for the entry into the Union and movements within the Union of consignments of certain categories of animals and goods, official certification regarding such certificates.

Annex III to that Implementing Regulation contains the following model animal health/official certificates and model official certificates for the entry into the Union:

In addition, Annex V to that Implementing Regulation contain a model private attestation by the operator entering shelf-stable composite products into the Union in accordance with Article 14 of Regulation (EU) 2019/625.