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Food Safety

Legislation on official controls

Introduction

EU official control rules are a key element of the governance of the agri-food chain in Europe, recognised world-wide as an example of best practice.

These rules provide national authorities and the European Commission with the necessary powers to ensure effective enforcement of regulatory requirements and with mechanisms that allow the full cooperation of all parties involved in ensuring the correct application of the law across national borders.

The Official Controls Regulation also provides the European Commission with audit and control powers in the EU countries and non-EU countries, and with the power to take action at EU level.

Official Controls Regulation (EU) 2017/625

The Official Controls Regulation (EU) 2017/625 addresses 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 - OCR).

The European Parliament and the Council adopted the new Official Controls Regulation No 2017/625 on 15 March 2017. The Regulation was published in the Official Journal of the European Union on 7 April 2017 and entered into force on the 27 April 2017

The new rules replace Regulation (EU) No 882/2004 on official controls and other legislation which previously governed the control and enforcement of rules along the agri-food chain. The effects of the OCR are:

Repeal of: Regulations (EU) No 854/2004 and (EU) No 882/2004 of the European Parliament and of the Council, Council Directives 89/608/EEC, 89/662/EEC, 90/425/EEC, 91/496/EEC, 96/23/EC, 96/93/EC, 97/78/EC and Council Decision 92/438/EEC

Amend with respect of control rules: Regulations (EU) No 999/2001, (EU) No 396/2005, (EU) No 1069/2009, (EU) No 1107/2009, (EU) No 1151/2012, (EU) No 652/2014, (EU) 2016/429 and (EU) 2016/2031 of the European Parliament and of the Council, Council Regulations (EU) No 1/2005 and (EU) No 1099/2009 and Council Directives 98/58/EC, 1999/74/EC, 2007/43/EC, 2008/119/EC and 2008/120/EC.

The new rules gradually became applicable with the main application date being 14 December 2019. An overview on delegated and implementing acts adopted under Regulation (EU) 2017/625 can be found here.

In the context of the revision of animal health legislation (upcoming entry into application of Regulation (EU) 2016/429 (‘the Animal Health Law’), certificates for the entry into the Union for animals and goods (for human consumption), aquatic animals and products of animal origin and terrestrial animals and germinal products are revised.

  1. On animals and goods (for human consumption), certificates have been revised by way of Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2020/2235 which can be found here.
    Below is a PDF version, intended at facilitating the use of the certificates, while only the legal text published in the Official Journal is authentic.
  2. On aquatic animals and products of animal origin, certificates have been revised by way of Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2020/2236 which can be found here.
    Below is a PDF version, intended at facilitating the use of the certificates, while only the legal text published in the Official Journal is authentic.
  3. On terrestrial animals and germinal products, certificates have been revised by way of Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/403 which can be found here
  4. Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/619 of 15 April 2021 amending Implementing Regulations (EU) 2020/2235, (EU) 2020/2236 and (EU) 2021/403 as regards transitional provisions for the use of animal health certificates, animal health/official certificates and official certificates can be found here
  5. Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/617 of 14 April 2021 amending Implementing Regulations (EU) 2020/2235 and (EU) 2020/2236 as regards model animal health certificates and animal health/official certificates for the entry into the Union of certain aquatic animals and products of animal origin can be found here

Main Elements of Regulation (EU) 2017/625

The main elements and changes in this regulation are outlined below.

Guidance on official controls