International trade - Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health (SCoFCAH)
What is SCoFCAH?
The Standing Committee on Food Chain and Animal Health (SCoFCAH), formerly known as the Standing Veterinary Committee (SVC), is made up of eight different sections which cover the entire food supply chain, ranging from animal health issues on the farm to the product that arrives on the consumer's table as part of the EU’s ‘farm to fork’ approach. International Animal Health Division has responsibility for the sections on Animal health and animal welfare, Biological safety of the food chain, and Controls and import conditions (the former being known as the animal health Committee, and the latter two coming together to be colloquially known as the public health Committee) The remaining sections come under the remit of other areas of Defra or the Food Standards Agency (FSA)
How often does the Committee meet?
Ordinarily there is one animal health, and one public health meeting held each month other than in the case of a serious disease outbreak where the Commission will call extraordinary meetings of the Committee to discuss and/or take appropriate measures to safeguard the Community.
Who attends the Committee?
The Committee is chaired by a European Commission representative, supported by other Commission officials. Member States are usually represented by officials from their respective national competent authorities, or by delegates from Member States’ Permanent Representations.
How are decisions made?
The Commission bring forward draft proposals either autonomously (it is the only pillar of the Community with right of initiative in making policy), or at the request of a Member State (such as requests for lifting of safeguard measures). These proposals are considered by Member States, and on many occasions are discussed in the Committee a number of times before formally being put to a vote. Voting in the Committee is by Qualified Majority (QMV). When draft decisions have been ratified by the Committee, either unanimously or by qualified majority, they are then put forward for formal adoption by the Commission.
Further information on SCoFCAH and the reports of the Committee are available on the Commission website. SCoFCAH agendas are sent to Member States approximately one week prior to the meeting, these agendas are published on the Commission website at the following links:
Further information
If you would like further information relating to a particular item, proposal or copy of a 24hr report, please send an email to scofcah.team@defra.gsi.gov.uk.
Page last modified:
8 April, 2009