Importer Information Note (IIN) for the importation of poultry meat from Third Countries (countries outside of the EU) into England (IIN PM03)
Contents:
- Important
- Production standards
- Country of origin
- Approved establishments
- Health certification
- Transit
- Identification mark
- Conditions applicable to imports from Norway and Switzerland
- Veterinary checks
- Contact for information
- Caution
Important
i. These notes explain the conditions which apply to imports of poultry meat for human consumption from specified Third Countries (countries outside the EU) into England.
ii. These notes are for guidance only. They do not give comprehensive coverage of all conditions laid down in EU and national legislation and have no legal force. Importers must satisfy themselves that poultry meat is imported in accordance with all the relevant legislation. The authoritative legal position can be found in the appropriate national legislation and European Community Directives and Decisions.
iii. Specimen copies of model health certificates referred to in this note can be sent to traders or importers on request.
iv. Personal data may be stored and processed by Defra on computer systems. Defra complies with the standards set by the Data Protection Act.
v. For guidance on live animals or other animal products please see the relevant Importer Information Notes (IINs).
- NB: These notes may not cover situations where emergency safeguard action has been taken, e.g. to prohibit the importation of certain animals from certain countries following an outbreak of serious disease in those countries. Importers are advised to contact the Department to check if any safeguard action has been taken in relation to the animals/country of origin. Outbreaks and procedure information can be found in our Customer Information Notes (CINs) and within our Declarations website.
Production standards
1. In order to be able to meet these requirements, the meat must have been produced in accordance with the conditions laid down in:
- Council Directive 2002/99/EC laying down the animal health rules governing the production, processing, distribution and introduction of products of animal origin for human consumption;
- Regulation (EC) No 178/2002 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 on the hygiene of foodstuffs;
- Regulation (EC) No 853/2004 laying down specific rules for food of animal origin;
- Regulation (EC) No 854/2004 laying down specific rules for the organisation of official controls on products of animal origin intended for human consumption.
More detailed information on the new hygiene legislation can be found on the Food Standards Agency website.
Country of origin
2.. In accordance with the requirements of Directive 90/539/EEC (as amended) the European Community has drawn up a list of Third Countries from which EU Member States may import poultry meat for human consumption. Member States are not permitted to allow imports of poultry meat for human consumption from countries not on the list.
The approved Third Country list for poultry meat imports can be found in Annex II Part I of Commission Decision 2006/696/EC.
In addition the country of origin must be listed for the appropriate species in Commission Decision 2004/432/EC (as amended) on the approval of residue monitoring plans submitted by third countries in accordance with Council Directive 96/23/EC.
Approved establishments
3. Fresh poultry meat must have been slaughtered, cut and stored in establishments in compliance with the conditions laid down in Regulation (EC) No 853/2004 and Regulation (EC) No 853/2004 (see links above).
Consolidated lists of approved plants are available on the European Commission’s website.
Health certification
4. Each consignment must be accompanied by a certificate signed and stamped by a duly authorised Veterinary Officer of the competent authority of the exporting country in accordance with Annex II of Commission Decision 2006/696/EC (see link above).
A health certificate signed by an Official Veterinarian of the exporting country in accordance with Commission Regulation (EC) No 599/2004 is required where the origin of the meat is a region or area under restriction as a result of an animal health problem. Please see our Customer Information Notes (CINs) and Declarations pages for further information.
Transit
5. Fresh poultry meat for transit/storage in the European Community, must be accompanied by a certificate in accordance with Commission Decision 2006/696/EC (see link above).
Identification mark
6. In accordance with Regulation (EC) No 853/2004 (see link above), an identification mark must be applied to the product, the wrapping or the packaging or be printed on a label affixed to the product, the wrapping or the packaging. This must indicate the approval number of the establishment and the country of origin. The mark must be applied before the product leaves the establishment.
Conditions applicable to imports from Norway and Switzerland
7. As a signatory of the European Economic Area Agreement, Norway and Switzerland have agreed to implement EU veterinary legislation in relation to the movement of live animals and eggs between member countries. Therefore poultry meat for human consumption imported from Norway and Switzerland must comply with the same requirements which apply to trade within the EU. However, consignments must enter the EU through an approved Border Inspection Post (see IIN A/1).
Veterinary checks
8. Consignments may only be imported through an approved EU Border Inspection Post (BIP). Following satisfactory checks at the BIP, consignments may then circulate freely within the EU. A list of BIPs is available on the Defra website.
Consignments must be pre-notified, in accordance with the Products of Animal Origin (Third Country Imports) Regulations, to the relevant BIP before arrival in the country, by completion of Part I of the Common Veterinary Entry Document (CVED) or by electronic means as agreed with the Border Inspection Post competent authority.
Contact for information
9. Information regarding EU import conditions for poultry and poultry products is also available on the EU website.
For further information or guidance on importing poultry meat for human consumption from Third Countries, and live animals and animal derived products, into England please contact:
Animal Health Import Team,
Government Offices,
Beeches Road,
Chelmsford,
Essex
CM1 2RU
Tel: 01245 358383
E-mail: AHITchelmsford@animalhealth.gsi.gov.uk
Caution
(i). Consignments presented for import at a BIP (see Section 7) must be accompanied by the original health certificate(s); faxed or photocopied certificates are not acceptable. The Official Veterinary Surgeon (OVS) will carry out veterinary checks (for which a charge will be levied) in accordance with EU legislation. On completion of these checks he will issue a CVED. The CVED should accompany the consignment to the first point of destination. The OVS will retain the original certification.
(ii). The OFFC Regulations were introduced on 1 January 2006. These allow for additional checks to be made at the Border Inspection Post. Please contact the Port Health Authority/BIP of entry for further information
(iii). Whilst every attempt is made to keep this information note current, import conditions may change and importers are responsible for checking the current status of the requirements. Safeguard measures which prohibit imports from countries affected by animal diseases or other public or animal health hazards can prohibit or restrict import at very short notice. Requirements can be checked on the Defra website. Outbreaks and procedure information can also be found in our Customer Information Notes (CINs).
Alternatively you can keep up to date with amendments to legislation by checking the Commission website.
Community Legislation - Consolidated Texts
(iv). Consolidated texts are available which integrate the basic instruments of Community legislation with their amendments and corrections in a single, non-official document. Each consolidated text contains a list of all legal documents taken into account for its construction. Therefore a comparison with the data in the 'Directory of Community legislation in force' will allow you to easily check how up to date the consolidated text is.
Texts provided in this section are intended for information only. Please note that these texts have no legal value. For legal purposes please refer to the texts published in the 'Official Journal of the European Communities'.
(v). Importers should note that the information given relates only to animal health conditions of import. It does not give guidance on other controls which may need to be met. The attached information sheet gives details of other organisations you may need to consult.
Page published: 21
April, 2004
Page last modified:
20 June, 2008