Imports - OVS Note 08/18
UK National Monitoring Plan
Purpose
1. To provide BIPs with a copy of the UK’s first national monitoring plan and request that samples taken and returns are provided from 1 April 08.
Background
2. As you are aware Directive 97/78/EC and Regulation 136/2004 require Member States to have a national monitoring plan for residues and other contaminants. In the last FVO mission it was noted that the UK had no plan and they recommended that a plan was put in place. Since the mission we have developed a monitoring plan for use in UK BIPs. Our intention was to develop a plan that fitted into the existing individual BIP sampling plans and did not create any additional costs for the industry.
3. I attach a copy of the UK National Monitoring Plan for imports of products of animal origin from third countries. The plan has 4 parts: an introduction which explains the legal base; the matrix which gives relevant legislation and potential contaminants by 94/360 category; further guidance on potential contaminants for specific products; and the spreadsheet to provide the return.
4. Authorised Officers should use the matrix and the further guidance to target samples that are taken. We believe that the current level of sampling is sufficient however the samples should cover the full range of contaminants and products in the plan. Overall 1% of consignments which are physically checks should be sampled. Samples may be tested for more than one substance (but it still only counts as one consignment sampled). You may use previous results and RASFF to direct sampling (i.e. which contaminant(s) to sample for) but you should note that this is a monitoring plan rather than safeguard activity so there should be some unpredictability to the choice of consignment to be sampled. Due consideration should also be given to the Food Law Enforcement Code of Practice and associated Practice Guidance issued by the Food Standards Agency.
5. The plan does not include samples taken under the VMD’s non-statutory surveillance programme. Authorised Officers should not therefore record the results of the non-statutory surveillance programme in the return at the end of the month. However where VMD samples test positive for a banned substance or exceed an MRPL, appropriate regulatory action should be taken in accordance with advice from the Food Standards Agency and you should notify Defra in accordance with Section 15 of the BIP manual. Similarly, any positive result received from samples taken under the monitoring plan might trigger Article 24 procedures. Samples taken as a result of Article 24 procedures should not be included in the return. The return should include microscopy and salmonella samples taken as part of the general import controls. Samples taken based on suspicion, where the consignment is not subject to an Article 24 procedure, should also be included in the plan.
6. Wherever possible the return should be made on the Excel spreadsheet provided. This will help us to compile the return for the Commission. The return should be with us by the tenth day of the following month. The return covers the whole financial year. Results of the analysis should be entered when they are received. The whole spreadsheet should be sent each month and should contain all the samples taken in the preceding month and any results received backfilled. This return will replace the Appendix M return from the BIP manual which is no longer required.
7. We will be monitoring the returns made and if any of the categories have a shortfall we may ask BIPs to increase the number of samples taken for a particular contaminant. We also intend to review the plan after a year and to further develop to take account of the experience gained.
8. We believe the plan is self-explanatory but if there are any questions please let me know (contact details below) and I will pull together an FAQ sheet.
Action for Authorised Officers
9. To use the matrix and guidance to target monitoring samples taken at the BIP from 1 April 2008.
To provide the returns on the Excel spreadsheet by the 10th day of the following month (first return is required by 10 May 08) to the e-mail address below. To notify Defra of any positive results via the e-mail address below. To stop completing and submitting the Appendix M return.
Contact point for enquiries
Louise Mount 020 7904 6503
Fax: 020 7904 8230
E-mail: iah-imports@defra.gsi.gov.uk
Please note from 3 March my contact details will be:
Area 4B in Nobel House, 17 Smith Square, London, SW1P 3JR
New Tel 020 7238 2017
New Fax 020 7238 3087
International Animal Health Core Team, Imports Team
Page published:
20 May, 2008