The FVO will open its doors to the public on the 5th September 2015 aiming to explain its good work in an engaging and understandable way. Visitors will have a variety of different opportunities to learn about the FVO, be it through a dedicated posters exhibition, an FVO/DG SANTE video showing room, brochures and importantly personal contact with FVO staff. Visitors and their children will also be able to enjoy a variety of other fun activities including the opportunity to see farm-animals, participate in a thematic European Union treasure hunt, take part in an EU quiz and much more. The event is particularly targeted at decision makers, families, school children of the local rural community surrounding the FVO office, who have all been invited. If any of you happens to be in Ireland on the 5th September, come and join our FVO-Family and Open Day.
News
The FVO carried out an audit in South Africa in February/March 2015 to South Africa concerning export controls for citrus fruits. The EU imports some 650,000 tonnes of citrus fruits from South Africa each year. This was the fourth audit on this topic which was carried out in response to the ongoing interceptions of a harmful organism (pathogen), Phyllosticta citricarpa, in consignments of citrus fruit exported from South Africa to the EU. P. citricarpa is the causative agent of citrus black spot (CBS). This fungus is not present in the EU and its introduction into the EU is banned. Nevertheless, between 2011 and 2014, checks on consignments of citrus from South Africa resulted in 129 interceptions due to the presence of P.citricarpa. CBS has significant economic impact mainly due to the external blemishes that make citrus fruit unsuitable for the fresh market. Severe infections may cause premature fruit drop. The FVO audit found that the CBS Risk Management Scheme operated by the South African authorities had been extensively revised over the past five years, in light of experience gained during successive export seasons and the outcome of investigations following findings of non-compliance or EU interceptions of P. citricarpa. The conditions for registration for export had been strengthened considerably. Additional checks of citrus fruit at pack-houses address a weakness highlighted during the previous two FVO audits and should be beneficial in identifying fruit with CBS symptoms. Places that do not comply with the conditions of the Risk Management Scheme as well as those where CBS is identified are automatically excluded from exporting to the EU. The FVO concluded that the export procedures and checks now are fully in-line with International Standards and the EU import requirements for citrus fruit originating in South Africa. The report made a recommendation to the South African authorities on the need to provide assurances that field controls are implemented consistently. EU Member States continue to check imports of citrus fruit for the presence of the pathogen.
The Commission has started the publication of a trade alert list for plant health. This lists particular trades (commodity/exporting country combinations) into the EU that are intercepted most frequently with organisms harmful to plants. The list is intended to draw the attention of the relevant plant health authorities and other stakeholders to certain trades, for which the EU Member States and Switzerland have identified frequent phytosanitary risks – as a first step in having these risks addressed. The detailed criteria for listing of countries, commodities and harmful organisms are published together with the list itself.
The FVO has carried out a series of audits in the Member States to evaluate how the national systems evaluate if the import controls on products of animal origin are effective in ensuring that imported goods in the EU market comply with the legal requirements. An overview report on the effectiveness of verification systems across the EU will be published in the coming months on our website. The last audit in this series took place in Ireland in June 2014. The report concludes positively on the system developed by the Irish authorities. They have a system of verification of the controls at the borders that detects deficiencies and allows for continuous improvement. This is allied with the fact that the import competent authorities have a formal cooperation with those in charge of controls on the market. This is used to identify and investigate consignments that have been introduced illegally in the territory.
The Commission has just published a report on the controls on plant protection products in the EU. The overview is based on 19 audits carried out in Member States between 2012 and 2014. The audits concentrated on the authorisation systems for plant protection products, and on the controls carried out for the marketing and use of these products. Shortcomings in the authorisation systems were identified in two areas: • Delays with authorisations within the EU deadlines: Many authorised products had not been evaluated to EU standards, more than 15 years after the EU principles for evaluation had been established. Similarly, delays and weaknesses in co-operation between Member States were identified for the new zonal authorisation system established in 2009. This highlights the difficulty for Member States to put in place authorisation systems in line with EU legislation; • The report also identifies problems with the misuse of simplified emergency authorisations, undermining the effectiveness of the strict criteria for regular authorisations established by EU legislation. Regarding official controls on the marketing of plant protection products, there were weaknesses related to inadequate checks of labels and unsatisfactory quality controls of these products. As a consequence, counterfeit and illegal pesticides may not always be detected. Controls of the Member States on the use of plant protection products were more effective. Relevant aspects were covered during inspections and thorough checks of records kept by users were undertaken. Initial measures were taken for putting into practice the EU Directive on Sustainable Use of Pesticides, which is a step forward to ensure the sustainable use of pesticides.
The Commission has just published a report on the controls of food supplements in the EU. The Food and Veterinary Office had visited five Member States in 2013 and 2014, to obtain an overview on the controls carried out for these products. Food supplements contain concentrated sources of vitamins, minerals, plant and herbal extracts. They are marketed in capsules, pills, powders or liquids. Their purpose is to supplement the normal diet, but not to treat or cure a disease. The visits in Member States took place against the backdrop of a growing trade in food supplements in the EU, especially via the internet, and an increasing number of alert notifications in the EU Rapid Alert System for Food. This demonstrates that these products can be a real risk to food safety. Minerals and vitamins are approved by the European Commission, but maximum levels have not been set. A Commission report of 2008 had concluded that it was not feasible to harmonise the use of other substances such as plant and herbal extracts. In most Member States, producers or traders have to inform (“notify”) the national authorities about the products marketed. The procedures for assessing these notifications differ considerably within the EU. Member States pointed out that the lack of harmonised lists of approved plant and herbal extracts, and of maximum levels for vitamins and minerals, means that the safety criteria are not transparent to traders, inspectors and consumers. Likewise, different national provisions can be an obstacle to intra-EU trade. A number of Member States have taken initiatives to address issues such as the control of internet sales. Such examples of good practice will provide the basis for discussions with Member States on practical steps to improve the effectiveness of controls. Regarding the possible approval of plant and herbal extracts, the Commission is currently examining the feasibility of various options.
The aim of this event hosted by the Food and Veterinary Office (FVO) of the European Commission is to discuss how audits and inspections contribute to high food safety standards and importantly to learn how they are best used at European and Global level to improve Food Control Systems and to facilitate trade. The discussions will focus on audit approaches in food safety systems of global food producing/trading nations. Audits are a key enabler for safe food safety systems in the EU and in countries exporting to the EU, thus contributing to feeding the planet safely but also to enabling safe food trade within and outside the EU. Colleagues from key Food Safety Authorities in the EU and trading partners, from the international standard setting bodies, the food industry and civil society will take part in the event. The event will be video broadcast and can be viewed on the 8th July from 10:30 to 16:30 clicking the link "Read more…"
The FVO has just published an overview report evaluating the Member States' 2013 monitoring plans for residues of veterinary medicines and other contaminants in food of animal origin. For the first time, the FVO also examined the ability of national laboratories to monitor for residues of critically important antimicrobials (CIAs). This report forms part of the road map of the European Commission's action plan against the rising threats from antimicrobial resistance. The report finds that EU Member States do monitor animal products for a range of residues of veterinary antimicrobials (including most of the CIAs evaluated). The ability of Member States to test for residues of these substances in food of animal origin is useful to identify any misuse of these drugs. For example, if the test results showed that the Maximum Residue Limits (MRL) were exceeded, a possible explanation could be that the animals had been given an excessive dose. An alternative explanation could be that the withdrawal period prior to slaughter had not been respected or was insufficient.
The Commission has just published a report on the state of implementation of HACCP in the EU and areas for improvement. Procedures based on Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP) principles are mandatory for most business operators placing food or feed on the EU market. They are essential to put in place, implement and maintain a food safety management system, protecting consumers from hazards. The report looks at the implementation of HACCP across Member States and concludes that the experience of Food and Feed Business Operators with HACCP has been generally positive. There is overall agreement on the importance and benefits of implementing Food and Feed safety management systems based on HACCP principles. In all Member States there is an adequate level of implementation of HACCP-based procedures. National control systems check on the implementation of HACCP-based systems on an on-going basis. However, there is room for improvement. The project has identified seven key areas where challenges exist. In particular, two factors give rise to inconsistencies of interpretation and implementation: • some of the HACCP principles are not always well understood, particularly by small FBOs, and • national frameworks for implementing HACCP-based systems vary between Member States and within sectors. The report contains a range of examples of good practices already being implemented in Member States which could be used as a basis for improvement in these areas. There is much common ground between official and stakeholder bodies on the main areas where improvements could be made. There is an eagerness to work together to resolve these difficulties for the benefit of all consumers in the EU and beyond. The report includes a work-programme for a better implementation of HACCP to be implemented at EU level, by the Member States, by stakeholder organisations and by FBOs. It is envisaged that progress at each level can be achieved in parallel. For its part, the Commission has already initiated discussions with Member State experts on a revision of the existing EU guidance documents in HACCP to improve understanding of the HACCP principles. Ongoing and planned Better Training for Safer Food (BTSF) activities related to HACCP will be adapted accordingly.
A delegation from the Taiwan Food and Drug Authority (TFDA) and the Bureau of Animal and Plant Health Inspection and Quarantine (BAPHIQ) visited the Food and Veterinary Office (FVO) in June 2015, as part of the “Taiwan Study Visit - EU Animal Health and Food Safety Control" organised by DG TRADE. A two day programme was prepared for this visit to include elements of the EU food safety and animal health policy, the work of the FVO and to address specific questions received in advance from the delegation. These visits constitute a valuable opportunity to explain the role of the FVO in ensuring that public authorities meet their responsibilities to deliver the EU’s high standards and in turn receive information on how the visiting competent authorities organise their work. In particular, explanations were provided on the risk-based approach to planning the work of the FVO, prioritisation of areas and countries to audit, decision process highlighting timelines, consultation and transparency of the process as well as other activities developed by the FVO to contribute to the continual improvement of EU official controls. The exchange over two days was helpful in promoting better understanding of the respective control systems and how trade can be promoted under safe conditions.