The FVO hosted a workshop on controls of animal welfare at slaughter. Participants from 25 Member States included auditors, policy and research officials. The workshops focussed on auditing techniques, risk based planning of controls, sharing of good practices and interpretation of some legal requirements. The basis for the workshop was a series of FVO audits in Member States on official controls of animal welfare at slaughter. An overview report on this is expected later this year. Participants sought further clarity in three key areas: requirements of inspections and audit, waterbath stunning of poultry and slaughter without stunning. These and other issues were discussed through a combination of presentations, workshop scenarios and group discussions. The FVO will consider issuing fact sheets on slaughter without stunning; audit and inspection; on-farm slaughter and the transport of unfit animals; and waterbath stunning. Two notable success stories and examples of good practice emerged from the workshop: • The Dutch authorities’ successful implementation of the EU requirements for waterbath stunning of poultry which was achieved through a combination of technical assessment and strong consistent enforcement to ensure a level playing field for operators. • The effective action taken by the authorities in the Autonomous Community of Asturias in Spain to address the longstanding problem of unfit bovine animals arriving at slaughterhouses reported in an FVO audit. This was achieved through a strong commitment to education, enforcement and setting up systems for on-farm slaughter. There are lessons which could be learned from both these case studies in other regions of Europe. To this end the FVO will circulate all the information presented and exchanged during this workshop to competent authorities on the FVO Member States Animal Welfare Network.
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With the increase in trade over the last decades, the risk of introducing new plant pests and diseases has increased. These can spread and lead to environmental damage, destruction of native plant species, substantial economic losses in agricultural production and an increase in the use of pesticides. Therefore measures to prevent their introduction and spread are essential. Harmful organisms detected (or intercepted) in consignments of plants and plant products imported into the EU or being traded within the EU itself are notified to the EUROPHYT rapid alert system, which is managed by the Directorate General for Health and Food Safety of the European Commission. This network is used to monitor interception trends and as a basis for risk management by member countries and for taking EU measures to address particular risks. Notifications are immediately transmitted to all member plant health authorities and to the country of export. The latest EUROPHYT Annual Report shows that in 2014, EU Member States and Switzerland intercepted over 6 600 consignments of plants and plant products, 95 % of which concerned imports. Almost 40 % of these interceptions were due to the presence of harmful organisms and 30 % due to non-compliant wood packaging material, which can harbour plant pests (wood packaging material includes pallets and other wood packaging used in trade). The majority of harmful organism interceptions originated in nine countries, namely, Ghana, Cambodia, India, China, Dominican Republic, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Uganda and Kenya, whereas the main sources of interceptions relating to wood packaging material were India and China. In response to the risks posed by the interception of certain commodities, the Commission has taken a number of measures, which have resulted in a drop in the number of interceptions of these imports from some countries, while work is ongoing to improve the situation in other cases. The Annual Report provides a wide range of analysis of the notifications made to the system in 2014 and describes measures taken by the Commission to address certain risks.
Pinewood nematode (Bursaphelenchus xylophilus) is a quarantine pest native to the US, causing the wilting and death of pines. In the European Union, it was first detected in 1999 in mainland Portugal where it has steadily spread despite control measures implemented since then. Since 1999, the Food and Veterinary Office (FVO) carried out 20 audits in Portugal on this topic. The most recent audit in 2014, concluded that if appropriate actions were not urgently taken, there would be a significant risk of spread outside the infested zone of Portugal. At the same time, since 2008, in Spain, four limited outbreaks have been detected which were or are being eradicated. Against this background, DG SANTE decided to implement a new approach aimed at identifying solutions to more effectively contain the pest. A Task Force for the control of pinewood nematode, coordinated by the FVO and comprising a number of Member State specialists, was set up in Autumn 2014. Between November 2014 and June 2015, the Task Force undertook a number of on-site visits which enabled members to better understand the local situation and difficulties and to propose tailor–made solutions to overcome these problems so as to ensure effective control of the pest. The Task Force took into account the latest scientific knowledge, in particular the EU funded REPHRAME project in the course of its work. The interim results of the Task Force were presented to EU Member States at the Standing Committee on Plants, Animals, Food and Feed in September 2015. The proposals made by the Task Force to date were positively received. Portugal and Spain have already initiated action to implement some of measures proposed. The Standing Committee proposed to postpone any review of the existing EU legislation on this pest until the final report of the Task Force is finalised by the end of 2015. The most recent FVO audit report on Pinewood nematode in Portugal can be found at:
The FVO recently hosted a three day workshop on laboratory checks for the detection of illegal or counterfeit pesticides. Representatives from 24 Member States and relevant services of the European Commission participated in the event. Attendees comprised both inspectors involved in controls and laboratory experts involved in quality checks of pesticides. The FVO had concluded a series of audits on pesticides in Member States in 2014. One of the common weaknesses identified was in the area of laboratory checks of pesticides, where controls in the majority of Member States were insufficient. All pesticides (also called plant protection products) marketed and used in the EU must be authorised prior to placing on the market. As part of this process, the precise formulation of the product is specified. Formulation analysis is a critical part of controls, as one of the tools to verify if products are manufactured using this precise formulation, and hence, to detect illegal and counterfeit products. Illegal and counterfeit products are estimated to comprise 10 % of the EU market. These products undermine the very high standards of food safety and environmental protection, central to EU legislation in this area. Participants exchanged examples of good practices from experience gained in controls at importers, manufacturers and distributors and from formulation analysis. All participants agreed on the need to enhance systems to share information and best practices between all Member States, to improve the control systems for plant protection products throughout the EU. Overall, the workshop was a great success, and even the Irish weather obliged providing three days of sunshine and balmy temperatures, reaching a high of 17 degrees Celsius!
The FVO has launched in September an audit series to verify the implementation of the legislation concerning the monitoring of AMR in certain animal species. The preparatory work for this series was carried out in close cooperation between the relevant units in Directorate General for Health and Food Safety, the EURL (EU reference laboratory) and EFSA (European Food Safety Agency). This preliminary phase includes two pilot audits in Denmark - which was finished this week - and Germany (before the end of the year). Based on the experience gained during these audits and on their outcome, six additional FVO audits will be carried out in Member States in 2016. The main objective of this work is to evaluate whether the official monitoring and reporting systems in place in Member States ensure the requirements foreseen in Decision 2013/652/EU are being met. This series will also be an opportunity to gather information on best practices and to identify new initiatives to improve awareness and understanding of AMR. The new legislation requires harmonised monitoring systems in the EU, promotes comparability between the Member States and between the human and veterinary sectors and should facilitate the monitoring of patterns of multi-drug resistance in the EU. Reliable and comparable data are essential to assess the sources of AMR, to conduct a risk assessment process and to evaluate the impact of the mitigation measures in place. The audits will focus on the planning and implementation of the Member State’s AMR monitoring programme since 1 January 2014. The main areas to be covered and respective audit criteria are the following: organisation of competent authorities, sampling design, performance of the laboratories involved in AMR monitoring, procedures in place for the assessment and reporting of AMR. During these audits national experts from Member State laboratories with specific expertise in this area will join the FVO teams for the assessment of the laboratory performance. The audit to Denmark took place in a very constructive and cooperative atmosphere and a report will be published in due course. The audit series will be followed by an overview report which will be published and presented to the Member States.
In April 2015, the FVO carried out an audit in Ghana concerning export controls for peppers and chilies (Capsicum sp.), eggplants and eggplant-type aubergines (Solanum sp.) and certain types of gourds (Momordica sp., Lagenaria sp. and Luffa sp.). The EU imports some 2,500 tonnes of these commodities per annum with a value of around 5 million euro. This was the second audit on this topic carried out in response to the high level of harmful organisms detected on produce from Ghana by EU Member States during their border controls. These interceptions of harmful organisms, such as non-European fruit flies and thrips, were mainly found on eggplants, gourds and peppers. Ghana is the country with the highest number of interceptions of plant commodities at the EU borders due to the presence of harmful organisms. The number has steadily increased from ca. 60 in 2012 to 318 over the last 12 months putting Ghana as number one in the EU phytosanitary alert list http://ec.europa.eu/food/plant/plant_health_biosecurity/non_eu_trade/alert_list/index_en.htm. The audit concluded that the vegetables destined for the EU are not subject to a reliable system of export controls to prevent harmful organisms from entering the EU as only minor corrective actions have been taken by the Ghana competent authorities following previous audit. Unfortunately, imports of certain commodities from Ghana continue to pose an unacceptable phytosanitary risk. The results of the recent audit to Ghana were presented to the EU Member States at the Standing Committee on Plants, Animals, Food and Feed in July 2015. On 18 September 2015 this Committee supported a Commission proposal for a temporary ban on the five most intercepted commodities which present the highest risks. Efforts will continue to assist the authorities in Ghana to improve their plant health controls on exports which in turn would allow trade to resume as normal.
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.
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.