The Products of Animal Origin (Third Country Imports) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2007

EXPLANATORY NOTE

(This note is not part of the Regulations.)

These Regulations revoke and re-enact with changes the Products of Animal Origin (Third Country Imports) (Northern Ireland) Regulations 2006 S.R. 2006 No.291.

They implement for Northern Ireland Council Directive 97/78/EC (laying down the principles governing the organisation of veterinary checks on products entering the Community from third countries) (O.J. No.L24, 30.1.98, p.9). Commission Decision 2002/349/EC (laying down the list of products to be examined at border inspection posts under Council Directive 97/78/EC) (O.J. No.L121, 8.5.2002, p.6) specifies the products of animal origin to which the Directive applies– meat, fish (including shellfish), milk and products made from these, together with egg products and a large number of animal by-products, including casings, skins, bones and blood – from third countries.

The products to which the Regulations apply (defined in regulation 2(1)) shall comply with the requirements listed, by reference to the relevant Community legislation, in Schedule 1.

Regulation 4 provides that Part 3, with the exception of regulation 25, and Parts 4 to 10 do not apply to products intended for personal use that comply with the conditions laid down in that regulation.

Regulation 5 defines the authorities that enforce the Regulations. Usually, these will be official veterinary surgeons and authorised officers approved by the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, the Food Standards Agency and district councils to conduct veterinary checks at each border inspection post in their area (regulation 6). Regulation 5 has been revised to include the provision that the Commissioners for Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs enforce regulation 16 at points of entry other than border inspection posts. A further revision at regulation 5(4) amends enforcement provisions in relation to illegally imported products found inland so that authority enforcement officers who are not authorised officers under the Regulations can take hold of any products of animal origin they suspect of having been illegally imported until an authorised officer can take charge of it. Regulation 5(9) creates a new offence relating to the unlawful disclosure of information received from Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs.

Regulations 7, 8 and 9 confer the necessary enforcement powers on the enforcement authorities. Regulation 13 has been revised to enable the approval of Border Inspection Posts to be suspended in part (previously only a full suspension of approval was permitted).

Part 3 establishes the inspection system, which will apply to the generality of products. The introduction into Northern Ireland of products, which do not comply with the Schedule 1 requirements, is prohibited, unless they are being transported across Northern Ireland (regulation 15). Products shall be brought at border inspection posts, advance notice of their introduction shall be given and they shall be made available for inspection, together with required documentation, at a border inspection post (regulations 16 to 19). Regulation 17 has been revised in order to bring requirements for pre-notification of imported consignments to Border Inspection Posts into line with Commission Regulation 136/2004 laying down procedures for veterinary checks at Community Border Inspection Posts on products imported from third countries. Regulations 21 to 28 deal with products, which are rejected at inspection, are brought illegally, or present a risk to animal or public health.

Parts 4 to 9 lay down special provisions, which apply to particular categories of product (on-board catering supplies, products intended for free circulation in the Community, products in transit across Northern Ireland, products intended for warehousing under particular customs regimes and products exported from the Community and then returned to it). Regulations 48 and 49 are new provisions, which implement procedures for the direct movement of consignments, intended as food for passengers or crew, that do not meet EU import requirements from Border Inspection Posts to ships operating internationally.

Part 10 deals with the calculation and payment of charges for the veterinary checks provided for in the Regulations; Part 11 confers on the Department and the Food Standards Agency power to prohibit the introduction of products into Northern Ireland from non-EEA countries in which there is an outbreak of animal disease; Part 12 establishes offences and penalties and Part 13 deals with notices and with the notification of decisions. Part I of Schedule 3 has been amended in relation to Salmonella testing to enable Border Inspection Posts to charge for such tests carried out in accordance with Community legislation.

Schedules 1 and 3 have been revised with minor technical amendments reflecting the constantly changing disease situation in third countries.