Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/2129Show full title

Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/2129

of 25 November 2019

establishing rules for the uniform application of frequency rates for identity checks and physical checks on certain consignments of animals and goods entering the Union

(Text with EEA relevance)

THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION,

Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,

Having regard to Regulation (EU) 2017/625 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 15 March 2017 on official controls and other official activities performed to ensure the application of food and feed law, rules on animal health and welfare, plant health and plant protection products, amending Regulations (EC) No 999/2001, (EC) No 396/2005, (EC) No 1069/2009, (EC) No 1107/2009, (EU) No 1151/2012, (EU) No 652/2014, (EU) 2016/429 and (EU) 2016/2031 of the European Parliament and of the Council, Council Regulations (EC) No 1/2005 and (EC) No 1099/2009 and Council Directives 98/58/EC, 1999/74/EC, 2007/43/EC, 2008/119/EC and 2008/120/EC, and repealing Regulations (EC) No 854/2004 and (EC) No 882/2004 of the European Parliament and of the Council, Council Directives 89/608/EEC, 89/662/EEC, 90/425/EEC, 91/496/EEC, 96/23/EC, 96/93/EC and 97/78/EC and Council Decision 92/438/EEC (Official Controls Regulation)(1), and in particular points (a) and (c) of the first subparagraph of Article 54(3) thereof,

Whereas:

(1) Regulation (EU) 2017/625 establishes rules on the performance of official controls by the competent authorities of the Member States on animals and goods entering the Union in order to verify compliance with Union agri-food chain legislation.

(2) Article 54(3) of Regulation (EU) 2017/625 empowers the Commission to establish rules for the uniform application of the appropriate frequency rate for identity checks and physical checks on consignments of the categories of animals and goods referred to in Article 47(1)(a) and (b) of that Regulation. Therefore the frequency rates on identity checks and physical checks should be established depending on the risk posed by each animal, good or category of animals or goods to human, animal or plant health, animal welfare or, as regards genetically modified organisms and also to the environment.

(3) To ensure that the frequency rates of physical checks required pursuant to this Regulation are complied with in a uniform manner, provision should be made in this Regulation to make use of the information management system for official controls (IMSOC) referred to in Article 131 of Regulation (EU) 2017/625 for the selection of consignments for physical checks.

(4) The frequency rates established in accordance with this Regulation should be applicable for the animals and goods referred to in Article 47(1)(a) and (b) of Regulation (EU) 2017/625 intended to be placed on the market. However, the frequency of physical checks carried out at border control posts to ascertain compliance with Regulation (EU) 2018/848 of the European Parliament and of the Council(2) should be determined in accordance with Article 45(5) of that Regulation.

(5) Council Directive 91/496/EEC(3) lays down rules governing the organisation of veterinary checks on animals entering the Union from third countries. Article 4 of that Directive provides that each consignment of animals should be subject to identity checks and physical checks.

(6) Directive 91/496/EEC is repealed by Regulation (EU) 2017/625 with effect from 14 December 2019. Taking into account the risk posed by certain categories of animals to human or animal health and animal welfare, the same frequency rates of identity checks and physical checks should continue to apply to animals entering the Union from third countries as those laid down in or in accordance with Directive 91/496/EEC.

(7) To ensure the effectiveness of the official controls, identity checks and physical checks should be carried out in such a way that it is not possible for the operator responsible for the consignment to predict whether any particular consignment will be subject to physical checks.

(8) Article 3 of Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/2130(4) establishes detailed rules on identity checks for goods referred to in point (b) of Article 47(1) of Regulation (EU) 2017/625, according to whether the consignment is subject to physical checks or not.

(9) The baseline criteria for determining the baseline frequency rates for the identity checks and physical checks performed on products of animal origin, germinal products, animal by-products, derived products, hay and straw and composite products should be established taking into account information regarding the risks associated with the categories of animals or goods and available scientific assessments.

(10) Based on information collected by the Commission in accordance with Article 125(1) of Regulation (EU) 2017/625, on the outcome of controls performed by Commission experts in third countries in accordance with Article 120(1) of that Regulation and on information collected through the IMSOC, it should be possible to modify the frequency rates for physical checks resulting from the baseline criteria.

(11) To ensure the efficiency of official controls, the frequency rates determined in accordance with this Regulation should be made available through the IMSOC.

(12) For certain third countries with which the Union has concluded veterinary agreements on equivalency, it is appropriate to reduce the frequency of physical checks on certain products, taking into account, inter alia, the application of the regionalisation principle in the case of animal disease, and of other veterinary principles. Therefore, the frequency rates for physical checks specified in these veterinary agreements should apply for the purpose of this Regulation.

(13) Commission Decision 94/360/EC(5) establishes reduced frequency rates of physical checks for certain categories of goods subject to veterinary checks. Since this Regulation lays down provisions in the areas covered by Decision 94/360/EC, that Decision should be repealed with effect from the date specified in this Regulation.

(14) Regulation (EU) 2017/625 applies from 14 December 2019. Accordingly, the rules laid down in this Regulation should also apply from that date.

(15) The measures provided for in this Regulation are in accordance with the opinion of the Standing Committee on Plants, Animals, Food and Feed,

HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION:

Article 1 U.K. Subject matter and scope

This Regulation lays down rules for the uniform application of the appropriate frequency rate of identity checks and physical checks on consignments of animals and goods referred to in Article 47(1)(a) and (b) of Regulation (EU) 2017/625 intended to be placed on the market.

Article 2 U.K. Definitions

For the purpose of this Regulation,

1.

‘frequency rate’ means the minimum percentage of consignments of animals and goods referred to in Article 1, determined in accordance with this Regulation, of the number of consignments arrived at the border control post during an identified period, for which identity checks and physical checks are to be carried out by the competent authorities;

2.

[F1 The ‘appropriate computerised information management system’ is the system for or official controls referred to in Article 131 of Regulation (EU) 2017/625;

3.

‘the appropriate authority’ has the meaning given in Article 3 of Regulation (EU) 2017/625.]

4.

[F2 ‘Dogchews’ has the meaning given by point 17 of Annex 1 to Regulation 142/2011;

5.

‘Meat’ has the meaning given by point 1.1 of Annex 1 to Regulation 853/2004;

6.

‘Poultry’ has the meaning given by point 1.3 of Annex 1 to Regulation (EC) 853/2004 of the European Parliament and of the Council laying down specific hygiene rules for food of animal origin;

7.

‘Poultry meat’ means meat which come from the edible parts of poultry;

8.

‘Poultry meat products’ means processed products resulting from the processing of poultry meat or from the further processing of such processed products, so that the cut surface shows that the product no longer has the characteristics of fresh meat.]

Textual Amendments

F1 Art. 2(2)(3) substituted for Art. 2(2) (31.12.2020) by The Official Controls (Animals, Feed and Food, Plant Health etc.) (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2020 (S.I. 2020/1481), regs. 1, 36(2)(a) (with reg. 46)

F2 Art. 2(4)-(8) inserted (30.4.2024) by The Official Controls (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations 2024 (S.I. 2024/541), regs. 1, 12(2) (with reg. 5)

Article 3 U.K. Selection of consignments for physical checks

1. The competent authorities shall select consignments for physical checks in accordance with the following procedure:

(a) a random selection of a consignment is automatically generated by the [F3 appropriate computerised information management system];

(b) the competent authorities may decide to select the consignment in accordance with point (a) or to select a different consignment of the same category of goods and the same origin of goods.

2. For each consignment selected for physical checks in accordance with paragraph 1 of this Article, the competent authorities shall perform identity checks as referred to in Article 3(1) of Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/2130.

Textual Amendments

F3 Words in Art. 3(1)(a) substituted (31.12.2020) by The Official Controls (Animals, Feed and Food, Plant Health etc.) (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2020 (S.I. 2020/1481), regs. 1, 36(3) (with reg. 46)

Article 4 U.K. Frequency rates for identity checks and physical checks

1. The competent authorities shall perform identity checks and physical checks on consignments of animals, products of animal origin, germinal products, animal by-products, derived products, hay and straw and composite products at the frequency rates determined in accordance with Article 5 [F4 , except where paragraphs 3 to 8 apply].

[F5 2. In a case where an agreement of equivalence between Great Britain and a third country or between the United Kingdom and a third country has been or is concluded, physical checks must be carried out in accordance with any provisions governing frequency rates under that agreement.]

[F6 3. Where the appropriate authority has conducted an assessment in relation to—

(a) the risks attached to the importation of—

(i) a species or category of animal, or

(ii) a category of goods mentioned in paragraph 1, and

(b) the risks posed by the importation of that category of animals or goods from (as the case may be) a particular region, third country, or part of a country,

the appropriate authority may determine the frequency rate which is to apply to that category of animals or goods.

4. In determining the frequency rate to apply in accordance with paragraph 3, the appropriate authority musttake into account the factors specified in Article 44(2) of the Official Controls Regulation.

5. Where, in accordance with paragraph 3, the appropriate authority has determined the frequency rate to apply to a species of animal or category of goods or products, the authority must publish the frequency rate online.

6. Where—

(a) the appropriate authority has concluded an agreement as referred to in paragraph 2, or

(b) direct assimilated legislation or other national rules require an increase in the frequency rates published online,

the frequency rates determined in accordance with paragraph 3 must be increased, or as the case may be, decreased, in accordance with the requirements of that agreement, legislation or rule.

7. The frequency rates determined by the appropriate authority under or in accordance with this Regulation, in relation to—

(a) meat and edible offal of sheep, fresh, chilled or frozen, originating in New Zealand,

(b) poultry meat products originating in China or Thailand, and

(c) pet food and dogchews originating in any third country,

must be no lower than the frequency rates applying in relation to corresponding goods being imported into Northern Ireland.

8. In this Article, a reference to the determination of the frequency rate by the appropriate authority includes the redetermination of the rate from time to time.]

Textual Amendments

F4 Words in Art. 4(1) inserted (30.4.2024) by The Official Controls (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations 2024 (S.I. 2024/541), regs. 1, 12(3)(a) (with reg. 5)

F5 Art. 4(2) substituted (31.12.2020) by The Official Controls (Animals, Feed and Food, Plant Health etc.) (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2020 (S.I. 2020/1481), regs. 1, 36(4) (with reg. 46)

F6 Art. 4(3)-(8) inserted (30.4.2024) by The Official Controls (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations 2024 (S.I. 2024/541), regs. 1, 12(3)(b) (with reg. 5)

Article 5 U.K. Determination and modification of frequency rates for identity checks and physical checks performed on animals, products of animal origin, germinal products, animal by-products, derived products, hay and straw and composite products

1. The baseline frequency rates for identity checks and for physical checks on consignments of animals and goods referred to in Article 1 are set out in Annex I to this Regulation, based on the scientific assessments and information referred to in points (a)(v) and (vi) of the first subparagraph of Article 54(3) of Regulation (EU) 2017/625.

2. The frequency rate for physical checks on specific goods from a specific third country may be increased where serious deficiencies are identified based on:

(a) information collected by the [F7 appropriate authority] in accordance with Article 125(1) of Regulation (EU) 2017/625; or

(b) the outcome of controls performed by Commission experts in accordance with Article 120(1) of Regulation (EU) 2017/625.

In this case, the frequency rate determined in accordance with paragraph 1 is increased to the next higher baseline frequency rate set out in Annex I or to a frequency rate of 50 % where the frequency rate applicable to the specific category of goods is at 30 %,

3. The frequency rate of physical checks shall be increased from the baseline frequency rate determined in accordance with paragraph 1 to the next higher baseline frequency rate set out in Annex I, or to a frequency rate of 50 % if the frequency rate applicable to the specific category of goods is at 30 %, where data and information collected via the [F8 appropriate computerised information management system] indicate for specific goods from a specific third country a level of non-compliance with respect to physical checks in the last 12 months, for the same category of goods, which exceeds by 30 % the average rate of non-compliance for the same category of goods from all third countries.

4. Where the criteria referred to in paragraph 2 or in paragraph 3 are no longer met, the frequency rate shall be reduced to the respective baseline frequency rate set out in Annex I.

5. The [F9 appropriate authority] shall make frequency rates determined in accordance with this Article available to competent authorities and to operators through the [F10 appropriate computerised information management system].

Textual Amendments

F7 Words in Art. 5(2)(a) substituted (31.12.2020) by The Official Controls (Animals, Feed and Food, Plant Health etc.) (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2020 (S.I. 2020/1481), regs. 1, 36(5)(a) (with reg. 46)

F8 Words in Art. 5(3) substituted (31.12.2020) by The Official Controls (Animals, Feed and Food, Plant Health etc.) (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2020 (S.I. 2020/1481), regs. 1, 36(5)(b) (with reg. 46)

F9 Words in Art. 5(5) substituted (31.12.2020) by The Official Controls (Animals, Feed and Food, Plant Health etc.) (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2020 (S.I. 2020/1481), regs. 1, 36(5)(c)(i) (with reg. 46)

F10 Words in Art. 5(5) substituted (31.12.2020) by The Official Controls (Animals, Feed and Food, Plant Health etc.) (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2020 (S.I. 2020/1481), regs. 1, 36(5)(c)(ii) (with reg. 46)

Article 6 U.K. Repeals

Decision 94/360/EC is repealed with effect from 14 December 2019.

Article 7 U.K. Entry into force and date of application

This Regulation shall enter into force on the twentieth day following that of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.

It shall apply from 14 December 2019.

[F11 Article 8 U.K. Derogations and modifications: relevant goods entering Great Britain from a relevant third country

1. This Regulation applies subject to the derogations and modifications specified in Annex 6 to Regulation (EU) 2017/625 and in paragraph 3 of this Article during the transitional staging period, in relation to relevant goods entering Great Britain from a relevant third country.

2. In this Article ‘appropriate frequency rate’, ‘transitional staging period’, ‘relevant goods’ and ‘relevant third country’ have the meanings given in Annex 6 to Regulation (EU) 2017/625.

3. For Article 5, substitute—

Article 5 “Modification of frequency rates for identity checks and physical checks performed on relevant goods from relevant third countries

1. In relation to relevant goods entering Great Britain from a relevant third country during the transitional staging period, identity and physical checks must be carried out at the appropriate frequency rate.

2. In this Article ‘appropriate frequency rate’ has the meaning given in Annex 6 to Regulation (EU) 2017/625.”]

Textual Amendments

F11 Art. 8 inserted (31.12.2020) by The Official Controls (Animals, Feed and Food, Plant Health etc.) (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2020 (S.I. 2020/1481), regs. 1, 36(6)(b) (with reg. 46)

F12 ...

Done at Brussels, 25 November 2019.

For the Commission

The President

Jean-Claude Juncker

Textual Amendments

F12 Words in Signature omitted (31.12.2020) by virtue of The Official Controls (Animals, Feed and Food, Plant Health etc.) (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2020 (S.I. 2020/1481), regs. 1, 36(6)(a) (with reg. 46)

ANNEX I U.K. Baseline criteria for determining the baseline frequency rates for the identity checks and physical checks of the consignments of animals, products of animal origin, germinal products, animal by-products, derived products, hay and straw and composite products

a The frequency rates for physical checks of consignments of trade samples shall be in accordance with the description of the categories of goods provided in this Annex.
Baseline criteria for determining baseline frequency rates for identity checks and physical checks		Baseline frequency rates that apply to
Risk category	Category of animals or goods a	identity checks	physical checks
I	Animals	100 %	100 %
II	Minced meat, mechanically separated meat and meat preparations for human consumption (HC) Poultry meat for HC Rabbit meat, game meat, and their meat products for HC Eggs for HC Egg products for HC which are preserved at frozen or chilled temperatures Milk for HC Dairy products and colostrum-based products for HC, which are preserved at frozen or chilled temperatures Fishery products from aquaculture and bivalve molluscs for HC, which are not in hermetically sealed containers intended to render them stable at ambient temperature Animal by-products and derived products, for feeding of farmed animals	100 %	30 %
III	Meat other than meat mentioned in Category II, and meat products derived from such meat, for HC Rendered animal fat and greaves for HC Poultry meat products for HC Egg products for HC, other than those mentioned in Category II Dairy products and colostrum-based products for HC other than those mentioned in Category II Fishery products other than those mentioned in Category II Honey and other apiculture products for HC Composite products Hatching eggs Organic fertilisers and soil improvers, derived from animal by-products Frog legs and snails for HC Insects for HC	100 %	15 %
IV	Gelatine and collagen for HC Casings Semen and embryos Animal by-products and derived products, other than those mentioned in Category II and Category III	100 %	5 %
V	Highly refined products for HC Hay and straw Other goods than those mentioned in Category II, Category III and Category IV	100 %	1 %

F13 ANNEX II U.K. List of certain third countries referred to in Article 4(2) and frequencies of physical checks

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Textual Amendments

F13 Annex 2 omitted (31.12.2020) by virtue of The Official Controls (Animals, Feed and Food, Plant Health etc.) (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2020 (S.I. 2020/1481), regs. 1, 36(7) (with reg. 46)

(1)

OJ L 95, 7.4.2017, p. 1.

(2)

Regulation (EU) 2018/848 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 30 May 2018 on organic production and labelling of organic products and repealing Council Regulation (EC) No 834/2007 (OJ L 150, 14.6.2018, p. 1).

(3)

Council Directive 91/496/EEC of 15 July 1991 laying down the principles governing the organisation of veterinary checks on animals entering the Community from third countries and amending Directives 89/662/EEC, 90/425/EEC and 90/675/EEC (OJ L 268, 24.9.1991, p. 56).

(4)

Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/2130 of 25 November 2019 establishing detailed rules on the operations to be carried out during and after documentary checks, identity checks and physical checks on animals and goods subject to official controls at border control posts (see page 128 of this Official Journal).

(5)

Commission Decision 94/360/EC of 20 May 1994 on the reduced frequency of physical checks of consignments of certain products to be implemented from third countries, under Council Directive 90/675/EEC (OJ L 158, 25.6.1994, p. 41).