TITLE IIISPECIFIC REQUIREMENTS FOR THE PERFORMANCE OF OFFICIAL CONTROLS AND THE UNIFORM MINIMUM FREQUENCY FOR OFFICIAL CONTROLS ON FRESH MEAT

CHAPTER IIOfficial controls on fresh meat

Section 1Checks of documents

Article 9Obligations of the competent authorities as regards checks of documents

1

The competent authorities shall inform the food business operator of the holding of provenance of the minimum elements of food chain information to be supplied to the slaughterhouse operator in accordance with Section III of Annex II to Regulation (EC) No 853/2004.

2

The competent authorities shall perform the necessary checks of documents to verify that:

a

the food chain information is consistently and effectively communicated between the food business operator who raised or kept the animals before dispatch and the slaughterhouse operator;

b

the food chain information is valid and reliable;

c

feedback of relevant information to the holding of provenance, if applicable, is provided in accordance with Article 39(5).

3

Where animals are dispatched for slaughter to another Member State, the competent authorities at the holding of provenance and the place of slaughter shall cooperate to ensure that the food chain information provided by the food business operator of the holding of provenance is easily accessible to the slaughterhouse operator receiving it.