The Food (Peanuts from Egypt) (Emergency Control) (England and Wales) Order 2000

Explanatory Note

(This note is not part of the Order)

This Order, which is made by the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food under section 13 of the Food Safety Act 1990, replaces for England and Wales the Food (Peanuts from Egypt) (Emergency Control) Order 1999 which prohibited the import of peanuts from Egypt. This Order permits such importation in accordance with conditions in Article 1 of Commission Decision 2000/49/EC of 6th December 1999 repealing Commission Decision 1999/356/EC and imposing special conditions on the import of peanuts and certain products derived from peanuts originating in or consigned from Egypt.

The conditions in question permit the import of Egyptian peanuts only where accompanied by Egyptian Government health certificates and results of sampling and analysis. They also require that the import of such peanuts takes place only through specified points of entry, and that each consignment of such peanuts be identified with a code corresponding with that on the health certificate and sampling and analysis results. Article 1 also requires that such imports be subjected to documentary checks, and sampling and analysis for aflatoxin B1 and total aflatoxins before release onto the market; powers in relation to the former can be found in section 32 of the Food Safety Act 1990, and powers in relation to the latter can be found in the Contaminants in Food Regulations 1997 (S.I. 1997/1499, amended by S.I. 1999/1603).

No regulatory impact assessment has been prepared in relation to this Order.