Checks on imports of food and feed of non-animal origin
According to Food Law Regulation, food and feed imported into the Community for placing on the market within the European Union, shall comply with the relevant requirements of food law or conditions recognized by the Community to be at least equivalent.
For this, Competent Authorities carries out the following official controls on feed and food of non-animal origin imported into their territories, before release it for free circulation:
Regular controls - Controls organized on the basis of the multi-annual national control plan and in the light of potential risks.
Increased level of controls and emergency measures - Controls organized on the basis of emerging or know risks.
The controls cover all aspects of feed and food law and include at least a systematic documentary check, a random identity check and, as appropriate, a physical check with or without sampling for analysis.
The physical checks are carried out at places with access to appropriate control facilities allowing investigations to be conducted properly, a number of samples to be taken, and the feed and food to be handled hygienically.
At national level, the points of entry and the places where physical checks are carried out are identified in the following lists:
- Designated Points of Entry (DPE)- for food of non-animal origin referred in the annex I of the Commission Regulation (EC) n.º 669/2009, for food under emergency measures according to article 53 of Regulation (EC) n.º. 178/2002 and for polyamide and melamine plastic kitchenware originating in or consigned from the People’s Republic of China and Hong Kong Special Administrative Region referred in the Regulation (EU) n.º 284/2011.
- Designated Points of Import (DPI) - for food refereed in Article 1 of Regulation (EC) n. º 884/2014 (due to the risk by aflatoxins)
Approved Control Points (ACP) - places to carry out the required identity and physical checks at control points other than the designated point of entry.
- Designated Points of Entry (DPE)- for feed of non-animal origin referred in the annex I of the Commission Regulation (EC) n.º 669/2009 and feed under emergency measures according to article 53 of Regulation (EC) n.º 178/2002
- Designated Points of Import (DPI) - for feed refereed in Article 1 of Regulation (EC) n. º 884/2014 (due to the risk by aflatoxins)
