A Commission Decision 2008/638/EC was published in the Official Journal on 5 August 2008 easing restrictions on the import of heat treated poultry meat products from parts of mainland China.
In 2007, the Commission previously published Decision 2007/777/EC which set out animal and public health conditions and model certificates for imports for certain meat products and treated stomachs, bladders and intestines for human consumption from third countries. Amongst other things, this 2007 Decision meant that imports of poultrymeat products from mainland China were only authorised where the poultrymeat had been heat treated in a hermetically sealed container, in accordance with specific provisions. These provisions were introduced, together with other measures, due to concerns related to the spread of avian influenza.
Requests were lodged by the mainland Chinese authorities with the Commission for the application of less severe treatments to poultry products destined for import into the EU, namely heat treatment to a minimum temperature of 70℃. Following a number of inspection missions to mainland China, the Province of Shandong satisfied the Commission that it had the structure to deal with the animal health status of poultry and that it could demonstrate compliance with the health requirements laid down in Decision 2007/777/EC.
The fact that mainland China has become a member of the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE), with the authorities providing regular information on animal health issues to the Commission, as well as agreeing to provide notification within 24 hours after confirmation of any outbreaks of avian influenza and Newcastle disease in previously disease-free parts of its territory, was seen as a key factor in easing the import restrictions.
Accordingly, Decision 2008/638/EC authorises the import of poultrymeat products from the Province of Shandong into the EU, which have been heat treated to a minimum temperature of 70℃.
A copy of Decision 2008/638/EC can be found at:
http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=OJ:L:2008:207:0024:0029:EN:PDF
In tandem with the above Decision, the Commission also adopted Decision 2008/640/EC, amending a 2005 Decision regarding protective measures which had been put in place to prevent the spread of avian influenza into the EU from third countries.
Traders may remember that the 2005 Decision 2005/692/EC (as amended), applies to all imported products covered by it on a pan-European basis, and sets out a blanket ban for certain products originating in the Chinese mainland, including fresh poultry meat, meat preparations and meat products consisting of, or containing poultry meat, raw pet food and unprocessed feed material containing any parts of poultry and eggs for human consumption and non-treated game trophies from any birds.
Decision 2008/640/EC provides for a derogation from this blanket ban for the import of meat products consisting of, or containing poultrymeat, where the products have been subject to a specific treatment, as set out in Decision 2007/777/EC. This derogation applies to all imports of such poultrymeat products from mainland China.
Decision 2008/640/EC can be found at:
http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=OJ:L:2008:207:0032:0033:EN:PDF
Finally, a third Decision 2008/639/EC, amending a 2002 decision which introduced certain protective measures with regard to products of animal origin imported from mainland China was published in the Official Journal on 5 August 2008.
Hong Kong traders may recall that in December 2002, the EU made imports of products of animal origin from mainland China subject to prior testing, in order to detect the presence of residues of veterinary drugs, pesticides, contaminants and prohibited substances. Only certain fishery products and gelatine were authorised to be imported into the Community without testing.
Decision 2008/639/EC adds "poultrymeat products" to the list of products that are authorised to be imported into the Community without testing from mainland China.
A copy of this third Decision 2008/638/EC can be found at:
http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=OJ:L:2008:207:0030:0031:EN:PDF
