On 2 December 2010, the EU’s Official Journal published Commission Decision 2010/734/EU, which essentially extends a number of protective measures to combat avian flu. One of these measures was adopted in 2005 (as Commission Decision 2005/692/EC) and has been regularly prolonged, concerning protective measures taken by the EU against imports of poultry products from third countries including mainland China.
This latest act, i.e., Commission Decision 2010/734/EU, refers to the fact that the Commission had adopted several measures to protect against avian flu outbreaks in south-east Asia which started in 2003, and which were caused by the highly pathogenic virus of the subtype H5N1. While the measures were applicable until the end of last year, outbreaks in wild birds and in poultry are said to be continuing both in Member States and in third countries, posing a risk to animal and human health.
The period of application of measures that were previously adopted are therefore extended. In the case of Commission Decision 2005/692/EC which sets out measures concerning imports from the Chinese mainland, its applicability is extended until 30 June 2012.
Commission Decision 2005/692/EC (which has been subject to amendments since its adoption), states in relevant part as follows:
Member States shall suspend the importation from China of:
(a) fresh poultry meat;
(b) meat preparations and meat products consisting of, or containing poultry meat;
(c) raw pet food and unprocessed feed material containing any parts of poultry;
(d) eggs for human consumption; and
(e) non-treated game trophies from any birds.
By way of derogation from the above-mentioned restrictions, Member States shall authorise the importation of meat products consisting of, or containing meat of poultry, provided that such meat has undergone one of the specific treatments that are referred to in points B, C or D of Part 4 of Annex II to Decision 2007/777/EC.
The latter-mentioned Decision lays down the animal and public health conditions and model certificates for imports of certain meat products for human consumption from third countries. The specific treatments are directly quoted (not paraphrased, for the sake of accuracy) below:
- B: Treatment in a hermetically sealed container to an Fo value of three or more.
- C: A minimum temperature of 80°C which must be reached throughout the meat and/or stomachs, bladders and intestines during the processing of the meat product and treated stomachs, bladders and intestines.
- D: A minimum temperature of 70°C which must be reached throughout the meat and/or stomachs, bladders and intestines during the processing of meat products and treated stomachs, bladders and intestines, or for raw ham, a treatment consisting of natural fermentation and maturation of not less than nine months and resulting in the following characteristics:
- Aw value of not more than 0,93,
- pH value of not more than 6,0.
Hong Kong’s suppliers of foodstuffs who would like to learn more about the above-mentioned regulated matters should consult Commission Decision 2010/734/EU, via the following web link:
http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=OJ:L:2010:316:0010:0016:EN:PDF
Consolidated versions of Decision 2005/692/EC and Decision 2007/777/EC can be found via the following web links, respectively:
http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=CONSLEG:2005D0692:20091107:EN:PDF
and
http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=CONSLEG:2007D0777:20101105:EN:PDF
