| Author (Corporate) | European Commission |
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| Series Title | COM |
| Series Details | (2013) 265 final (6.5.13) |
| Publication Date | 06/05/2013 |
| Content Type | Policy-making |
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In order to afford European Union (EU) citizens a high level of human, animal and plant health, and guarantee the functioning of the internal market, Union legislation provides for a set of harmonised rules to prevent, eliminate or reduce the level of health risk to humans, animals and plants, which may arise along the 'agri-food chain', this term being used in a very broad sense, to comprehend all those processes, products and activities which relate to food, its production and handling, and the rules which (directly or indirectly, e.g. through the safety requirements for feed) ensure that it is safe and fit for human consumption. It also includes rules referred to as veterinary and phytosanitary legislation, which deal with risks to animal health and plant health in general, and rules on the identity, health and quality of plant reproductive material. Thus this vast acquis governs health risks in the strict sense (risks to the integrity of humans, animals and plants from pests, diseases, microbial and chemical contaminants and other hazards) and also the preservation of inherent qualities required to ensure a safe start of plant production and regulated production methods (i.e. animal welfare, organic farming, geographical indications, plant reproductive material). It also includes rules established to ensure the provision of information to consumers and to guarantee fair commercial practices in agri-food chain products' trade. To ensure that this extensive set of rules is enforced by the Member States across the EU in a harmonised manner, a legislative framework for the organisation of official controls has been established through Regulation (EC) No 882/2004 ('the Regulation'). This proposal revises the legislation on official controls to overcome shortcomings identified in its wording and in its application. It aims to put in place a robust, transparent and sustainable regulatory framework that is better 'fit for purpose'. The proposal replaces and repeals the Regulation and a number of sectoral acts and provisions which will be made redundant by its adoption. As the proposal is part of a comprehensive package, which also includes three major reviews to modernise the animal health, plant health and plant reproductive material aquis, it also aims to modernise and integrate the system of official controls in a manner that consistently accompanies the upgrade of EU policies in these sectors. |
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| Source Link | http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=COM:2013:265:FIN |
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| Subject Categories | Business and Industry |
| Countries / Regions | Europe |
