G/SPS/N/FRA/18  
21 April 2022 
(22-3198) Page: 1/3 
Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures   
 
  NOTIFICATION OF EMERGENCY MEASURES  
1. Notifying Member : FRANCE  
If applicable, name of local government involved:  
2. Agency responsible : Direction générale de l'Alimentation  (Directorate -General for Food) - 
Ministère de l'agriculture et de l'alimentation  (Ministry of Agriculture and Food)  
3. Products covered (provide tariff item number(s) as specified in national 
schedules deposited with the WTO ; ICS numbers should be provided in addition, 
where applicable) : Meat and mea t products from animals from non -EU countries that 
have been treated with antimicrobial medicinal products to promote growth or increase 
yield 
4. Regions or countries likely to be affected, to the extent relevant or practicable:  
[X] All trading partners  
[ ] Specific regions or countries:  
5. Title of the notified document : Arrêté du 21 février 2022 portant suspension 
d'introduction, d'importation et de mise sur le marché en France de viandes et produits à 
base de viande issus d'animaux provenant de pays tiers à l'Union européenne ayant reçu 
des médicaments antimicrobiens pour favoriser la croissance ou augmenter le rendement 
NOR: AGRG2204394A  (Order of 2 1 February 2 022 suspending the entry and importation 
into France, and the placing on the market in France, of meat and meat products from 
animals from non -EU countries that have been treated with antimicrobial medicinal 
products to promote growth or increase yield (NOR : AGRG2204394A)) Language(s) : 
French Number of pages : 2 
https://members.wto.org/crnattachments/2022/SPS/FRA/22_2972_00_f.pdf  
https://m embers.wto.org/crnattachments/2022/SPS/FRA/22_2972_01_f.pdf  
6. Description of content : Ban, for one year from the date of entry into force of the above -
mentioned Order of 2 1 February 2 022, on the entry and importation into France, and the 
placing on the m arket in France, of meat and meat products from animals that have been 
treated with antimicrobial medicinal products to promote growth or increase yield, under 
Article 107.2 of Regulation (EU) 2019/6 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 
11 Dece mber 2 018 on veterinary medicinal products and repealing Directive 2001/82/EC.  
7. Objective and rationale : [ ] food safety, [ ] animal health, [ ] plant protection, [X] 
protect humans from animal/plant pest or disease, [ ] protect territory from 
other damage from pests  
8. Nature of the urgent problem(s) and reason for urgent action : In response to the 
global challenge posed by the risk of development of antimicrobial resistance to medicinal 
products, Regulation (EU) 2019/6 on veterinary medicinal products, which entered into 
force on 2 8 January 2 022, imposes a ban on the use of antibiotics to promote growth or 
increase yield by operators es tablished in the EU, a s well as  by operators in third countries 
where their animals or products are exported to the EU.  G/SPS/N/FRA/18  
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  Pending the application of all the measures for the implementation of this Regulation, the 
Ministerial Order of 2 1 February 2 022 partial ly expands on a number of dispositions of 
Article 118 thereof.  
The national measure thus prohibits the importation into France, and the placing on the 
market in France, of meat and meat products from animals that have been treated with 
antimicrobial medici nal products to promote growth or increase yield . Food and feed 
business operators must implement reasonable diligence measures  to that end.  
The notice of 2 6 February 2 022 to importers regarding the ban on the importation into  
France , and the placing on th e market in France , of meat and meat products from animals 
that have been treated with antimicrobial medicinal products to promote growth or 
increase yield (Official Journal of 2 6 February 2 022) sets out operators' obligations.  
These provisions do not appl y to meat and meat products acquired by the importer or 
marketer within the  two months after the entry into force of the Order ( until 22 April 
2022).  
9. Is there a relevant international standard ? If so, identify the standard:  
[X] Codex Alimentarius Commission (e.g. title or serial number of Codex 
standard or related text) : CXC 61 -2005 - Code of Practice to Minimize and 
Contain Antimicrobial Resistance  
[X] World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) (e.g. T errestrial or Aquatic 
Animal Health Code, chapter number) : Terrestrial Animal Health Code (Chapter 
6.9 - Monitoring of the quantities and usage patterns of antimicrobial agents used 
in food -producing animal s; Chapter 6.10 - Responsible and prudent use of 
antimicrobial agents in veterinary medicine)  
[ ] International Plant Protection Convention (e.g. I SPM number) : 
[ ] None  
Does this proposed regulation conform to the relevant international standard?  
[X] Ye s [ ] No 
If no, describe, whenever possible, how and why it deviates from the 
international standard:  
10. Relevant documents and language(s) in which these are available:  
11. Date of entry into force (dd/mm/yy) /period of application (as applicable) : 22 
April 2 022 
[ ] Trade facilitating measure  
12. Agency or authority designated to handle comments : [X] National Notification 
Authority, [X]  National Enquiry Point . Address, fax number and email address (if 
available) of other body:  
European Commission  
Directorate -General for Health and Food Safety  
Unit D2 - Multilateral International Relations  
Rue Froissart 101, B -1049 Brussels  
Tel.: (+32 2) 295 4263  
Fax: (+32 2) 299 8090  
Email: sps@ec.europa.eu  G/SPS/N/FRA/18  
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  13. Text(s) available from : [X] National Notification Authority, [X]  National Enquiry 
Point . Address, fax number and email address (if available) of other body:  
European Commission  
Directorate -General for Health and Food Safety  
Unit D2 - Multilateral international relations  
Rue Froissart 101, B -1049 Bruxelles  
Tel.: (+32 2) 295 4263  
Fax: (+32 2) 299 8090  
Email: sps@ec.europa.eu