G/SPS/N/EU/346  
 
12 September 2019  
(19-5861) Page: 1/2 
Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures  Original: English  
 
  NOTIFICATION  
1. Notifying Member:  EUROPEAN UNION  
If applicable, name of local government involved:   
2. Agency responsible:  European Commission, Health and Food Safety Directorate -General  
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):  Animals, products  of animal origin, composite products, germinal 
products, animal by -products, derived products and hay and straw, plants, plant products  
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:  Draft Commission Implementing Regulation to establish 
rules for uniform application of frequency rates for identity checks and physical checks on 
certain consignments of animals and goods entering the Union (Text with EEA relevance) . 
Language(s):  English . Number of pages:  13 
https://members.wto.org/crnattachments/2019/SPS/EEC/19_5004_00_e.pdf  
https://members.wto.org/crnattachments/2019/SPS/EEC/19_5004_01_e.pdf  
6. Description of content:  It follows from Regulation (EU) 2017/625 on official controls an d 
other official activities performed to ensure the application of food and feed law, animal 
health and welfare, plant health and plant protection products, that certain categories of 
animals and goods coming from third countries must be subject to specifi c official controls 
at the border control posts.  
This Regulation lays down rules for the uniform application of the appropriate frequency 
rate of identity checks and physical checks on consignments of animals and goods referred 
to in Article 47(1) (a), (b)  and (c) of Regulation (EU) 2017/625 intended to be placed on 
the market.  
The appropriate level of frequency rates on identity checks and physical checks are 
established taking into account information regarding the risks associated with the 
categories of animals and goods.  
The regulation establish the procedures for modification of the frequency rates for identity 
checks and physical checks and rules for the uniform application of the frequency rates.  
To ensure the effectiveness of the official controls th e Regulation establish procedure for 
the selection of the consignment for identity checks and physical checks in such a way that 
it is not possible for the operator responsible for the consignments to predict whether any 
particular consignment will be subj ect of checks.  
For certain third countries with which the Union has reached agreement on equivalency, a 
reduction in the physical checks on certain products can be applied, Therefore the level of 
frequencies of physical checks specified in these veterinary  agreements are applied in this 
Regulation.  G/SPS/N/EU/346  
 
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  The rules laid down in this Regulation ensure a continuation of the requirements on 
establishing the minimum frequency rate for identity checks and physical checks.  
Date of application: 14 December 2019  
7. Objective and rationale: [X]  food safety, [X]  animal health, [X]  plant protection, 
[X] protect humans from animal/plant pest or disease, [X]  protect territory from 
other damage from pests.   
8. Is there a relevant international standard? If so, identify th e standard:  
[ ] Codex Alimentarius Commission (e.g.  title or serial number of Codex 
standard or related text) :  
[ ] World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) (e.g.  Terrestrial or Aquatic 
Animal Health Code, chapter number) :  
[ ] International Plant Protection Convention (e.g.  ISPM number) :  
[X] None  
Does this proposed regulation conform to the relevant international standard?  
[ ] Yes   [  ] No 
If no, describe, whenever possible, how and why it deviates from the 
international standard:   
9. Other relevant documents and language(s) in which these are available:    
10. Proposed date of adoption (dd/mm/yy) : Foreseen 31 October 2019  
Proposed date of publication (dd/mm/yy) : Foreseen 30 November 2019  
11. Proposed date of entry into force: [  ] Six months from date of publication , and/or  
(dd/mm/yy) : 20 days after publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.  
[ ] Trade facilitating measure   
12. Final date for comm ents: [  ] Sixty days from the date of circulation of the 
notification and/or (dd/mm/yy) : Thirty days from the date of circulation of the 
notification.  
Agency or authority designated to handle comments: [X]  National Notification 
Authority, [X]  National Enqu iry Point. Address, fax number and e -mail address (if 
available) of other body:   
European Commission  
DG Health and Food Safety, Unit D2 -Multilateral International Relations  
Rue Froissart 101  
B-1049 Brussels  
Tel: +(32 2) 29 54263  
Fax: +(32 2) 29 98090  
E-mail: sps@ec.europa.eu  
13. Text(s) available from: [X]  National Notification Authority, [X]  National Enquiry 
Point. Address, fax number and e -mail address (if available) of other body:   
European Commission  
DG Health and Food Safety, Unit D2-Multilateral International Relations  
Rue Froissart 101  
B-1049 Brussels  
Tel: +(32 2) 29 54263  
Fax: +(32 2) 29 98090  
E-mail: sps@ec.europa.eu