G/SPS/GEN/1968  
 
1 November  2021 
(21-8278) Page: 1/2 
Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures  Original: English  
 
INCREASED OFFICIAL CONTROLS AND EMERGENCY MEASURES GOVERNING THE  
ENTRY INTO THE EUROPEAN UNION OF CERTAIN FOOD AND FEED OF  
NON-ANIMAL ORIGIN FROM CERTAIN THIRD COUNTRIES  
COMMUNICATION FROM THE EUROPEAN UNION  
The following document , received on 29 October  2021, is being circulated at the request of the 
Delegation of the European Union . 
 
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Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/17931, which has been adopted based on 
Regulation (EU) 2017/625 on official controls (cf. G/SPS/GEN/1692 ) provides for a harmoni zed 
approach with regard to increased official controls on certain food and feed of non -animal origin 
entering the European Union, with a view to ensuring the ap plication of the EU agri -food chain 
legislation on such commodities.  
1  THE FRAMEWORK OF THE REGULATION  
1.1.  The objective of Regulation (EU) 2019/1793 is to protect EU consumers from a known or 
emerging risk, including a risk to their health.  
1.2.  This Regulation lays down rules concerning the temporary increase of official controls and 
emergency measures governing the entry into the European Union of certain food and feed of non -
animal origin from certain third countries, in accordance with Article s 47(2)(b) and 54(4)(a) and (b) 
of Regulation (EU) 2017/6252 and Article 53(1)(b) of Regulation (EU) No 178/20023. 
1.3.  Annex I to the Regulation lists food and feed of non -animal origin from certain third countries 
subject to checks at border control posts a nd to a temporary increase of official controls at their 
entry into the European Union.  
 
1 Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/1793 of 22 October 2019 on the temporary increase 
of official controls and emergency measures governing the entry into the Union of certain goods from third 
countries implementing Regulations (EU) 2017/625 and (EC) No 178/2002 of the European Parliame nt and of 
the Council (OJ L 277, 29  October 2019, p. 89).  
2 Regulation (EU) 2017/625 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 15 March 2017 on official 
controls and other official activities performed to ensure the application of food and feed law, rules on animal 
health and welfare, plant health and plant protection products, amending Regulations (EC) No 999/2001, 
(EC) No 396/2005, (EC) No 1069/2009, (EC) No 1107/2009, (EU) No 1151/2012, (EU) No 652/2014, 
(EU) 2016/429 and (EU) 2016/2031 of the European Parliament and of the Council, Council Regulations 
(EC) No 1/2005 and (EC) No 1099/2009 and Council Directives 98/58/EC, 1999/74/EC, 2007/43/EC, 
2008/119/EC and 2008/120/EC, and repealing Regulations (EC) No 854/2004 and (EC) No 8 82/2004 of the 
European Parliament and of the Council, Council Directives 89/608/EEC, 89/662/EEC, 90/425/EEC, 
91/496/EEC, 96/23/EC, 96/93/EC and 97/78/EC and Council Decision 92/438/EEC (Official Controls 
Regulation) (OJ L 95, 7  April 2017, p. 1).  
3 Regula tion (EC) No 178/2002 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 28 January 2002 laying 
down the general principles and requirements of food law, establishing the European Food Safety Authority and 
laying down procedures in matters of food safety (OJ  L 31, 1  February 2002, p. 1).  G/SPS/GEN/1968  
 
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  1.4.  Annex II to the Regulation lists food and feed subject to special conditions governing their 
entry into the European Union due to the risk of contamination by mycotoxin s, including aflatoxins, 
pesticide residues, pentachlorophenol and dioxins and microbiological contamination.  
1.5.  Annex IIa to the Regulation lists food and feed of non -animal origin for which the import into 
the European Union is suspended.  
2  REGULAR REVIEW AND  AMENDMENT OF REGULATION  
2.1.  Article 12 of the Regulation requires the Commission to review the lists set out in the Annexes 
on a regular basis not exceeding a period of six months, in light of new information related to risks 
and non -compliance.  
2.2.  In case of an  emerging risk, or where there is evidence of a widespread serious non -compliance 
with the EU agri -food chain legislation, a safeguard measure ranging from special import conditions 
(listing of the commodity in Annex II) to suspension of entry into the European Union (listing in 
Annex IIa) may be imposed at any moment, independent of the regular reviews, in reaction to 
imminent problems.  
2.3.  Possible amendments resulting from data analysis are inclusion/deletion of a commodity in an 
Annex, increased frequency o f identity and physical checks required upon entry into the 
European  Union or transfer of a commodity from one Annex to another.  
3  CONTROLS AT ENTRY INTO THE EUROPEAN UNION  
3.1.  All commodities included in Annexes I and II are subject to official controls at Bord er Control 
Posts before their entry into the European Union.  
3.2.  All consignments of commodities listed in Annex I and II are subject to documentary checks 
and to identity and physical checks at a frequency defined in that Regulation.  
3.3.  Each consignment of one o f the commodities listed in Annex II to the Regulation shall be 
accompanied by the results of sampling and analyses performed on that consignment by the 
competent authorities of the relevant third country and by an official certificate.  
3.4.  The official certif icate shall be issued by the competent authority of the third country of origin 
or by the competent authority of the third country where the consignment is consigned from if that 
country is different from the country of origin.  
3.5.  The model of the official ce rtificate is set out in Annex IV to Regulation (EU) 2019/1793.  
More information about Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/1793 is available on the 
European Commission website: Contact details of BCPs and CPs - Food and feed of non -animal origin 
(europa.eu) . 
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