G/SPS/GEN/1551  
 
12 June 2017  
(17-3121) Page: 1/2 
Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures  Original: English  
 
NEW OFFICIAL CONTROL S REGULATION OF THE EUROPEAN UNION  
COMMUNICATION FROM T HE EUROPEAN UNION  
The following communication, received on  12 June 2017 , is being circulated at the request of the 
Delegation of the European Union . 
 
_______________  
 
 
1  THE REGULATION  
1.1.  Regulation (EU) No 2017/625 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 ("Official Controls Regulatio n")  was adopted on 15 March 2017 and 
entered into force on 27 April 2017. It replaces Regulation (EC) No 882/2004 on official controls 
and other pieces of legislation that currently governs the enfo rcement of rules along the agri -food 
chain. With some exe mptions, the rules of the Official Control s Regulation will apply 
from 14 December 2019.  
1.2.  The European Commission presented a proposal for a Regulat ion on official controls in 
May 2013 as part of the so called "Smarter rules for safer food" package aiming t o strengthen the 
enforcement of health and food safety standards for the whole agri -food chain. The Commission 
proposal was notified under the WTO SPS agreement as G/SPS/N/EU/43 on 16 May 2013. The final 
Regulation was notified as G/SPS/N/EU/43/Add.2 on 25  April 2017.  
1.3.  Compared to Regulation (EC) 882/2004, the scope of the Official Controls Regulation has 
been extended and will also cover official controls to verify compliance with plant health and 
animal by -products rules. The Regulation also applies to oth er official activities, e.g. activities 
aiming to verify the presence of animal diseases or plant pests, or prevent or eradicate those 
diseases or pests.  
1.4.  The risk based approach to controls is maintained. When planning their controls, the 
competent authori ties also need to take into account the likelihood that consumers might be 
misled about the properties, quality, composition or country of provenance of the food they buy.  
1.5.  Official controls are to be carried out on all operators at all stages of production , processing, 
distribution and use of animals, goods, substances, materials or objec ts that are governed by 
agri-food chain rules. In order to maximise the efficiency of controls, the Regulation requires 
competent authorities to set up and keep an up -to-date register of operators subject to official 
controls.  
1.6.  New provisions enhance transparency and increase competent authorities' accountability to  
consumers and operators. For example, competent authorities will be required to publish, at least 
once a year, relevant information about the organization and performance of official controls. 
Furthermore, they must ensure a regular and timely publication of the outcome of official controls.  
1.7.  The Official Controls Regulation establishes an integrated approach to imp ort controls. 
Common rules will apply to controls carried out at borders on animals, products of animal origin, 
plants and other products and goods that must be checked before they enter the EU.  G/SPS/GEN/1551  
 
- 2 - 
 
  1.8.  Border Control Posts (BCPs) will replace the Border Inspecti on Posts (BIPs) and Designated 
Points of Entry (DPEs). Minimum requirements for facilities, equipment and staff qualifications will 
apply for all BCPs. Depending on the risks they pose to human health, animal health and welfare 
and plant health, certain co nsignments must be presented at the BCP where they all will undergo 
documentary checks. Identity and physical checks will be carried out at a frequency depending on 
the risk linked to the specific animals or goods. The criteria to determine and modify the frequency 
rates for these checks will be established by acts of the Commission. Additional conditions for 
entry into the Union, such as the listing of countries and establishments authorised to send 
animals and goods to the EU, may also be laid down by the  Commission.  
1.9.  A single standard document, the Common Health Entry Document (CHED), will be used by 
operators for the prior notification of consignments. It will be transmitted to the BCP through a 
new integrated computerised system for official controls (In tegrated Management System for 
Official Controls - IMSOC).  
1.10.   The new Regulation introduces a set of general rules in order to create a uniform and 
harmonised framework for official certification in all areas covered by the scope of the Regulation. 
These rule s also apply to certification for exports to Third Countries.  
1.11.   The Commission is empowered to adopt a number of measures where there is evidence th at 
the system of controls in a member State faces serious disruption to the point that it constitutes a 
wides pread risk t o the agri -food chain, and the m ember State has not addressed the shortcomings 
within a time limit set by the Commission. These would include for example the prohibition to 
place on the market animals or goods affected by the disruption, their transport, and the 
suspension of official controls at the BCP affected by the serious disruption.  
2  FURTHER STEPS  
2.1.  The Official Controls Regulation will be complemented by a number of regulatory acts 
establishing implementing measures. As it is customary, any  measure potentially affecting 
international trade will be notified to the WTO SPS Committee.  
2.2.  More information about the new Official Controls Regulation is available on the European 
Commission website: http://ec.europa.eu/food/safety/official_controls/legislation_en . 
 
 
__________