WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION  G/SPS/N/EEC/262 
15 June 2005 
 (05-2510) 
Committee on Sanitary a nd Phytosanitary Measures Original:   English 
  
 
NOTIFICATION  
 
1. Member to Agreement notifying:   EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES
 
If applicable, name of local government involved: 
2. Agency responsible:   Commission of the European Communities. Health & Consumer 
Protection Directorate-General Directorate D - Food Safety:  production and distribution 
chain 
3. Products covered (provide tariff item numbe r(s) as specified in national schedules 
deposited with the WTO; ICS numbers should be provided in addition, where applicable):  Food of animal origin ( CN Chapters 02,03,04 and 05). 
4. Regions or countries likely to be affected , to the extent relevant or practicable:  
Member States of the European  Communities (EC) and third countries exporting the plant 
protection products concerned to the EC.  
5. Title, language and number of pages of the notified document:   "Commission Decision of 
11 January 2005 laying down harmonised standards for the testing for certain residues in 
products of animal origin importe d from third countries", publishe d in the Official Journal of 
the European Union L/016 of 20 January 2005, pp.61- 63 [3 pages, available in all the official 
languages]. 
6. Description of content:  The EC member states are responsible for the implementation of 
the legislation shown in box 9 under "Relev ant Documents", and the Commission has been 
informed by third countries that they had e xperienced differences according the first port of 
entry.  
In order to facilitate trade, this legal act lies down harmonised standards for the testing for 
certain residues in products of animal origin  imported from third countries and it applied 
since 19 February 2005. 
To do so, it lays down the reference points fo r action for residues of substances for which 
MRPLs have been establishe d in accordance with Decisi on 2002/657/EC when analytical 
tests carried out pursuant to Directive 97/78/EC on imported consignments of products of 
animal origin confirm the presence of such residues, and the action to be undertaken after 
such confirmation and applies whether analytical tests are carried out routinely, under reinforced checks procedures or  under a safeguard measure on consignments of products of 
animal origin imported from third countries. 
7. Objective and rationale:  [ X ] food safety, [   ] animal health, [   ] plant protection, 
[   ] protect humans from animal/plant pest or disease,  [   ]  protect territory from other 
damage from pests 
To harmonise procedures within the EU and facilitate trade.  G/SPS/N/EEC/262 
Page 2  
 
 8. International standard, guideline or recommendation:  
[   ] Codex Alimentarius Commission, [   ] World Organization for Animal Health 
(OIE), [   ] International Plant Protection Convention, [ X ] None  
If an international standard, guideline or recommendation exists, give the appropriate 
reference and briefly identify deviations:    
9. Relevant documents and language(s ) in which these are available:   
Numerous legislations are concerned with the harmonised procedures lied down by this 
decision, the main are listed below: 
G/SPS/N/EEC/26 12 January 1996,  "Proposal for a Council Directive amending Annexes to 
Council Directives 86/362/EEC and 86/363/EEC on the fixing of maximum levels for 
pesticide residues in and on cereals and foodstuffs of anim al origin respectively". 
G/SPS/N/EEC/94/Add.8 21 Octobe r 2004 Final versions of " Regulation (EC) N°. 852/2004 
of the European Parliament and of the Council of 29 April 2004 on the hygiene of 
foodstuffs  (Official Journal of the EU, L139, Volume 47, 30 April 2004, pages 1-54); 
Regulation (EC) N°. 853/2004 of the European Pa rliament and of the Council of 29 April 
2004 laying down specific hygiene rules for the hygiene of foodstuffs  (Official Journal of 
the EU, L139, Volume 47, 30 April 2004, pp. 55-205); Regulation (EC) N°. 854/2004 of 
the European Parliament and of the Counc il of 29 April 2004 laying down specific rules 
for the organisation of official controls on products of animal origin intended for human 
consumption  (Official Journal of the EU, L139, Volume 47, 30 April 2004, pp. 206-320). 
G/SPS/N/EEC/98 13 October 2000, " Commission Decision laying down analytical 
methods to be used for detecting certain substances and residues thereof in live animals 
and animal products according to Council Directive 96/23/EC ". 
G/SPS/N/EEC/98/Add.1 16 January 2003 " Commission Decision 2002/657/EC of 12 
August 2002 implementing Council Directive 96/23/EC concerning the performance of 
analytical methods and the interpretation of result " (Official Journal L221, 17 August 
2002, pp.: 8-36). 
G/SPS/N/EEC/110/Add.2 (27/10/2004 ) Food or foodstuff – Addendum Final Act   
Regulation (EC) N°. 178/2002 of the Europe an 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 " (Official Journal, L31, Volume 45, 1 February 2002 pp 1-24). 
G/SPS/N/EEC/186 16 January 2003, adopted as " Commission Decision 2003/181/EC of 13 
March 2003 amending Decision 2002/657/EC as regards the setting of minimum required 
performance limits (MRPLs) for cert ain residues in food of animal origin "  (Official 
Journal L 071, 15/03/2003 P. 0017 - 0018). 
G/SPS/N/EEC/191/Add.2 1 June 2004 " Regulation (EC) No 882/2004 of the European 
Parliament and of the Council of 29 April 2004 on official controls performed to ensure the 
verification of compliance with feed and food law, animal health and animal welfare rules " 
(Official Journal of the EU, L165, Volume 47, 30 April 2004, pages 1-141).  G/SPS/N/EEC/262 
 Page 3 
 
 
  G/SPS/N/EEC/196/Add.2 14 April 2005 " Regulation (EC) No 396/2005 of the European 
Parliament and of the Council of 23 February 2005 on maximum residue levels of 
pesticides in or on food and feed of plan t and animal origin and amending Council 
Directive 91/414/EEC " (Official Journal L70, 16 March 2005, pages 1-16). 
G/SPS/N/EEC/219/Add.1 4 June 2004" Commission Decision of 22 December 2003 
amending Decision 2002/657/EC as  regards the setting of minimum required performance 
limits (MRPLs) for certain residues in food of animal origin " (Official Journal of the EU, 
L6, Volume 47, 10 January 2004, pages 38-39). 
G/SPS/N/EEC/228/Add.1 9 June 2004 " Commission Directive 2004/61/EC of 26 April 
2004 amending the Annexes to Council Directives 86/362/EEC, 86/363/EEC and 
90/642/EEC as regards maximum residue levels for certain pesticides prohibited for use in 
the European Community " (Official Journal of the EU, L127, Volume 47, 29 April 2004, 
pages 81-91).  
10. Proposed date of adoption:    
11. Proposed date of entry into force:    
12. Final date for comments:  Do not apply. 
The Commission welcomes comments anytime. 
Agency or authority designated to handle comments:  [   ] National notification 
authority, [ X ] National enquiry point, or  address, fax number and E-mail address (if 
available) of other body:    
13. Texts available from:  [   ] National notificati on authority, [ X ] National enquiry point, 
or address, fax number and E-mail address (if available) of other body: 
The full text can be downloaded from the internet address indicated below:  
English:  http://europa.eu.int/eur-
lex/lex/LexUriServ/site/en/oj/20 05/l_016/l_01620050120en00610063.pdf  
French:  
http://europa.eu.int/eur-
lex/lex/LexUriServ/site/fr/oj/200 5/l_016/l_01620050120fr00610063.pdf  
Spanish:   
http://europa.eu.int/eur-  
lex/lex/LexUriServ/site/es/oj/200 5/l_016/l_01620050120es00610063.pdf