2002/79/EC: Commission Decision of 4 February 2002 imposing special conditions on the import of peanuts and certain products derived from peanuts originating in or consigned from China (Text with EEA relevance) (notified under document number C(2002) 385)
Date: 2002-02-04
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: China, groundnut, health certificate, import, originating product, public health

5.2.2002

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

L 34/21

COMMISSION

COMMISSION DECISION

of 4 February 2002

imposing special conditions on the import of peanuts and certain products derived from peanuts
originating in or consigned from China

(notified under document number C(2002) 385)

(Text with EEA relevance)

(2002/79/EC)

THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European
Community,

Having regard to Council Directive 93/43/EEC of 14 June 1993
on the hygiene of foodstuffs (1) and in particular Article 10(1)
thereof,

Whereas:

(1)

(2)

(3)

(4)

(5)

Peanuts originating in or consigned from China have
been found to be,
in many cases, contaminated with
excessive levels of aflatoxin B1 and total aflatoxin.

The Scientific Committee for Food has noted that afla-
toxin B1, even at extremely low levels, causes cancer of
the liver and in addition is genotoxic.

Commission Regulation (EC) No 194/97 of 31 January
1997 setting maximum levels for certain contaminants
in foodstuffs (2), as last amended by Regulation (EC) No
1566/1999 (3), sets maximum levels for certain contam-
inants and in particular aflatoxins in foodstuffs. These
limits have been considerably exceeded in samples of
peanuts originating in or consigned from China.

This constitutes a serious threat to public health within
the Community and it is therefore imperative to adopt
protective measures at Community level.

A mission was carried out by the European Commis-
sion's Food and Veterinary Office (FVO) in China from 8
to 21 May 2001 to assess the control systems in place
to prevent aflatoxin contamination in peanuts intended
for export to the European Community. The mission
revealed,
inter alia, that the control over aflatoxins in
peanuts is minimal in production or general processing.
also
Deficiencies
observed. It is therefore appropriate to subject peanuts

in laboratory performance were

(6)

(7)

(8)

(9)

or products derived from peanuts originating in or
consigned from China to special conditions to provide a
high level of protection to public health.

It is necessary that peanuts and products derived from
peanuts have been produced, sorted, handled, processed,
packaged and transported following good hygiene prac-
tices. It is necessary to establish the levels of aflatoxin B1
and total aflatoxin in samples taken from the consign-
ment immediately prior to leaving China.

The Chinese authorities should provide documentary
evidence to accompany each consignment of peanuts
originating in or consigned from China, relating to the
conditions of production, sorting, handling, processing,
packaging and transport, as well as the results of labora-
tory analysis of the consignment for levels of aflatoxin
B1 and total aflatoxin.

From the findings of the abovementioned mission, it can
be concluded that the Chinese authorities cannot ensure
currently dependable analytical results or guarantee lot
integrity in respect of certification. Therefore, the relia-
bility of any certificate issued for peanuts originating
from China raises serious doubts with regard to its
reliability.

It is therefore necessary in order to safeguard public
health that all lots of peanuts originating in or consigned
from China, imported in the European Community, are
subjected to sampling and analysis for their aflatoxin
the importing
level by the competent authority of
Member State prior to release onto the market. Given
that this measure has a serious impact on the control
resources of
this
measure will be evaluated after a short period of time
and the measures amended if appropriate.

the Member States,

the results of

(1) OJ L 175, 19.7.1993, p. 1.
(2) OJ L 31, 1.2.1997, p. 48.
(3) OJ L 184, 17.7.1999, p. 17.

(10)

The Standing Committee for Foodstuffs has been
consulted on 2 April 2001 and on 19 July 2001,

L 34/22

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Official Journal of the European Communities

5.2.2002

HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:

Article 1

1. Member States may not import products falling in any of
the following categories originating in or consigned from
China, which are intended for human consumption or to be
used as an ingredient in foodstuffs, unless the consignment is
accompanied by the results of official sampling and analysis,
and by the health certificate in Annex I completed, signed and
verified by a representative of the State Administration for
Entry-Exit inspection and Quarantine of the People's Republic
of China:
— peanuts falling within CN code 1202 10 90 or 1202 20 00,
— peanuts falling within CN code 2008 11 94 (in immediate
packs of a net content exceeding 1 kg) or 2008 11 98 (in
immediate packs of a net content not exceeding 1 kg),
— roasted peanuts falling within CN codes 2008 11 92 (in
immediate packs of a net content exceeding 1 kg) or
2008 11 96 (in immediate packs of a net content not
exceeding 1 kg).

Consignments may

2.
the
only
Community through one of the points of entry listed in Annex
II.

imported

into

be

3.
Each consignment shall be identified with a code, which
corresponds to the code on the health certificate and on the
the official
accompanying report containing the result of
sampling and analysis referred to in paragraph 1.

4.
The Competent Authorities in each Member State shall
ensure that imported peanuts originating in or consigned from
China are subject to documentary checks to ensure that the

requirement
referred to in paragraph 1 are complied with.

for the health certificate and sampling results

5. Member States shall undertake sampling and analysis of
each consignment of peanuts originating in or consigned from
China for aflatoxin B1 and total aflatoxin before release onto
the market from the port of entry into the Community, and
shall

inform the Commission of the results.

Article 2

This Decision shall be reviewed before 1 May 2002 at the
latest, in order to assess whether the special conditions referred
to in Article 1 provide a sufficient level of protection of public
health within the Community. The review shall also assess
whether there is a continuing need for the sampling and
analysis of each consignment by the competent authority of
the importing Member State.

Article 3

Member States shall take the measures necessary to comply
with this Decision. They shall inform the Commission thereof.

This Decision is addressed to the Member States.

Article 4

Done at Brussels, 4 February 2002.

For the Commission

David BYRNE

Member of the Commission

5.2.2002

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Official Journal of the European Communities

L 34/23

ANNEX I

L 34/24

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Official Journal of the European Communities

5.2.2002

ANNEX II

List of points of entry through which peanuts and products derived from peanuts originating in or consigned
from China may be imported into the European Community

Member State

Point of entry

Belgique-België

Anvers-Antwerpen

Danmark

All harbours, airports and border stations

Deutschland

Ελλάς

España

France

Ireland

Italia

HZA Lörrach-ZA Weil am Rhein-Autobahn, HZA Stuttgart-ZA Flughafen, HZA München-
Flughafen, HZA Hof-ZA Schirnding, HZA Weiden-ZA Furth im Wald-Schafberg, HZA
Weiden-ZA Waidhaus-Autobahn, Bezirksamt Reinickendorf von Berlin, Abteilung
Finanzen, Wirtschaft und Kultur, Veterinär- und Lebensmittelaufsichtsamt, Grenzkontroll-
stelle, HZA Frankfurt
(Oder)-ZA Autobahn, HZA Cottbus-ZA Forst-Autobahn, HZA
Bremen-ZA Neustädter Hafen, HZA Bremerhafen-ZA Container Terminal, HZA Bremer-
haven-ZA Rotersand, HZA Hamburg-Freihafen-Abfertigungsstelle, HZA Hamburg-Frei-
hafen-ZA Ericus-Abfertigungsstelle Südbahnhof, HZA Hamburg-Freihafen-ZA Köhlfleet-
damm, HZA Hamburg-St/Annen-ZA Altona, HZA Hamburg-Waltershof-Abfertigungs-
stelle, HZA Hamburg-Waltershof-ZA Flughafen, HZA Frankfurt-am-Main-Flughafen, HZA
Braunschweig-Abfertigungsstelle, HZA Hannover-Abfertigungsstelle, HZA Lüneburg-ZA
Stade,
Veterinäramt,
Grenzkontrollstelle Dresden-Friedrichstadt
(für Bahntransport), Landratsamt Weisseritz-
kreis, Lebensmittelsüberwachungs- und Veterinäramt, Grenzkontrollstelle (für Straßentran-
sport), Landratsamt Niederschlesischer Oberlausitzkreis, Lebensmittelüberwachungs- und
Veterinäramt, Grenzkontrollstelle Ludwigsdorf
(für Straßentransport), HZA Itzehoe-ZA
Pinneberg, HZA Trier-ZA Idar-Oberstein, HZA Oldenburg-ZA Wilhelmshaven

Stadtverwaltung Dresden,

Lebensmittelüberwachungs-

und

Athina, Pireas, Elefsis, Aerodromio ton Athinon, Thessaloniki, Volos, Patra, Iraklion tis
Kritis, Aerodromio tis Kritis, Euzoni, Idomeni, Ormenio, Kipi, Kakavia, Niki, Promahonas,
Pithio, Igoumenitsa, Kristalopigi

Algeciras (puerto), Alicante (aeropuerto, puerto), Almería (aeropuerto y puerto), Barcelona
(aeropuerto, puerto), Bilbao (aeropuerto, puerto), Cádiz (puerto), Cartagena (puerto), Gijón
(puerto), Huelva (puerto), A Coruña-Santiago de Compostela (aeropuerto, puerto), Las
Palmas de Gran Canaria (aeropuerto, puerto), Madrid-Barajas (aeropuerto), Málaga (aero-
puerto, puerto), Palma de Mallorca (aeropuerto), Pasajes-Irún (aeropuerto, puerto), Santa
Cruz de Tenerife (aeropuerto, puerto), Santander (aeropuerto), Sevilla (aeropuerto, puerto),
Tarragona (puerto), Valencia (aeropuerto, puerto), Vigo-Villagarcía (aeropuerto), Marín
(puerto), Vitoria (aeropuerto), Zaragoza (aeropuerto)

Marseille (Bouches-du-Rhône)
Le Havre (Seine-Maritime)

All harbours, airports and border stations

Ufficio Sanità Marittima ed Aerea di Ancona
Ufficio Sanità Marittima ed Aerea di Bari
Ufficio Sanità Marittima ed Aerea di Genova
Ufficio Sanità Marittima di Livorno
Ufficio Sanità Marittima ed Aerea di Napoli
Ufficio Sanità Marittima di Ravenna
Ufficio Sanità Marittima di Salerno
Ufficio Sanità Marittima ed Aerea di Trieste
Dogana di Fernetti-Interporto Monrupino (Trieste)

Luxembourg

Centre douanier, Croix de Gasperich, Luxembourg

Nederland

Österreich

Portugal

Rotterdam

HZA Graz, Nickelsdorf, Spielfeld, HZA Wien

Lisboa

5.2.2002

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Official Journal of the European Communities

L 34/25

Member State

Point of entry

Suomi—Finland

Sverige

United Kingdom

Helsinki

Göteborg

Belfast, Channel Tunnel Terminal, Dover, Felixstowe, Gatwick Airport, Goole Grange-
mouth, Harwich, Heathrow Airport, Heysham, Hull, Immingham, Ipswich, King's Lynn,
Leith, Liverpool, London (including Tilbury, Thamesport and Sheerness), Manchester
Airport, Manchester Container Port, Manchester (including Ellesmere Port), Medway,
Middlesborough, Newhaven, Poole, Shoreham, Southampton, Stansted Airport.