EU Official Controls Regulation: Agri-Food Import Compliance
Quick answer
Regulation (EU) 2017/625 (the EU official controls regulation) establishes comprehensive rules for official controls on agri-food imports into the EU, ensuring compliance with food safety, animal and plant health, and related standards. It applies to all operators involved in the agri-food chain and mandates risk-based, regular, and harmonised controls performed by competent authorities across Member States [1][2].
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- The EU official controls regulation (Regulation (EU) 2017/625) sets out rules for official controls on food, feed, animal health and welfare, plant health, and associated products entering the EU [2:1].
- It applies to all operators handling agri-food goods, including importers, exporters, and other economic operators within the EU single market [3][4].
- Official controls are performed regularly and on a risk basis, including documentary, identity, and physical checks, to verify compliance with EU legislation [3:1][5].
- Border control posts are the primary locations for official controls on imports, but controls may also occur at other points within the customs territory [6].
- Operators must cooperate fully with competent authorities and provide all necessary information to facilitate efficient controls [4:1].
- The regulation establishes computerised information systems, such as the Trade Control and Expert System (TRACES), to manage control data and risk notifications [1:1].
Scope of the Official Controls Regulation (EU) 2017/625
Regulation (EU) 2017/625, known as the EU official controls regulation, lays down detailed rules for the performance of official controls and other official activities by Member States’ competent authorities. Its scope covers controls related to food and feed safety, animal health and welfare, plant health, genetically modified organisms (GMOs), plant protection products, organic production, and the use and labelling of protected designations of origin [2:2].
The regulation applies to all stages of production, processing, and distribution of food and feed, as well as to animals and goods entering or leaving the Union. It also governs the financing of official controls, administrative cooperation between Member States, and controls performed by the European Commission in Member States and third countries [2:3].
Certain areas are excluded, such as official controls under Regulation (EU) No 1308/2013 on the common organisation of the markets in agricultural products, except where fraud or deceptive practices are suspected [2:4].
The regulation repealed and replaced previous fragmented control frameworks to establish a harmonised, Union-wide system that ensures uniform enforcement and protects the functioning of the internal market [1:2][2:5].
Who is Affected by EU Agri-Food Official Controls?
The EU official controls regulation applies to all operators involved in the agri-food chain within the EU single market. This includes importers, exporters, producers, processors, distributors, and any economic operators responsible for animals or goods subject to official controls. Operators must provide the competent authorities with all necessary information to identify themselves, their activities, and their suppliers or customers [4:2].
Competent authorities in each Member State perform official controls on these operators regularly and on a risk basis. The controls verify compliance with the rules laid down in Union legislation or national rules implementing Union law in the areas covered by the regulation [3:2].
Operators responsible for consignments entering the Union must cooperate fully with the authorities to ensure smooth and effective performance of official controls. Failure to cooperate may lead to delays, refusals of entry, or other enforcement measures [4:3].
How Official Controls are Performed on Imports
Official controls on imports of agri-food products are primarily performed at border control posts (BCPs) located at points of entry into the EU. These controls verify that consignments comply with EU requirements for food safety, animal and plant health, animal welfare, and environmental protection related to GMOs and plant protection products [6:1].
The controls include documentary checks on all consignments, identity checks, and physical checks where necessary. The frequency and intensity of these checks depend on the assessed risk posed by the consignment, including factors such as the type of goods, country of origin, compliance history, and any alerts or notifications received [6:2].
In some cases, and where high levels of protection are ensured, official controls may be performed at other control points within the customs territory or by authorities other than those at BCPs [6:3].
Competent authorities may also perform official controls on means of transport and packaging entering the Union if there is reason to believe they pose a risk [5:1].
Risk-Based Approach to Import Controls
The EU official controls regulation mandates a risk-based approach to the frequency and scope of official controls on agri-food imports. Competent authorities must consider multiple factors to determine the appropriate control measures, including:
- Risks to human, animal, or plant health, animal welfare, and the environment;
- Information indicating the likelihood of consumer deception or fraud concerning the nature, identity, composition, origin, or production method of the goods;
- The compliance history of the third country, exporter, and operator responsible for the consignment;
- Previous controls performed on the goods;
- Guarantees provided by the competent authorities of the third country of origin regarding compliance with EU requirements [5:2].
This approach allows for the optimal allocation of control resources, focusing efforts where risks are highest while minimising administrative burdens on operators [6:4].
Types of Checks for Non-Border Control Post Imports
For animals and goods entering the Union that are not subject to official controls at border control posts, competent authorities still perform official controls regularly and on a risk basis. These controls include:
- Documentary checks, which are always required;
- Identity checks and physical checks, depending on the assessed risk to health, welfare, or the environment [7].
Such controls may take place at various locations within the customs territory, including the point of entry, warehouses, premises of the operator responsible for the consignment, or the place of destination [5:3].
Where non-compliance is detected during these checks, the competent authorities apply the relevant enforcement measures provided for in Union legislation [7:1].
Operator Obligations for Smooth Controls
Operators must cooperate fully with competent authorities and any delegated bodies performing official controls. This includes providing all available information related to consignments entering the Union and at least the information necessary to identify themselves, their activities, and their business relationships within the supply chain [4:4].
Operators should facilitate access to premises, documentation, and goods for official control purposes. They should also comply with any requests for notifications regarding the arrival of animals or goods, as required by Member States for the organisation of controls [3:3][4:5].
By fulfilling these obligations, operators help ensure that official controls are conducted efficiently, with minimal disruption to business operations, while safeguarding compliance with EU agri-food chain legislation [8].
Computerised Information Systems for Agri-Food Controls
The EU official controls regulation establishes and utilises several computerised information systems to support the management and exchange of data related to official controls. The Trade Control and Expert System (TRACES) is a key tool used for recording and tracing official control results on animals and products of animal origin [1:3].
Other dedicated systems include:
- The Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed (RASFF), which notifies risks to human health from food or feed;
- Notification systems for animal diseases and plant pests, supporting timely reporting and response [1:4].
These systems operate in a harmonised and consistent manner to avoid duplication, simplify operations, and improve the efficiency of official controls across the Union [1:5].
Next steps
- Identify all agri-food consignments entering the EU and confirm their classification under the relevant Union legislation covered by Regulation (EU) 2017/625.
- Register with the relevant national competent authority and ensure all operator identification and activity information is up to date and accessible.
- Prepare and maintain complete documentary evidence for each consignment, including certificates, health attestations, and origin proofs as required.
- Establish procedures to facilitate timely notification to competent authorities of arrivals and cooperate fully during official controls.
- Monitor risk alerts and updates from computerised systems such as TRACES and RASFF to anticipate and manage potential compliance issues.
FAQ
What is the 2017 625 Reg?
Regulation (EU) 2017/625 is the EU official controls regulation that sets out rules for official controls and other activities to ensure compliance with food and feed law, animal health and welfare, plant health, and related areas within the EU and at its borders [2:6].
Are EU regulations still apply to the UK?
The provided sources do not address the application of EU regulations to the UK. The position should be confirmed with the relevant national competent authority or legal sources.
What does EFSA regulate?
The sources do not specify the role or regulatory scope of the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA). Further information should be sought from EFSA or official EU publications.
What are the official controls regulation 2020?
The sources do not mention a specific “official controls regulation 2020.” The primary regulation governing official controls is Regulation (EU) 2017/625, which remains in force unless amended or repealed [2:7].
Sources
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