News from AAFC’s Market Access Secretariat
Update – July 29, 2022 – Subsequent to our message of July 25 regarding the European Union’s (EU’s) “Have your Say Notification: EU Import Controls on VMPs, Pesticides and Contaminants”, the Market Access Secretariat is providing the following further information:
The draft Delegated Regulation will apply to food-producing animals and certain goods intended for human consumption from third countries or regions. The purpose of this Delegated Regulation is to lay down all supplementary requirements for the entry into the Union of animals and goods from third countries, in accordance with Article 126(1) of Regulation (EU) 2017/625, in a single Delegated Regulation, thus merging the restrictions on the use of veterinary medicinal products and the requirements on contaminants and residues of veterinary medicinal products (also referred to as pharmacologically active substances within this draft) and pesticides with the requirements provided for in Delegated Regulation (EU) 2019/625, which is to be repealed.
The draft Delegated Regulation also supplements the requirements for entry into the EU, via such mechanisms as the establishment of lists (country, region, establishment), the issuance of official certificates or presentation of attestations.
The draft Delegated Regulation also establishes additional conditions to ensure that food-producing animals and animal products for the entry into the EU comply with:
1) restrictions and requirements at least equivalent to EU restrictions on the use of veterinary medicinal products and
2) EU requirements on contaminants and residues of veterinary medicinal products and pesticides in food-producing animals and goods.
For further information on products impacted and the additional conditions, please review the draft Delegated Regulation at the following link: open consultation/public feedback forum.
In addition to launching the open consultation/public feedback forum, the EU has also notified the draft Delegated Regulation to the WTO Sanitary and Phytosanitary Committee, through which the Government of Canada can provide comments. As we continue our own analysis we would appreciate your assistance in providing your general perspective and feedback on this regulation to the Market Access Secretariat to inform the development of the Government of Canada position.
The Market Access Secretariat, with the help of other federal partners is currently conducting an analysis of the draft Delegated Regulation and implications. Once the Government of Canada analysis is complete, we are committed to informing stakeholders of any outcomes.
Finally, please note this correction: the July 25 message requested your feedback to the Market Access Secretariat by August 3.
The deadline for submitting comments to the Market Access Secretariat is August 19. (Deadline for submitting comments to the EU’s “Have your Say” portal is August 3).
July 25, 2022 – On July 6, 2022, the European Commission (EC) launched an open consultation/public feedback forum in relation to a draft delegated regulation which would supplement Regulation 2017/625 — better known as the “Official Controls” Regulation — outlining the requirements for the entry into the European Union of food producing animals and certain goods for human consumption. Public feedback is open until August 3rd 2022.
Summary of Regulation: As provided by the EU within the context of the delegated act section (p.2) of the draft, the purpose of this regulation is to further supplement regulation (EU) 2017/625 and add additional conditions for the entry into the EU of animals and goods from third country. The regulation merges the restrictions on the use of VMP and the requirements on contaminants and residues of VMP and pesticides into a single Delegated Regulation.
Note: To avoid confusion, this notification is not the import rules for third countries in relation to 2019/6 Veterinary Medicinal product regulation. The EC is currently working on the development of a delegated act that will set out the requirements for animals and products of animal origin intended to be exported to the EU. The EU has committed to notifying when the draft delegated regulation is open for comments.
The Market Access Secretariat welcomes industry stakeholders and provincial and territorial partners to submit comments and/or feedback directly to the EU through the public consultation portal. We would also like to invite you to share initial thoughts and/or comments submitted to the EU with the Market Access Secretariat by August 3rd in order to help inform the Canadian position.
Should you have any questions, please communicate with the Market Access Secretariat at aafc.mas-sam.aac@agr.gc.ca
