Food (Animals and Animal Products from Belgium) (Emergency Control) (No. 3) Order (Northern Ireland) 1999

Explanatory Note

(This note is not part of the Order.)

This Order revokes and re-enacts with certain changes, the Food (Animals and Animal Products from Belgium) (Emergency Control) (No. 2) Order (Northern Ireland) 1999 (S.R. 1999 No. 335 “the revoked Order”) and implements in Northern Ireland in relation to food and food sources—

• Commission Decision 1999/449/EC on protective measures with regard to contamination by dioxins of certain products of animal origin intended for human or animal consumption (O.J. No. L175, 10.7.99, p. 70), and

• Commission Decision 1999/551/EC amending Decision 1999/449/EC on protective measures with regard to contamination by dioxins of certain products of animal origin intended for human or animal consumption (O.J. No. L209, 7.8.99, p. 42).

Like the revoked Order, this Order defines ‘relevant animal and animal product’ (Article 1(2)), prohibits (with exceptions (Article 2)) the carrying out of commercial operations relating to them (Article 3), specifies the enforcement authority (Article 4) and applies with modifications provisions of the Food Safety (Northern Ireland) Order 1991 (Article 5).

In addition to making minor and drafting changes to the revoked Order, the Order, by referring to Decision 1999/449/EC and Decision 1999/551/EC, makes the following changes of substance—

(a) it extends the coverage of the revoked Order so that it applies not just (as before) to live domestic fowls, hatching eggs, pigs and bovine animals and products derived from domestic fowls, pigs and bovine animals, but also to all other live poultry, and hatching eggs and products derived therefrom;

(b) the rearing periods, on the basis of which the controls described in paragraph (a) apply, now commence on 15th January 1999 and the closure dates previously applicable to pigs and bovine animals, and to products derived from them (3rd June 1999) and to live domestic fowls, and hatching eggs and products derived from them (1st June 1999), no longer apply;

(c) it reflects changes in the certification requirements for the importation from Belgium of products controlled by this Order; and

(d) it reflects the removal of the controls contained in Decision 1999/449/EC as amended from live animals covered by that Decision where analysis shows absence of contamination by dioxins or a level for PCBs not exceeding the relevant maximum level set out in Annex A to that Decision as amended.