The Animal Feedingstuffs from Belgium (Control) (No. 3) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1999

Explanatory Note

(This note is not part of the Regulations.)

These Regulations, revoke and re-enact with certain changes the Animal Feedingstuffs from Belgium (Control) (No. 2) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1999 (“the revoked Regulations”), and implement, in relation to products for animal feeding—

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 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. L209, 7.8.99, p. 42).

Like the revoked Regulations, these Regulations—

(a) define “controlled entity” (regulation 2) and prohibit, subject to exceptions (regulation 3), the carrying out of specified operations with respect thereto (regulation 4);

(b) specify the enforcement authorities (regulation 5); and

(c) apply, with modifications, provisions of the Food Safety (Northern Ireland) Order 1991 (regulation 6).

In addition to making minor and drafting changes to the revoked Regulations, the regulations, by referring to Commission Decision 1999/449/EC and Commission Decision 1999/551/EC, make the following changes of substance—

(a) the definition of “controlled entity” now reflects the following changes made by Commission Decision 1999/551/EC—

(i) the extension of the coverage of Commission Decision 1999/449/EC so that it applies controls 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 poultry, and hatching eggs and products derived therefrom;

(ii) alteration of the rearing periods on the basis of which the controls described in paragraph (i) apply, and the disapplication of the closure dates previously applicable to pigs and bovine animals, and products derived from them (3rd June 1999) and to live domestic fowls, and hatching eggs and products derived from them (1st June 1999); and

(iii) the removal of controls contained in Commission 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 PCB’s not exceeding the relevant maximum level set out in Annex A to that Decision, as amended; and

(b) they reflect changes in the certification requirements relating to the importation of products from Belgium covered by these Regulations.