The Food (Animal Products from Belgium) (Emergency Control) (Scotland) Order 2000

Explanatory Note

(This note is not part of the Order)

This Order, which applies to Scotland, revokes and re-enacts with certain changes, the Food (Animals and Animal Products from Belgium) (Emergency Control) (No. 2) (Scotland) Order 1999 (S.S.I. 1999/32) (“the revoked Order”) and implements in Scotland, in relation to food and food sources, Commission Decision 1999/788/EC on protective measures with regard to contamination by dioxins of certain products of porcine and poultry origin intended for human or animal consumption (OJ No. L310, 4.12.1999, p.62).

The Order defines ‘relevant animal product’ (article 1(3)), prohibits (with exceptions (article 2)) the carrying out of commercial operations relating to them (article 3), specifies the enforcement authorities (article 4) and applies with modifications provisions of the Food Safety Act 1990 (article 5).

In addition to making minor changes to the revoked Order, this Order, by referring to Decision 1999/788/EC, makes the following changes of substance–

(a) it narrows the coverage of the revoked Order in that it does not apply to pigs, poultry and hatching eggs, but only to products derived from pigs and poultry;

(b) the controls do not apply in the case of products derived from poultry or pigs slaughtered after 20th September 1999 or from eggs laid after that date;

(c) it amends the certification requirements for importation of animal products from Belgium; and

(d) it amends the requirements as to return to Belgium by applying them only to products derived from animals slaughtered, or eggs laid, before 20th September 1999.