Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2019/1602
of 23 April 2019
supplementing Regulation (EU) 2017/625 of the European Parliament and of the Council concerning the Common Health Entry Document accompanying consignments of animals and goods to their destination
(Text with EEA relevance)
THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION,
Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,
Having regard to Regulation (EU) 2017/625 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 15 March 2017 on official controls and other official activities performed to ensure the application of food and feed law, rules on animal health and welfare, plant health and plant protection products, amending Regulations (EC) No 999/2001, (EC) No 396/2005, (EC) No 1069/2009, (EC) No 1107/2009, (EU) No 1151/2012, (EU) No 652/2014, (EU) 2016/429 and (EU) 2016/2031 of the European Parliament and of the Council, Council Regulation (EC) No 1/2005 and (EC) No 1099/2009 and Council Directives 98/58/EC, 1999/74/EC, 2007/43/EC, 2008/119/EC and 2008/120/EC, and repealing Regulations (EC) No 854/2004 and (EC) No 882/2004 of the European Parliament and of the Council, Council Directives 89/608/EEC, 89/662/EEC, 90/425/EEC, 91/496/EEC, 96/23/EC, 96/93/EC and 97/78/EC and Council Decision 92/438/EEC (Official Controls Regulation) , and in particular Article 50(4) thereof,
Whereas:
(1)
Regulation (EU) 2017/625 establishes rules on the performance of official controls by the competent authorities of the Member States on animals and goods entering the Union in order to verify compliance with Union agri-food chain legislation.
(2)
As rules on the cases when, and the conditions under which, the CHED should accompany consignments in transit are to be laid down in a separate delegated act to be adopted pursuant to Article 51(1) of Regulation (EU) 2017/625, this Regulation should only apply to consignments intended to be placed on the market in the Union.
(3)
Regulation (EU) 2017/625 provides that consignments of animals and goods entering the Union through designated border control posts are to be accompanied by the Common Health Entry Document (‘CHED’). Once the official controls have been performed and the CHED has been finalised, the consignments may be split into different parts, according to the commercial needs of the operator.
(4)
With a view to ensuring traceability of consignments and proper communication with the competent authority at the place of destination, rules should be established on the conditions and the practical arrangements under which the CHED should accompany consignments intended for placing on the market to their destination. In particular, it is appropriate to lay down detailed rules related to the CHED for the cases where consignments are split.
(5)
In order to ensure the traceability of consignments that are split at the border control post after official controls have been performed and the CHED has been finalised by the competent authority, it is appropriate to require that the operator responsible for the consignment also submits, through the information management system for official controls (‘IMSOC’) referred to in Article 131 of Regulation (EU) 2017/625, a CHED for each part of the split consignment, which should be finalised by the competent authorities of the border control post and should accompany each part of the split consignment to the destination declared in the respective CHED.
(6)
For the purposes of preventing the fraudulent reuse of the CHED, it is appropriate to require the customs authorities to communicate to the IMSOC the information on the quantity of the consignment stated in the customs declaration, so as to ensure that the quantities stated in such customs declaration are deducted from the total allowed quantity declared in the CHED. Customs authorities are required to exchange information using the customs electronic data-processing techniques referred to in Article 6(1) of Regulation (EU) No 952/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council . Those electronic data-processing techniques should be used for the purposes of this Regulation. In order to allow the customs authorities sufficient time to set up those techniques, it is appropriate to provide that the obligation to communicate the information on the quantity of the consignments to the IMSOC applies in each Member State as from the date on which those techniques become operational in that Member State or from 1 March 2023, whichever is earlier.
(7)
Since Regulation (EU) 2017/625 applies from 14 December 2019, this Regulation, should also apply from that date,
HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION:

Subject matter and scope
Article 1
1
This Regulation establishes the cases where and the conditions under which the Common Health Entry Document referred to in Article 56 of Regulation (EU) 2017/625 (‘CHED’) is required to accompany to the place of destination each consignment of the categories of animals and goods referred to in Article 47(1) of Regulation (EU) 2017/625 which is intended to be placed on the market (‘consignment’).
2
This Regulation does not apply to consignments in transit.

Definitions
Article 2
For the purposes of this Regulation—
a
‘the appropriate computerised information management system’ is the system for official controls referred to in Article 131 of Regulation (EU) 2017/625;
b
‘place of destination’ means the place where the consignment is delivered for final unloading, as stated in the CHED;
c
‘TCBTA’ means the Taxation (Cross-border Trade) Act 2018.

Cases where the CHED shall accompany consignments to their place of destination
Article 3
A CHED shall accompany each consignment irrespective of whether or not it is split at the border control post or subsequent to leaving the border control post but before being released for free circulation in accordance with Article 57(2)(b) of Regulation (EU) 2017/625.

Conditions for the CHED accompanying consignments which are not split
Article 4
Where a consignment is not split before being released for free circulation in accordance with Article 57(2)(b) of Regulation (EU) 2017/625, the following requirements shall apply:
1. the operator responsible for a consignment shall ensure that a paper, electronic or digital copy of the CHED accompanies the consignment to the place of destination and until it is released for free circulation in accordance with Article 57(2)(b) of Regulation (EU) 2017/625;
2. the operator responsible for the consignment shall indicate the reference number of the CHED in the customs declaration lodged with the customs authorities and shall keep a copy of that CHED at the disposal of the customs authorities in accordance with paragraph 7(1)(b) and (2) of Schedule 1 to the TCBTA and public notices given under those provisions, as amended from time to time,
3. the customs authorities shall record in the appropriate computerised information management system the information on the quantity of the consignment stated in the customs declaration and shall only allow the placing of the consignment under a customs procedure when the total quantity set out in the CHED is not exceeded. This requirement shall not apply where the consignment is to be placed under the customs procedures referred to in section 3(4)(a) and (b) of, and Parts 2 and 3 of Schedule 2 to, the TCBTA.

Conditions for the CHED accompanying consignments split at the border control post
Article 5
1
Where a consignment is to be split at the border control post, the following requirements shall apply:
a
when giving prior notification in accordance with Article 56(3) of Regulation (EU) 2017/625, the operator responsible for the consignment shall declare the border control post as the place of destination in the CHED for the entire consignment;
b
upon finalisation of the CHED for the entire consignment by the competent authority at the border control post in accordance with Article 56(5) of Regulation (EU) 2017/625, the operator responsible for the consignment shall request that the consignment be split and shall submit, through the appropriate computerised information management system, a CHED for each part of the split consignment, and declare therein the quantity, the means of transport and the place of destination for the relevant part of the split consignment;
c
the competent authority at the border control post shall finalise the CHEDs for the individual parts of the split consignment in accordance with Article 56(5) of Regulation (EU) 2017/625, provided that the sum of the quantities declared in those CHEDs does not exceed the total quantity set out in the CHED for the entire consignment.
d
the operator responsible for the consignment shall ensure that a paper, electronic or digital copy of the CHED for each part of the split consignment accompanies the relevant part of the split consignment to the place of destination stated therein and until it is released for free circulation in accordance with Article 57(2)(b) of Regulation (EU) 2017/625.
e
the operator responsible for the consignment shall indicate the reference number of the CHED for each part of the split consignment in the customs declaration lodged with the customs authorities and shall keep a copy of that CHED at the disposal of the customs authorities in accordance with paragraph 7(1)(b) and (2) of Schedule 1 to the TCBTA;
f
the customs authorities shall communicate to the appropriate computerised information management system the information on the quantity of the relevant part of the split consignment stated in the customs declaration and shall only allow the placing of that part under a customs procedure when the total quantity set out in the CHED for the part of the split consignment is not exceeded. This requirement shall not apply where the consignment is to be placed under the customs procedures referred to in section 3(4)(a) and (b) of, and Parts 2 and 3 of Schedule 2 to, the TCBTA.
2
In the case of a non-compliant consignment to be split at the border control post, where the competent authority at the border control post orders the operator to take one or more of the actions referred to in Article 66(4) of Regulation (EU) 2017/625 in respect of a part of the consignment only, the following requirements shall apply:
a
upon finalisation of the CHED for the entire consignment, the operator responsible for the consignment shall submit a CHED for each part of the split consignment and declare therein the quantity, the means of transport and the place of destination for that part;
b
the competent authority at the border control post shall finalise the CHEDs for the individual parts of the split consignment in accordance with Article 56(5) of Regulation (EU) 2017/625, taking into account the decision taken for each part of the split consignment;
c
paragraph 1 (d), (e) and (f) shall apply to each part of the split consignment.

Conditions for the CHED accompanying consignments under customs supervision split after leaving the border control post
Article 6
Where a consignment is to be split after leaving the border control post and before being released for free circulation in accordance with Article 57(2)(b) of Regulation (EU) 2017/625, the following requirements shall apply:
1. the operator responsible for the consignment shall ensure that a paper, electronic or digital copy of the CHED accompanies each part of the split consignment until it is released for free circulation in accordance with Article 57(2)(b) of Regulation (EU) 2017/625;
2. for each part of the split consignment, the operator responsible for the consignment shall indicate the reference number of the CHED in the customs declaration lodged with the customs authorities and shall keep a copy of that CHED at the disposal of the customs authorities in accordance with paragraph 7(1)(b) and (2) of Schedule 1 to the TCBTA;
3. for each part of the split consignment, the customs authorities shall record in the appropriate computerised information management system the information on the quantity stated in the customs declaration for that part and shall only allow the placing of that part under a customs procedure where the total quantity set out in the CHED is not exceeded. This requirement shall not apply where the consignment is to be placed under the customs procedures referred to in section 3(4)(a) and (b) of, and Parts 2 and 3 of Schedule 2 to, the TCBTA.

Entry into force and application
Article 7
This Regulation shall enter into force on the twentieth day following that of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.
It shall apply from 14 December 2019.
However, the following provisions shall apply ... from the date on which the customs electronic data-processing techniques referred to in Article 6(1) of Regulation (EU) No 952/2013 become operational ... or from 1 March 2023, whichever is the earlier:
1. point (c) of Article 4;
2. point (f) of Article 5(1);
3. point (c) of Article 6.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Derogations and modifications: animals and goods entering Great Britain from a relevant third country
Article 8
1.
This Regulation applies subject to the derogations and modifications specified in Annex 6 to Regulation (EU) 2017/625 during the transitional staging period in relation to relevant goods entering Great Britain from a relevant third country.
2.
In this Article ‘transitional staging period’, ‘relevant goods’ and ‘relevant third country’ have the meanings given in Annex 6 to that Regulation.
...
Done at Brussels, 23 April 2019.
For the Commission
The President
Jean-Claude Juncker
OJ L 95, 7.4.2017, p. 1.
Regulation (EU) No 952/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 9 October 2013 laying down the Union Customs Code (OJ L 269, 10.10.2013, p. 1).
Art. 8 inserted (31.12.2020) by The Official Controls (Animals, Feed and Food, Plant Health etc.) (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2020 (S.I. 2020/1481), regs. 1, 31(8) (with reg. 46)
Words in Signature omitted (31.12.2020) by virtue of The Official Controls (Animals, Feed and Food, Plant Health etc.) (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2020 (S.I. 2020/1481), regs. 1, 31(7) (with reg. 46)
Art. 2 substituted (31.12.2020) by The Official Controls (Animals, Feed and Food, Plant Health etc.) (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2020 (S.I. 2020/1481), regs. 1, 31(2) (with reg. 46)
Words in Art. 7 omitted (31.12.2020) by virtue of The Official Controls (Animals, Feed and Food, Plant Health etc.) (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2020 (S.I. 2020/1481), regs. 1, 31(6)(a) (with reg. 46)
Words in Art. 7 omitted (31.12.2020) by virtue of The Official Controls (Animals, Feed and Food, Plant Health etc.) (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2020 (S.I. 2020/1481), regs. 1, 31(6)(b) (with reg. 46)
Words in Art. 4(b) substituted (31.12.2020) by The Official Controls (Animals, Feed and Food, Plant Health etc.) (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2020 (S.I. 2020/1481), regs. 1, 31(3)(a) (with reg. 46)
Words in Art. 4(c) substituted (31.12.2020) by The Official Controls (Animals, Feed and Food, Plant Health etc.) (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2020 (S.I. 2020/1481), regs. 1, 31(3)(b)(i) (with reg. 46)
Words in Art. 4(c) substituted (31.12.2020) by The Official Controls (Animals, Feed and Food, Plant Health etc.) (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2020 (S.I. 2020/1481), regs. 1, 31(3)(b)(ii) (with reg. 46)
Words in Art. 6(b) substituted (31.12.2020) by The Official Controls (Animals, Feed and Food, Plant Health etc.) (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2020 (S.I. 2020/1481), regs. 1, 31(5)(a) (with reg. 46)
Words in Art. 6(c) substituted (31.12.2020) by The Official Controls (Animals, Feed and Food, Plant Health etc.) (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2020 (S.I. 2020/1481), regs. 1, 31(5)(b)(i) (with reg. 46)
Words in Art. 6(c) substituted (31.12.2020) by The Official Controls (Animals, Feed and Food, Plant Health etc.) (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2020 (S.I. 2020/1481), regs. 1, 31(5)(b)(ii) (with reg. 46)
Words in Art. 5(1)(b) substituted (31.12.2020) by The Official Controls (Animals, Feed and Food, Plant Health etc.) (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2020 (S.I. 2020/1481), regs. 1, 31(4)(a) (with reg. 46)
Words in Art. 5(1)(f) substituted (31.12.2020) by The Official Controls (Animals, Feed and Food, Plant Health etc.) (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2020 (S.I. 2020/1481), regs. 1, 31(4)(a) (with reg. 46)
Words in Art. 5(1)(f) substituted (31.12.2020) by The Official Controls (Animals, Feed and Food, Plant Health etc.) (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2020 (S.I. 2020/1481), regs. 1, 31(4)(c) (with reg. 46)
Words in Art. 5(1)(e) substituted (31.12.2020) by The Official Controls (Animals, Feed and Food, Plant Health etc.) (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2020 (S.I. 2020/1481), regs. 1, 31(4)(b) (with reg. 46)
Words in Art. 4(a) substituted (10.2.2025) by The Official Controls (Amendment) Regulations 2025 (S.I. 2025/102), regs. 1(1)(b), 49(2)
Words in Art. 5(1)(d) substituted (10.2.2025) by The Official Controls (Amendment) Regulations 2025 (S.I. 2025/102), regs. 1(1)(b), 49(3)
Words in Art. 6(a) substituted (10.2.2025) by The Official Controls (Amendment) Regulations 2025 (S.I. 2025/102), regs. 1(1)(b), 49(4)