October 30, 2006

EU simplifies import rules for poultry and poultry products

The European Commission has completed and adopted an overhaul of EU legislation on the import of poultry and poultry products.

The commission, through Decision 2006/696/EC, has consolidated 13 import rules into a single piece of legislation outlining the import conditions for poultry, hatching eggs, day-old chicks, meat of poultry, and wild game-birds, eggs and egg products.

A standardised veterinary certificate lay-out of the Trade Control and Expert System (TRACES) is spelled out.

The new decision also includes the list of countries authorised to export these products to the EU, and conditions that apply to consignments from certain geographical regions.

The simplification of the rules reduce the administrative burden and make the EU rules clearer and more transparent for its trade partners, the commission said.

Countries have been given 6 months to adapt to the new conditions set out in the veterinary certificates.