Directive 1992/118 - Animal health and public health requirements governing trade in and imports into the EC of products not subject to the said requirements laid down in specific Community rules referred to in Annex A (I) to Directive 89/662/EEC and, as regards pathogens, to Directive 90/425/EEC

1.

Summary of Legislation

Products of animal origin — protecting human and animal health

SUMMARY OF:

Directive 92/118/EEC — animal health and public health requirements for trade in and imports into the EU of certain products

WHAT IS THE AIM OF THE DIRECTIVE?

It aims to protect animal health and human health by setting out requirements for the trade or import of all animal products intended for human consumption that are not already specifically covered by the legislation relating to fresh meat and meat products.

KEY POINTS

  • This directive outlines rules for a range of unspecified miscellaneous animal products intended for human consumption, including sausage casings (often made from a layer of animal intestine), bones, fats, blood products and processed animal protein.
  • Trade in or imports of any new product of animal origin must be authorised by the European Union (EU) and follow, if appropriate, an opinion from the European Food Safety Authority.
  • Products for trade should come from approved establishments registered with the EU country, ensuring that the rules for product surveillance and monitoring are respected.
  • Products may be imported only if they satisfy the following requirements:
    • they must come from an approved country with health rules equivalent to those in the EU;
    • they must come from approved establishments with guarantees that they meet health requirements equivalent to those in the EU;
    • in certain specific cases, they must be accompanied by an animal health or public health certificate;
    • further specific conditions may be imposed, especially in order to protect the EU from certain exotic diseases and diseases transmissible to humans.

Specific rules outlined in the directive include the following.

  • Animal casings. These must be from approved manufacturing plants and have been cleaned, scraped and then salted, bleached or dried, with measures to prevent recontamination.
  • Bones, horns and hooves (and their products) excluding meal. Animal health requirements are generally aligned with those for fresh meat.
  • Processed animal protein .If imported this should be tested for Salmonella at the point of origin and be subject to random testing at an inspection post.
  • Fresh blood and blood products from cattle and poultry. Animal health requirements for trade and imports are generally aligned with those for fresh meat products.
  • Lard and rendered fats.These should be heat treated and packed only in new containers.

This directive will be repealed and replaced by Regulation (EU) 2016/429 with effect from 20 April 2021 (see related acts).

FROM WHEN DOES THE DIRECTIVE APPLY?

It has applied since 6 January 1993. EU countries had to incorporate it into national law by 1 January 1994 (except for rules to comply with Articles 12(2) and 17 for which the deadline was 1 January 1993).

BACKGROUND

For more information, see:

MAIN DOCUMENT

Council Directive 92/118/EEC of 17 December 1992 laying down animal health and public health requirements governing trade in and imports into the Community of products not subject to the said requirements laid down in specific Community rules referred to in Annex A(I) to Directive 89/662/EEC and, as regards pathogens, to Directive 90/425/EEC (OJ L 62, 15.3.1993, pp. 49-68)

Subsequent amendments to Directive 92/118/EEC have been incorporated in the basic text. This consolidated version is of documentary value only.

RELATED DOCUMENTS

Commission Decision 94/453/EC of 29 June 1994 amending or repealing some detailed rules concerning the animal health and public health conditions required for imports of certain live animals and animal products from Austria, Finland, Norway and Sweden in application of the European Economic Area Agreement (OJ L 187, 22.7.1994, pp. 11-13)

Commission Decision 94/775/EC of 28 November 1994 amending Decisions 94/143/EC, 94/187/EC, 94/309/EC, 94/344/EC, 94/446/EC and 94/435/EC laying down the animal health requirements and certification for the import of certain products covered by Council Directive 92/118/EEC (OJ L 310, 3.12.1994, pp. 77-78)

Commission Decision 97/199/EC of 25 March 1997 laying down the animal health requirements and the veterinary certification for the import of pet food in hermetically sealed containers from certain third countries which use alternative heat treatment systems and amending Decision 94/309/EC (OJ L 84, 26.3.1997, pp. 44-48)

Commission Decision 2003/779/EC of 31 October 2003 laying down animal health requirements and the veterinary certification for the import of animal casings from third countries (notified under document number C(2003) 3988) (OJ L 285, 1.11.2003, pp. 38-41)

See consolidated version

Commission Regulation (EC) No 119/2009 of 9 February 2009 laying down a list of third countries or parts thereof, for imports into, or transit through, the Community of meat of wild leporidae, of certain wild land mammals and of farmed rabbits and the veterinary certification requirements (OJ L 39, 10.2.2009, pp. 12-28)

See consolidated version

Commission Implementing Decision 2014/160/EU of 20 March 2014 repealing lists of third-country establishments from which Member States authorise imports of certain products of animal origin adopted on the basis of Council Decision 95/408/EC (notified under document C(2014) 1742) (OJ L 87, 22.3.2014, pp. 104-108)

Regulation (EU) 2016/429 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 9 March 2016 on transmissible animal diseases and amending and repealing certain acts in the area of animal health (‘Animal Health Law’) (OJ L 84, 31.3.2016, pp. 1-208)

Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2016/759 of 28 April 2016 drawing up lists of third countries, parts of third countries and territories from which Member States are to authorise the introduction into the Union of certain products of animal origin intended for human consumption, laying down certificate requirements, amending Regulation (EC) No 2074/2005 and repealing Decision 2003/812/EC (OJ L 126, 14.5.2016, pp. 13-62)

last update 23.01.2017

This summary has been adopted from EUR-Lex.

2.

Legislative text

Council Directive 92/118/EEC of 17 December 1992 laying down animal health and public health requirements governing trade in and imports into the Community of products not subject to the said requirements laid down in specific Community rules referred to in Annex A (I) to Directive 89/662/EEC and, as regards pathogens, to Directive 90/425/EEC