Report of meeting Standing Committee of the Food Chain and Animal Health (SCoFCAH): 18 June 2008

• Use of Clean Water/ Fish Oil/ Amendments to Annexes of Regulations 853 and 854/2004. Some minor amendments made to Draft Regulations and Commission will now finalise texts for vote at July Standing Committee. Member States (MS) generally content and adoption likely.
• Frozen Food of Animal Origin. Commission tables revised Draft allowing more flexibility, opposition from some MS, but most prefer tighter controls. MS asked for any further comments in writing before probable vote at July Standing Committee.
• Traceability Requirements for Food of Animal Origin. No progress. Commission claims Regulation 853/2004 excludes composite products of animal and vegetable origin and also retail sector, but is unwilling to tighten text or include cross-references. Further comments requested in writing. Not clear whether this will be put to the vote in July, but strong support around the table.
• Minimum Requirements for Salmonella control programmes. Document agreed and to be published on website.
• Approval of Salmonella control programmes in broilers. Paper to be sent to World Trade Organisation for consideration.

The next meeting will be a SCoFCAH meeting on 15 July.

Guidance document on minimum requirements for Salmonella control programmes (SANCO/745/2008 Rev. 4)
All MS accepted the draft document subject to minor amendments, However, the Commission agreed to reconsider Article 8 as part of the review of the hygiene package. Although there was no formal vote, no MS was against the proposal and the Commission said that they would publish the document on their website (subject to a few editorial changes.) Please note that a fifth revision of this document, handed out at the meeting, is attached.

Draft Commission Regulation concerning approval of Salmonella control programmes in broilers (SANCO/1370/2008 Rev 2)
The proposal was adopted unanimously in a technical vote. The Commission said that the draft Regulation would be sent to the Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures of the World Trade Organisation, with a final vote in October / November. If adopted, the Regulation would apply from 1 January 2009.

Draft Regulation amending Regulation (EC) No 853/2004 as regards frozen food of animal origin (SANCO/1489/2007 Rev 9)
The Commission reported that there had been a meeting with EC stakeholders two days previously about SANCO/1489/2007 and SANCO/1490/2007 at which there had been no significant opposition to the proposals.

A revision of 1489, which was intended to allow for greater flexibility for frozen food of animal origin made from raw materials with different dates of freezing, was tabled (this version is attached). Mixed views amongst MS about this draft.

The Commission claimed the “date of minimum durability” embraced the “use by” and “best before” dates. If this was not known, food businesses further down the line would not be able to meet the requirements of Regulation (EC) 2000/13.

The Commission asked MS to send further comments in writing and said that this proposal was likely to be put to a vote at the July Standing Committee.

Draft Regulation laying down implementing measures regarding traceability requirements in respect of food of animal origin (SANCO/1490/2007 Rev 8)
The Commission repeated their view that coldstores throughout Europe were not keeping traceability records on the grounds that they were not food business operators. Most MS in support with a small minority against.

It was suggested that the scope should be better defined; that the terms “consignor” and “consignee” should be defined; and that batch numbering requirements should be clarified.

Draft Regulation amending Annex II to Regulation (EC) 852/2004 (Use of clean water) (SANCO/42/2008 Rev 4)
Some concern raised about the use of clean seawater in the preparation of fishery products.

Draft Regulations amending Regulation (EC) 2074/2005 as regards total volatile basic nitrogen limits (SANCO/1729/2008 Rev. 1) and 2076/2005 as regards a transitional period for imports of fish oil (SANCO/1730/2008 Rev. 2)
Member States appeared content. The Commission agreed to check whether document sanco/1730/2008 should cross-refer to Regulation (EC) 1664/2006.

Draft Regulations amending Annexes II and III to Regulation (EC) 853/2004 (SANCO/43/2008 Rev. 5) and Annexes I, II and III to Regulation (EC) 854/2004 (SANCO/44/2008 Rev. 5)
Generally well-received by MS.