A regulatory dialogue visit to support official inspections on EU exports of pork products to Thailand Spain, 7-18 March 2022
This Regulatory Visit aims at demonstrating the robustness of the EU regulatory systems applied to the production and exportation of pork meat and pork products to Thailand. This activity is aiming to improve a better mutual understanding of the EU sanitary rules and control systems in place and to improve conditions for the EU meat industry to access the Thai market.
Due to Covid-19, some unforeseen issues that have emerged are affecting the market access protocols. The official inspections are an important step in the market access which are usually performed by the competent authorities of the non-EU countries in the European establishments. These inspections have been suspended for more than 2 years now.
A team of officials from Thailand Department of Livestock Development (DLD), Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives visited some establishments and discuss with their counterparts in the European Union, EU MS and Reference Laboratories.
This first regulatory dialogue visit was organised in Spain. The Spanish competent authorities were requested to provide speakers and experts to discuss the relevant topic defined in the event program and high-level Officials were invited to meet the delegation of Thai officials during their visit in order to discuss important topics, issues and comments on the Thai market access.
The visit also served to inform the Thai authorities on the harmonised application of EU food law, related official controls and assurances given by the European pork producers in general.
A regulatory dialogue visit to support the official inspections on EU exports of beef products to Thailand in Spain and Ireland, 14 March – 1 April 2022
This Regulatory Visit aimed at demonstrating the robustness of the EU regulatory systems applied to the production and exportation of beef meat and beef products to Thailand. This activity improves a better mutual understanding of the EU sanitary rules and control systems in place and to improve conditions for the EU meat industry to access the Thai market.
In the period of 14th March to 1st April 2022, a team of officials from Thailand Department of Livestock Development (DLD), Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives visited several establishments in Spain and Ireland and discuss with their counterparts in the European Union, EU MS and Reference Laboratories. Besides, the competent authorities in Spain and Ireland invited speakers and experts to discuss the relevant topic defined in the event program and high-level Officials were invited to meet the delegation of Thai officials during their visit in order to discuss important topics, issues and comments in the Thai market access.
The visit also informed the Thai authorities on the harmonised application of EU food law, related official controls and assurances given by the European beef producers in general. The visit will hopefully lead to the authorisation of more establishments exporting products to Thailand.
A regulatory dialogue visit of Indonesian officials on plant products in Slovakia and Belgium, 11 – 15 July 2022
This regulatory visit aimed at strengthening the cooperation on agricultural subjects with Indonesia. This activity has enhanced the mutual understanding of the EU sanitary rules and control systems in place. Also, the visit aimed at improving conditions for the EU fruit and vegetable and cereals industry to access the Indonesian market.
In the period of 11th July – 15th July 2022, a team of officials from Indonesia (mainly from the Indonesian Agricultural Quarantine Agency (IAQA)) along with experts from some other departments, visited various establishments in the EU and discussed with their counterparts, EU MS and Reference Laboratories. Also, meetings with the officials from DG AGRI, DG SANTE and DG TRADE were organised in Brussels.
Multiple results were achieved through this visit. First, the delegates significantly improved their understanding of the EU fruits and vegetables sector, both for the private sector (production and selling process) as well as the regulatory aspects (mostly on the relevant EU Plant Health legislations). Since various private sector establishments were visited, the delegates gained a better understanding on practical aspects of the various fruits and vegetables produced in Europe. The participants were particularly interested in becoming more familiar with EU’s import regime for fruits and vegetables (e.g. what requirements they would have to fulfil, how the EU plant passport works, etc). Also, the delegates were impressed by the level of technology used on the establishment visits. Moreover, due to the visits to DG SANTE and DG TRADE, the delegates were able to get a better understanding on the relevant EU legislations related to plant health/food safety and agricultural imports and exports.
A regulatory dialogue visit of Malaysia Study tour on animal health in Belgium, Germany, Italy, Poland and France, 26 September – 9 October 2022
A regulatory dialogue visit of Malaysia in the EU, in relation to animal health measures was organised in Germany, Poland, Italy and France in the period of 26th September – 9th October 2022.
A team of officials from the Malaysian government visited several Member States to get a deep understanding of the animal health legislation of the EU and its application, in relation to the export of meat and meat products to Malaysia. The Malaysian delegates interacted with DG SANTE, DG TRADE officials in Brussels, as well as WOAH (former OIE) and worked on control measures in place to address ASF, HPAI and Newcastle Disease. They visited EFSA in Parma to get an overview of its work on risks assessment on ASF and on HPAI and discussed potential scientific cooperation with DVS. The visit also gave the opportunity to visit four establishments to illustrate practically how the requirements laid down in the EU law are affectively implemented by the operators in the EU. The visit contributed to building further the trust of Malaysian authorities in the controls implemented in the EU for meat and meat products exported to Malaysia.
A regulatory dialogue visit of Indonesia on animal health in Belgium, Denmark, Italy and Poland, 27 March – 6 April 2023
A regulatory visit of Indonesian officials to Belgium, Denmark, Italy and Poland, was organised in the period of 27th March to 6th April 2023. A team of six officials from Indonesia, mainly from Directorate General of Livestock and Animal Health, along with experts from other departments, visited four member states during a tour of two weeks to assess the robustness of EU animal health measures. Meetings were held with DG TRADE and DG SANTE, as well as several associations of EU exporters. Six establishments were visited and the delegates also had several interactions with MS competent authorities and associations of producers.
The visit demonstrated in addition how EU veterinary policies are based on constant scientific advice, how they’re meticulously implemented by EU MS and which mechanisms exist to guarantee and check that they’re in enforcement in all Member States.
A regulatory dialogue visit of the EU Official Controls on SPS for India in Belgium, Austria, Germany and Ireland
This regulatory visit aimed at improving better understand the EU official control system on food safety and sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) requirements and contribute to increase confidence of the Indian representatives, leading to a trade facilitation for EU food products.
In April 2023, a delegation of six officers of FSSAI (the import control authority in India) visited the EU to hold meetings with DG TRADE and DG SANTE in Brussels, and exchange with their counterparts in the Competent Authorities of four Member States. They also visited official laboratories in Belgium, Ireland and Austria and the EURL (CVUA Freiburg) for pesticide residues detection in Germany. Visits were organised in four (4) establishments (1 in Belgium, 1 in Austria and 2 in Germany). Exchanges were also organised with Officer of the EU Delegation in India in charge of SPS measures. This visit provided them a comprehensive overview of the repartition of roles and responsibilities of all the actors of the food safety system in the EU, namely: EC, MS and Operators.
A regulatory dialogue visit of Thailand on pears in Italy and Portugal, 28 August – 1 September 2023 and 4 – 8 September 2023
This regulatory visit aimed at providing an opportunity for Thai officials to conduct an audit on fresh pears (pyrus communis). The objective of these audits was to assess the pear plantations in major production areas, inspection of packing facilities, traceability standards, export inspection, certification procedures and pest control programme for quarantine pests.
Two different delegations of Thai auditors visited Belgium and Netherlands in a first visit from 28th August to 1st September 2023 and Italy and Portugal in a second visit from 4th to 8th September 2023. They met with the concerned competent authorities and visited a total of 30 establishments including farms, packing centres and storage companies to observe control measures all along the food chain. The delegates obtained clarifications on the pest surveillance techniques in place, could check the manual on pests in visited establishments, and noted the application of cold disinfestation treatment as the main procedure to control the infestation from Mediterranean fruit fly. Clarifications were brought to EU MS competent authorities on the obligation from Thai authorities of a “Certificate of calibration for in transit cold disinfestation treatment in self-refrigerated container, as well as the importance of a proper placement of the temperature sensors.
A regulatory dialogue visit of Vietnamese officials to Greece, Spain and Belgium, 26-30 June 2023
This regulatory visit aimed at strengthening and improving conditions for the EU food and drink industry to reach markets in Vietnam. This activity has enhanced the mutual understanding of the EU sanitary and phytosanitary control measures, improving regulatory cooperation on SPS and food safety between competent authorities – EU Commission, EU Member States and Vietnam – expanding therefore economic opportunities for EU businesses. Also, the visit aimed at promoting the removal of unjustified restrictions and obstacles that may result from the relevant control measures, and thereby to facilitate the access of EU markets.
In the period 26th to 30th June 2023, a team of officials from Vietnam, mainly from Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development - Plant Protection Department, along with experts from other departments, visited several establishments in the EU and discussed with their counterparts, EU MS, representatives of the industries and experts. Also, meetings with the officials from DG TRADE and DG SANTE were organised in Brussels. The visit demonstrated in addition how EU policies are based on constant scientific advice, how they’re meticulously implemented by EU MS and which mechanisms exist to guarantee and check that they’re in enforcement in all Member States.
Since various private-sector establishments were visited, the delegates gained a better understanding on practical aspects of various food produced in Europe (amongst others, oranges, peaches, kiwis and related products). The delegates were impressed by the level of technology used in the establishment visits (in particular responding to their request to better discuss aspects concerning agriculture techniques adopted in the visited MS). Moreover, due to the visits to DG SANTE and DG TRADE, the delegates were able to get a better understanding on the relevant EU legislations related to food safety and plant health to contribute to increase confidence of the Vietnamese representatives, leading to a facilitation of imports and exports. Indeed, meetings with the EU Commission in Brussels provided opportunities to explain and discuss plant control policies and the TRACES multilingual online platform for certification and traceability.
Ultimately, this led to a better and global understanding and appreciation of the EU market.
A regulatory dialogue visit of Vietnam to Europe on Animal Product in Portugal, Czech Republic and Sweden, 5 – 14 June 2023
This regulatory visit aimed at strengthening the cooperation on SPS compliance with Vietnam. More specifically, this activity aimed at improving the understanding of the Vietnamese officials on EU’s sanitary and phytosanitary rules and control systems in place.
AETS organised and coordinated this study visit from 5th to 14th June 2023, carried out by a delegation of officials from Vietnam (composed of 5 persons in total), for a period of 1.5 weeks in Portugal, Czech Republic and Sweden. The itinerary of the activities in the EU MS was carefully coordinated between AETS and the various EU Member States.
One of the key success factors of this regulatory visit was that the programme consisted of a balanced mix between meetings/visits with/of the private sector (production and processing procedures) as well as the public sector (ministries). Since various private sector establishments were visited, the delegates gained a better understanding of how animal products are being produced/processed in the EU. Noteworthy is that the delegates were impressed by the level of technology used in the establishment visits.
Therefore, this Regulatory Dialogue Visit undoubtedly contributed to a better understanding and appreciation of the EU’s animal health and veterinary system (and products). The exchange of ideas and sharing of knowledge will contribute to an increased trust in the EU system, and the respective quality standards and control in place in the various EU Member States. These factors could potentially, and ideally, lead to approved market access to Vietnam for European establishments.
A regulatory dialogue visit in Denmark for Malaysia officials to Support the Joint Agriculture Working Group (JAWG) of Malaysia and Denmark for a regulatory dialogue on Danish procedures and products, 22 – 25 August 2023
This regulatory visit aimed at supporting the Joint Agriculture Working Group (JAWG) of Malaysia and Denmark for a regulatory dialogue on Danish procedures and products, in order to reduce barriers of market entry of Danish producers to Malaysia.
The Malaysian Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security and Department of Veterinary Service visited Denmark from 22nd to 25th August 2023 for a Joint Working Group meeting to discuss future cooperation within the MoU signed between Malaysia and Denmark. In relation to the meeting a program was put together for the delegation targeting areas of interest from Malaysia's side. Focus was on handling infectious livestock animal diseases; breeding and genetics; the shared interest in sustainability and resource efficient food production and one health/AMR.
The program included presentations from and discussions with the Danish Veterinary and Food Administration, Danish Technical University, Aarhus University, Danish Agricultural and Food Council, Food Nation (a Danish Public Private Partnership) and a breeding company.
Topics covered during the visit include AMR DANMAP (Danish Programme for surveillance of antimicrobial consumption and resistance in bacteria from food animals) and EU reference laboratory’s tasks and responsibilities; Smart farming; Genetics; the Danish Agricultural and Food Council initiative “Travel to Farm” (possibility of interning and working in the agri-sector and receive training); Infectious animal diseases; Public Private cooperation; Agro tech and the dairy sector.
All in all, the Malaysian delegation expressed that they were impressed with the level of expertise demonstrated; they got a good understanding of certain EU regulation and implementation in Denmark, and they expressed a very strong interest in further cooperation and knowledge sharing.