The European Parliament adopted by 685 votes to 3, with 7 abstentions, a legislative resolution on the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Regulation (EU) 2017/625 as regards official controls on animals and products of animal origin exported from third countries to the Union to ensure compliance with the prohibition of certain uses of antimicrobials.

The proposed Regulation aims to amend the Regulation on official controls to cover the verification of compliance with the rules on the use of antimicrobials in animals and products of animal origin entering the EU.

The European Parliament's position adopted at first reading under the ordinary legislative procedure amends the Commission's proposal as follows

Cross-border dimension of the antimicrobial resistance problem

The amended text underlines, in a recital, that in accordance with Regulation (EU) 2019/6, a more prudent and responsible use of antimicrobials in animals is ensured, inter alia, by prohibiting the use of antimicrobials to promote growth and increase yield and by prohibiting the use of antimicrobials reserved for the treatment of certain infections in humans.

The amending Regulation refers to recital 49 of Regulation (EU) 2019/6 which stresses the importance of taking into account the international dimension of the development of antimicrobial resistance by taking non-discriminatory and proportionate measures, while respecting the obligations of the Union under international agreements.

Specific rules for the performance of official controls

No epidemiological information has been reported which could link public health risks to echinoderms that are not filter feeders. For that reason, the possibility laid down in Article 18(7), point (g), of Regulation (EU) 2017/625 to derogate from the requirement to classify the production and relaying areas should be extended to all echinoderms which are not filter feeders, for example to those belonging to the class Echinoidea, and not be limited to Holothuroidea.

The regulation therefore specifies that the conditions for the classification and control of classified production and relaying areas to be defined by the Commission should apply to live bivalve molluscs, echinoderms, tunicates and marine gastropods, except those marine gastropods and echinoderms that are not filter feeders.

Specific hygiene rules for food of animal origin

Regulation (EC) No 853/2004 of the European Parliament and of the Council excludes from its scope the direct supply, by the producer, of small quantities of meat from poultry and lagomorphs slaughtered on the farm to the final consumer or to local retail establishments directly supplying such meat to the final consumer as fresh meat.

Since the date of application of that Regulation, namely 1 January 2006, the exclusion had been extended several times to all meat from poultry and lagomorphs as a transitional measure. During the 15 years of the transitional period no significant food safety concerns caused by the activities carried out in accordance with that extension were observed. In addition, the Commission underlined the importance of shorter supply chains with a view to enhancing resilience of regional and local food systems.

The amended text therefore introduces a permanent derogation by stipulating that Regulation (EC) No 853/2004 should not apply to the direct supply of small quantities of meat from poultry and lagomorphs slaughtered on the farm by the producer to the final consumer or to local retail establishments supplying such meat directly to the final consumer.

Entry into force

The Regulation should apply from the date of its entry into force. However, Article 1(1) should apply from 28 January 2022, the date on which the Regulation on veterinary medicinal products should start to apply.

The European Parliament adopted by 687 votes to 2, with 2 abstentions, amendments to the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Regulation (EU) 2017/625 as regards official controls on animals and products of animal origin exported from third countries to the Union to ensure compliance with the prohibition of certain uses of antimicrobials.

The matter has been referred back to the committee responsible for inter-institutional negotiations.

The proposal under discussion is to amend the Regulation on official controls to cover verification of compliance with the rules on the prudent use of antimicrobials, which is the only effective way of ensuring that imports of animals and animal products from third countries comply with these rules.

The main amendments adopted in plenary concern the following points:

Cross-border dimension of the problem of antimicrobial resistance

Members propose to underline in a recital that in accordance with Regulation (EU) 2019/6 , a more prudent and responsible use of antimicrobials in animals is ensured, inter alia, by way of the prohibitions on the use of antimicrobials for growth promotion and yield increase and on the use of antimicrobials reserved for treatment of certain infections in humans.

An amendment suggests that the proposal should refer to recital 49 of Regulation (EU) 2019/6 which stresses the importance of considering the international dimension of the development of antimicrobial resistance by taking non-discriminatory and proportionate measures, while respecting Union obligations under international agreements.

Specific rules for the performance of official controls

Given that no epidemiological information has been provided that could establish a link between public health risks and echinoderms that are not filter-feeders, Members consider that the possibility laid down in Article 18(7)(g), of Regulation (EU) 2017/625 to derogate from the requirement to classify the production and relaying areas should be extended to all echinoderms which are not filter feeders, for example to those belonging to the class Echinoidea, and not be limited to Holothuroidea.

For this reason, Members also propose to clarify that the conditions for the classification and monitoring of classified production and relaying areas to be laid down by the Commission apply to live bivalve molluscs, echinoderms, tunicates and marine gastropods, except those marine gastropods and echinoderms that are not filter feeders.

Specific hygiene rules for food of animal origin

An amendment adds that Regulation (EC) No 853/2004 should not apply to the direct supply by the producer of small quantities of meat from poultry and lagomorphs slaughtered on the farm to the final consumer or to local retail establishments supplying such meat directly to the final consumer.

Entry into force

The Regulation would apply from the date of its entry into force. However, Article 1(1) would apply from 28 January 2022, the date on which the Regulation on veterinary medicinal products would start to apply.

PURPOSE: to include in existing legislation official controls to verify the compliance of exports of animals and animal products to the EU to ensure compliance with the prohibition of certain uses of antimicrobials.

PROPOSED ACT: Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council.

ROLE OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT: the European Parliament decides in accordance with the ordinary legislative procedure and on an equal footing with the Council.

BACKGROUND: Regulation (EU) 2017/625 of the European Parliament and of the Council lays down the rules for the performance of official controls to verify compliance with, inter alia , rules on food and feed safety.

Under Article 118(1) of Regulation (EU) 2019/6 on veterinary medicinal products, third country operators exporting animals and products of animal origin to the Union are required to respect the prohibition of the use of antimicrobials for growth promotion and yield increase, as well as the prohibition of the use of antimicrobials reserved for treatment of certain infections in humans in order to preserve the efficacy of those antimicrobials.

Building on the One Health approach, Regulation (EU) 2019/6 provides for a wide range of concrete measures that will apply to EU operators in order to enhance the fight against antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and promote a more prudent and responsible use of antimicrobials in animals. This objective is also reflected in the Commission’s Farm to Fork Strategy, in which the Commission has set the ambitious target of reducing by 50% overall EU sales of antimicrobials used for farmed animals and in aquaculture by 2030.

CONTENT: in order to ensure an effective implementation of the prohibition of the use of antimicrobials for growth promotion and yield increase and of the use of antimicrobials reserved for treatment of certain infections in humans, the Commission proposes to include official controls for the verification of compliance of animals and products of animal origin exported to the Union with Article 118(1) of Regulation (EU) 2019/6 in the scope of Regulation (EU) 2017/625 which is a key element in the fight against antimicrobial resistance.