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.