Products of Animal Origin for Human Consumption: Casings

1. ‘Casings’ means the bladders and intestines that after cleaning have been processed by tissue scraping, defatting and washing and have been treated with salt or dried, as per Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2020/692.

2. Animal casings can be imported provided that they

a) Come from an EU approved establishment

b) Are accompanied by an agreed animal/public health certificate

3. The animal casings must have been produced in accordance with the conditions laid down in:

a) Regulation (EC) No 178/2002 laying down the general principles and requirements of food law, establishing the European Food Safety Authority and laying down procedures in matters of food safety

b) Regulation (EC) No 852/2004 on the hygiene of foodstuffs

c) Regulation (EC) No 853/2004 laying down specific rules for food of animal origin

d) Regulation (EU) 2016/429 on transmissible animal diseases and amending and repealing certain acts in the area of animal health (‘Animal Health Law’)

e) Regulation (EU) 2017/625 on official controls and other official activities performed to ensure the application of food and feed law, rules on animal health and welfare, plant health and plant protection products

f) Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 692 supplementing Regulation (EU) 2016/429 with regard to requirements for the entry into the Union of consignments of certain animals and goods intended for human consumption

g) Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2022/2292 of 6 September 2022 supplementing Regulation (EU) 2017/625 of the European Parliament and of the Council with regard to requirements for the entry into the Union of consignments of food-producing animals and certain goods intended for human consumption

1. Animal casings may be imported from countries listed in Annex XVI of Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/404. For the production of casings intended for entry into the Union, third countries may use raw materials of animal origin sourced from Member States or from other third countries or regions thereof which are authorised for the entry into the Union of fresh meat, or of certain meat products and treated stomachs, bladders and intestines, and which are listed in the relevant lists of such fresh meat and meat products of Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/404 or Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/405.

2: The country must additionally be listed as having an approved control plan for casings in Annex -I of Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/405

3. Animal casings must be produced in establishments approved to export to the EU:

See list here: Establishment Lists - TRACES NT (europa.eu).

4. Commission Decision 2007/453/EC categorises the countries or regions, according to their BSE risk.

5: Consignments of meat products, including casings, shall only be permitted to enter the Union if the meat products of the consignment have not undergone a risk-mitigating treatment in accordance with Annex XXVI of Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2020/692 where:

(a) the third country or territory of origin or zone thereof is listed for entry into the Union of fresh meat of the relevant species, and specific conditions in accordance with Chapter 1 and 2 of Title 1, Part IV, are not required for entry into the Union of such fresh meat;

(b) the fresh meat used for the processing of the meat product complied with all the requirements for entry into the Union of fresh meat and therefore was eligible for entry into the Union and originated from:

6: Consignments of casings that do not fulfil the requirements provided for in paragraph 5 shall only be permitted to enter the Union if they have undergone the following risk-mitigating treatments set out in Part 2 of Annex XXVI of Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2020/692, as listed below:

(a) treatments ‘Casing 1’ or ‘Casing 2’, where the bladders and intestines used for the processing of the casings originate from bovine animals, ovine animals, caprine animals or kept porcine animals;

(b) treatments ‘Casing 3’, ‘Casing 4’ or ‘Casing 5’ where the bladders and intestines used for the processing of the casings originate from animals of species other than those referred to in point (a).

7. Iceland, Norway, Switzerland and Liechtenstein have international agreements with the EU which means that they implement EU veterinary legislation in relation to the movement of animal products. Animal products from these countries must comply with the same requirements applying to animal products from EU Member States and are therefore not subject to veterinary checks.

8. Other Third Countries have special conditions associated with the import of products of animal origin. Further information can be found in the following legislation relevant to that particular country:

• Canada: Council Decision 1999/201/EC; Decision 79/542/EC

• New Zealand: Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2015/1901; Council Decision 97/132/EC

• Japan: Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/1533

• USA: Council Decision 1998/258/EC

1. Casings shall be presented at a community Border Control Post, accompanied by a health certificate for the entry into the Union of casings intended for human consumption corresponding to the model CAS drawn up in accordance with the model set out in Chapter 27 of Annex III of Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2020/2235.

2. The certifying veterinarian should ensure that only the relevant paragraphs and, where appropriate, additional guarantees and/or special conditions applicable to exporting country are included.

3: DAFM strive to provide the most up to date version of the relevant EHCs, however legislation updates do take place so TRACES should always be consulted to check for the most up to date version.

1. Consignments of casings entering the EU must be inspected at an EU-approved Border Control Post (BCP) where Member States' official veterinarians ensure they fulfil all the requirements provided for in the EU legislation.

2. The person responsible for the load being imported (the importer or a customs agent acting on their behalf) must give the BCP at the intended point of entry advance notification of the arrival of the consignment.

3. There is a required minimum pre-notification notice period of at least 24 hours’ notice in advance of the consignment’s arrival.

4. Failure to submit correct documentation within this timeline may result in significant delays in the consignment being processed through the Border Control Post.

5. Pre-notification is given by the submission of Part 1 of the Common Health Entry Document (CHED-P), as is laid down in Commission Implementing Regulation (EC) No. 2019/1715, through the online TRACES system.

6. Copies of other supporting documentation associated with the consignment should be submitted at this time as well - such as the Health Certificate, Invoice, Packing list etc.

7: Necessary documents and logistical information must be submitted 24 hours in advance via the DAFM Import Portal.

1. Providing all the documentation has been submitted correctly and within the correct timeframes, a large proportion of the documentary check can be commenced in advance of the consignment’s arrival. This includes examination of the veterinary certificate and other documents accompanying a consignment.

Please note the original hard copy of the health certificate must travel with the consignment, this will be checked and held at the BCP at the point of entry into the EU.

2. Provided all is in order with the documentary check, the consignment will then be subject to an identity check at the BCP to ensure it identifies with the consignment that was declared in the documentation.

3. A proportion of consignments will be selected for a full physical inspection with/without sampling as appropriate.

4. Upon satisfactory completion of the required checks, the decision is entered in Part 2 of the CHED which must accompany the consignment to the first place of destination referred to in the CHED.

5. If the consignment does not meet the import requirements, the consignment may be rejected and either re-exported or destroyed.