Regulation 2019/1793 sets temporary increases of official controls and emergency measures governing the entry into Great Britain (GB) of food and feed from certain countries. The Regulation deals with imported high-risk food and feed not of animal origin, ensuring that such commodities when imported into GB undergo risk-based checks. The Food Standards Agency (FSA), which has responsibility for imported food safety in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland, in conjunction with Food Standards Scotland (FSS) who have similar responsibilities in Scotland have established a four-country working group to review imported food legislation. This working group determines whether existing controls are effective, should be reduced or applied to new commodities that present a risk to health.
Proposed amendments We can now inform you that after our review, we propose to make recommendations to Ministers for the Annexes to be amended. Food safety is a devolved matter, and the decisions will be made by Ministers in each devolved country. Where Ministers have agreed to accept our recommendations, secondary legislation will be required in each nation to amend the Regulation to amend the rules governing imports of certain commodities from Türkiye outlined in the table below: Annex I commodities are subject to an increased level of official controls. The Annex sets out the identity and physical checks, including sampling and laboratory analysis, frequency for the various commodities. In addition, Annex II commodities must be accompanied by an official certificate as well as results of pre-export sampling and analysis.
Commodity Hazard Risk Management Recommendation Grapefruits Pesticide residues. New addition to Annex I with 10% frequency of identity and physical checks. Sesamum seeds Salmonella New addition to Annex I with 10% frequency of identity and physical checks. Tahini and halva Salmonella New addition to Annex I with 10% frequency of identity and physical checks.
