THE European Union (EU) is now requiring new model health certificates for certain commodities intended for human consumption to assure their safety.

The EU’s new requirement is contained in a new regulation issued by the European Commission, which amended a regulation issued in 2005.

Under the new regulation, fishery products, frog legs, snails, gelatine, raw materials for the production of gelatine, collagen, raw materials for the production of collagen, live bivalve mollusks and honey and apiculture products sold for human consumption in the EU should be covered by the new model health certificates.

Malcolm I. Sarmiento, director of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources under the Department of Agriculture, explained that model health certificates are issued by the Philippine government prior to the export of food exports to assure their safety.

“All the EU is saying is that we should develop new model health certificates that will indicate the new procedure in examining and testing the food products prior to export,” said Sarmiento, who noted that the procedure will be developed by the Philippine government together with the EU.

The new EU regulation entered into application on November 25, 2006, but a transitional period has been provided until May of this year to allow the change from the previous certification regime to the new certification regime.

However, to avoid any disruption to trade and any administrative difficulties at points of entry into the EU, products covered by this regulation which were issued certificates signed prior to May 1, 2007 may be imported into the European community until June 30, 2007.

Previously the EU also issued a new regulation to outline specific rules for the manufacture of fish oil intended for human consumption. These requirements took effect on May 1.

Similarly, a transitional period until October 31, 2007 will also be given wherein establishments in third countries manufacturing fish oil for human consumption to the EU can still adapt to these new requirements.

Thus, starting November 1, 2007, imports into the EU of fish oil intended for human consumption will only be authorized if accompanied by the new model health certificates. To avoid disruption to trade, fish oil imported prior to October 31 will be allowed until December 31, 2007.

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THE European Union (EU) is now requiring new model health certificates for certain commodities intended for human consumption to assure their safety.