Promotion of the Walloon Animal Productions n.f.p.a.

Information - advices

( For querries, don't hesitate to contact-us.)

* Contract, cost: joint venture agreement (Definition , Explanations , List of control for such ); example of Simple contract used to export pigs and example of Costs calculation for export (could be used for other productions).

* Foodstuff: information on demands to manufacture, to sell, to label, on hygienic measures (of which the good management practices guides), the additives, some imports, the norms for collective catering, the autocontrol, the authorized biocides, etc.., are on the AFSCA site. Click here .
Regarding the autocontrol (legislation, procedures, agreements, guides, control tools,...), click here (AFSCA site).

On the site of the SPF Public Health, there is multiple information on food (meats, additives, supplements...), hormones, contaminants, GMO, hygiene and risks (standards, HACCP, traceability, autocontrol...), label, etc. On each page, you could see the legislation by clicking on "Legislation" at right. Click here to reach these infos. There are more info on food (additives, contaminants, ...) available under "Santé animale", click here to go there.
Regarding the additives, see the UE 1831/2003 Regulation and the new Register of addives .

* Export of Animals/Animals Products: only export to third countries (thus outside EU) are considered here, as the others are exchanges (see Import).

You should first ask AFSCA whether there is yet agreements with the concerned country. If it's the case, it will facilitate the formalities as these depend on the requirements of that country. If there is none, you should contact the authorities of the concerned country (the Embassies could help) to see what are the conditions. Sanitary conditions: is there need for quarentine (where, how, period, agreement,...) and lab analysis (types, values, labs,...), what sanitary certificate will be recognised by the authorities (type, oficial signature, stamps, agreement,...). Import conditions: what are the customs requirements, which import permit will be recognised by the authorities (type, oficial signature, agreement,...), what are the commercial documents (type, information on it,...) and others (identity, traceability,...) to use, which are the establishments of the export country (in this case Belgium) recognised and agreed upon by the authorities of the country to import the concerned goods, etc... Transport conditions: to strictly follow the European conditions described underneath.

For more details, click on the following links: Book of instructions for export (AFSCA: examples of certificates and request for agreements, instructions for inspection and other specific instructions for some countries, list of Belgian agreed establishments for export, Infos for animals export, list of European agreed establishments,...).

Don't forget as well that: the AWEX can help you in a lot of ways (of which the financial one) to prepare and implement your exports; the National Office National of Ducroire can also help you to cover your risks.

* Import of Animals/Animals Products: you should consider 1/- the intra-community exchanges and 2/- the imports coming from third countries.

1/- The conditions/rules are harmonised in the whole European Community and could be summarized as follows: the animals should satisfy to the same requirements than in Belgium and be accompanied by a sanitary certificate validated by an official European veterinary officer (thus here a vet from AFSCA); the products should satisfy to the same reqirements than in Belgium, should come from an agreed European establishment (see list through AFSCA site ; list through EU site : Belgian and European establishments) and be accompanied by a correct commercial document. For the products, the sanitary certificates are only needed in special situations depending on the prevalence of certain diseases.

2/- The conditions/rules are the same than for the European Union, but there are the third countries and their establishments which should conform to these and be agreed by the EU. Either there is a bilateral agreement with the concerned country, in which case it will facilitate the acceptance of the sanitary certificates for instance, either there is none and the general EU rules apply. To know whether there is an agreement, contact the AFSCA . In any case, when importing, there is a need for:
a) for animals or products: the concerned country must appear on the list of third countries where from imports are authorized in the EU for the animal species or for the specific type of products (see positive list published by EU following the Decision 79/542 . Always look for the most recent list and check with AFSCA!);
b) for products: the establishment of origin must have been agreed by the EU and be thus on the EU list of Third countries establishments (this list is also on the AFSCA site, under Produits animaux);
c) for both: conform sanitary certificates (language, form,...), agreed by Belgium (thus by EU as well) and signed by an official veterinary officer from the competent authorities of the country of origin (examples are included in the Decision 79/542 mentioned here above, see also with AFSCA whether nothing else exist with this country);
d) for both: documents in order (import permit, description and identification of merchandise, traceability, etc.); transport and packing means in order (see with the transporter and the custom agent);
e) all must enter the EU through a vBIP (Veterinary Border Inspection Post) where everything will be controlled (see with AFSCA which post to use if the entry is made through Belgium).

For more details on animals import into EU, click here and choose in the Menu (top right) the concerned animal.
For more details on animal products import into EU, click here and choose in the Menu (top right) the concerned product.
See also the Guide of general orientation for third countries and another Document guide , both published by EU.
Remark: when the page is in French, see whether there is an English version by clicking in the rolling Menu at the top righ corner on "English" or look for an "en" link on the site.

* Transport and animal welfare: summarised here are information on the means of transport (transformation, agreements,...), their use and management (lenght of transport, resting period,...), the agreed control points, the conditions of animals moving (documents, rules per country,...), the animal welfare in Europe and worldwide (information from EU, IEO, FAO, WHO,...), etc.

Belgium: the actual Belgian rules and legislations are on the AFSCA site.
Click here to go on the page "Protection animale et mouvements". You will be able to choose a subject of interest: Trade and movements, Animal welfare, Farm animals, Advices for animal welfare, etc.
The new circulars and documents (AM of 27/06/2005) to be completed by the tranporters and the dealers are on the AFSCA site.

European Union: the actual European rules and legislations are on the EU Food Safety site.
You could consult the "Regulation on the protection of animals during transport" , the "Actual legislation" , the "Animals welfare"or also "Pets and animals welfare",the "Fundamental legislative references", the References in animal protection .

Attention: for special transports (as plane or boat), consult your transporter and/or your custom agent in order to inform you about the special means to use (type of container, transformations, etc...) and the specific rules to utilize in these cases. The Internet sites of the "Animal Transportation Association" and of the "IATA" could help you as well to obtain the regulations (~132U$) concerning this type of transport.

* Vegetals - Phytosanitary: the informations and procedures regarding export and import are more or less the same types than the ones regarding the animals and their products. There are therefore not summarised hereto.

Nevertheless, for more details, you could click on the folowing links: Phytosanitary aspects (AFSCA: control at export and import, example of certificates, rules for the pesticides,...), Phytosanitary passport (AFSCA: Guide for use with examples), Vegetals products (AFSCA: specific informations for some vegetal products), Intra-community trade (EU: rules and lists), Import from third country (EU: certificates and passports; use the rolling Menu top right in order to see the other points like the inspection, the control measures...).

For more precise information, it is strongly advised to go on the page "USEFUL LINKS" in order to consult sites like the Federal Public Services, the Regional Ministries, the Agencies, the Federations, the Research, Education and Training Institutions as well as other adhoc sites.