Date of issue: 5 May 2021
Date of effect: 21 April 2021
Reference Number: MAA2021-05
Related: MAA 2020-10 and MAA 2021-03
Attention:
- Industry Bodies – Australian Food and Grocery Council (AFGC), Dairy Australia, Dairy Industry Export Consultative Committee, Seafood Exports Consultative Committee
- Exporters
- Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment—Central and Regional offices
Purpose:
To notify manufacturers and exporters about the categories of composite products for export to the European Union (EU) exempted from official controls at border control posts (BCPs).
Key points
Composite products (for example; pizzas, soup, pies) are defined by the EU as foodstuffs containing both products of plant origin and processed products of animal origin.
As per the Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2021/630 of February 2021, certain lower risk shelf-stable composite products, not containing processed meat, are exempted from official controls at border control posts (BCPs).
Instead, EU member states' competent authorities shall perform official controls on such composite products on a risk basis with appropriate frequency, at:
- the place of destination
- the point of release for free circulation in the Union, or
- the warehouses or the premises of the operator responsible for the consignment.
The categories of products affected by this Regulation are:
- Confectionery (including sweets), chocolate and other food preparations containing cocoa
- Pasta, noodles and couscous
- Bread, cakes, biscuits, waffles and wafers, rusks, toasted bread and similar toasted products
- Olives stuffed with fish
- Extracts, essences and concentrates, of coffee, tea or maté and preparations with a basis of these products or with a basis of coffee, tea or maté thereof
- Roasted chicory and other roasted coffee substitutes, and extracts, essences and concentrates thereof
- Soup stocks and flavourings packaged for the final consumer
- Food supplements packaged for the final consumer, containing processed animal products (including glucosamine, chondroitin or chitosan)
- Liqueurs and cordials
The applicable CN codes for products within these categories are listed in the Annex to the Regulation.
Further, these products must be accompanied by a private attestation (see MAA 2021-03) and must comply with other EU entry requirements, specified in Article 3(1) of the Regulation. See Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2021/630.
The Manual of Importing Country Requirements (Micor) shall be updated to reflect this Market Access Advice.
Further information
Contact ExportStandards@aff.gov.au if you have any queries.
The information provided in this advice is current at the time of writing and is intended for use as guidance only and should not be taken as definitive or exhaustive. The Commonwealth endeavours to keep information current and accurate, however, it may be subject to change without notice. Exporters are encouraged to verify these details with their importers prior to undertaking production/exports. The Commonwealth will not accept liability for any loss resulting from reliance on information contained in this notice.