This section
carries out Official Controls on establishments that handle and process food of
animal origin. These controls, in line with the EU’s ‘ Farm to Fork’ policy,
are intended to assure the consumer that each Food business Operator has taken
the necessary measures and employed due diligence to produce safe food, and, in
the interest of risk management, has produced food items that are traceable
through all stages of processing and distribution.
The Official
Controls carried out by this section are based on EU regulations and Directives
and have a risk-based approach. The type of Official Control may take on
different forms, varying from a simple inspection to a full audit. In each case
a risk assessment of the establishment would be carried out using a score-point
system, and taking into consideration the type of production of the
establishment; its level of hygiene; past performance, and the efficacy of its
self-check system. The frequency of the official Controls and/or any
enforcement action would thus be adjusted in accordance with the result of this
risk analysis.
Another function
of this section is the granting of an ‘Approved’ status to eligible
establishments intending to process, manufacture, or handle, products of animal
origin, thus enabling them to place their product on the EU market. Applicants
who need to obtain this status are guided by Officials from this section in
fulfilling the requirements of the relevant regulations so that approval may be
granted.
Application Forms