DEPARTMENT OF THE ENVIRONMENT
Diseases of Animals (Importation of Miscellaneous Goods) (Jersey) Order 1958
(Public)
Purpose of the Report
It is proposed that the Planning and Environment Minister make an Order to amend the above Order to prohibit the personal import of any meat and dairy products brought into Jersey from Third Countries.
Background
1 Viruses which cause diseases such as Foot and Mouth and Swine Fever can survive for many months in meat and dairy products, therefore, the possible risk of introducing animal disease into the Island must be considered when regulating import of these products. Commercially imported products from Third Countries have to comply with rules and health requirements, including being subject to veterinary checks at border inspection posts.
2 Commission Regulation (EC) No 206/2009 sets out the quantity of personal imports permitted from Third Countries, carried by passengers, that should be exempt from veterinary checks. It is fixed at zero. Consequently such products cannot be brought back in travellers’ luggage or sent as small consignments to people or ordered, by mail, telephone or via the internet and delivered to people in the island.
Discussion
1 Personal imports of meat and dairy products, other than cows milk, can be brought to Jersey from any other part of the British Islands, EU countries and certain neighbouring countries which include Andorra, Canary Islands, Liechtenstein, Norway, San Marino and Switzerland. (Gibraltar is not treated as part of the EU for this purpose). Personal imports of meat and dairy products, other than cows milk, of up to 10 kg per person are permitted from Croatia, Faeroe Islands, Greenland and Iceland.
2 The importation of cows milk in liquid form, whether or not processed, to Jersey is prohibited except when accompanied with a licence issued under the Customs and Excise (Import and Export Control) (Jersey) Order 2006.
3 It is proposed to:
- prohibit the import of personal imports of any meat and dairy products (other than cows milk in liquid form) to Jersey from Third Countries
- give powers to an inspector appointed under the Diseases of Animals (Jersey) Law 1956 for the purpose of administering and enforcing the Diseases of Animals (Importation of Miscellaneous Goods) (Jersey) Order 1958 to stop a person or a vehicle and carry out any search, check or inspection
- give powers to an inspector to seize, detain, isolate and if necessary destroy any animal, carcase, goods or thing indicated in the second column of Schedule 1 that does not meet the requirements of article 2 and recover costs involved from the person responsible.
Conclusion
The proposed changes to implement these important disease control measures are proportionate to the disease risks involved, they strengthen Jersey’s objective of maintaining a high health status and fulfil Jersey’s obligation to implement EU legislation on veterinary matters.
Recommendation
The Minister is recommended to make an Order to prohibit the import of meat and dairy products and set controls for certain other products into Jersey from Third Countries as laid out in Regulation (EC) No 206/2009 and remove Prohibition Number 16 from Schedule 1 of the Diseases of Animals (Importation of Miscellaneous Goods) (Jersey) Order 1958.
Written by: | States Veterinary Assistant |
Approved by: | Director for Environment |
Endorsed by: | Assistant Director - Revenue & Goods Control Customs & Immigration Service |
Ministerial Decision ref: MD-PE-2011-XXXX
24 October 2011