Diseases of Animals (Importation of Miscellaneous Goods) (Jersey) Order 1958

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A decision made 7 November 2011:

Decision Reference: MD-PE-2011-0104
Decision Summary Title	Personal imports of meat and dairy products from Third Countries		Date of Decision Summary:	24 October 2011
Decision Summary Author:	States Veterinary Assistant		Decision Summary: Public or Exempt?	Public
Type of Report: Oral or Written?	Written		Person Giving Oral Report:
Written Report Title	Diseases of Animals (Importation of Miscellaneous Goods) (Jersey) Order 1958		Date of Written Report:	24 October 2011
Written Report Author:	States Veterinary Assistant		Written Report : Public or Exempt?	Public
Subject: To prevent exotic animal disease incursion and prohibit the import of personal imports of meat and dairy products brought into Jersey from certain Third Countries by private individuals or sent by post.
Decision(s): The Minister agreed that Schedule 1 of the Diseases of Animals (Importation of Miscellaneous Goods) (Jersey) Order 1958 should be amended to prohibit the personal import of any meat and dairy products brought into Jersey from certain Third Countries and to remove Prohibition Number 16 from the Schedule to improve administration and enforcement.
Reason(s) for Decision: To set appropriate import controls, in accordance with EU legislation, under the Diseases of Animals (Importation of Miscellaneous Goods) (Jersey) Order 1958 to prevent introduction of exotic diseases such as Foot and Mouth to the Island.
Resource Implications: None
Action required: States Veterinary Assistant to request the Law Draftsman to prepare a revised draft Order, on the basis of a suitable brief to be provided by the Department, for consideration by the Minister.
Signature:		Position:
Date Signed:		Date of Decision (If different from Date Signed):

Diseases of Animals (Importation of Miscellaneous Goods) (Jersey) Order 1958 - Amendment

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