2.

Agency responsible: Department for Environment and Rural Affairs (DEFRA)

3.

Products covered (provide tariff item number(s) as specified in national schedules deposited with the WTO; ICS numbers should be provided in addition, where applicable): Guts, bladders and stomachs of animals (other than fish), whole and pieces thereof, fresh, chilled, frozen, salted, in brine, dried or smoked (HS code(s): 0504)

4.

Regions or countries likely to be affected, to the extent relevant or practicable:

[X] All trading partners

[ ] Specific regions or countries:

5.

Title of the notified document: Declaration of special measures: Importation of animal casings from susceptible animals from certain third countries and territories the trade in animals and related products Regulations 2011 (SI 2011/1197); Declaration of special measures: foot-and-mouth disease importation of animal casings from susceptible animals from certain third countries and territories the trade in animals and related products (Scotland) Regulations 2012; Declaration of special measures: Importation of animal casings from food-and-mouth disease susceptible animals from certain third countries and territories the trade in animals and related products (Wales) Regulations 2011 (SI 2011/2379 (W. 252)). Language(s): English. Number of pages:

6.

Description of content: These declarations of special measures are necessary to prevent the incursion of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD)into the United Kingdom (UK). In addition, risks of incursion of diseases such as classical swine fever (CSF) and African swine fever (ASF) also need to be addressed.

The import of animal casings derived from species susceptible to these diseases is being limited to those countries who are eligible to import fresh meat of the species in to the United Kingdom, or, to those countries that are recognized by World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) as free of FMD with or without vaccination, plus the following countries: China, Egypt, India, Iran, Lebanese Republic, Morocco, Mongolia, Pakistan, Tunisia and Uzbekistan provided they follow the risk mitigation treatment requirement. These measures also apply certification requirements, in line with the recommendations set down in Article 8.8.41 (FMD), 15.1.24 (ASF) and 15.2.24 (CSF) of the WOAH Terrestrial Code, to mitigate the risk of disease entry, and require confirmation that animal casings are derived from animals that are not from a premises under restriction for the relevant notifiable diseases.

7.

Objective and rationale: [ ] food safety, [X] animal health, [ ] plant protection, [ ] protect humans from animal/plant pest or disease, [ ] protect territory from other damage from pests.

8.

Nature of the urgent problem(s) and reason for urgent action: These changes are being made to update conditions for imports into Great Britain of animal casings derived from animals susceptible to foot-and-mouth disease, classical swine fever and African swine fever in line with latest WOAH recommendations and to address an unacceptable biosecurity risk for the United Kingdom. This is to mitigate a significant risk of disease incursion, which could have significant animal health and economic consequences to the UK. Urgent action is required to limit imports to countries and zones that are recognized by the World Organization of Animal Health as free of foot-and-mouth disease or have been subjected to risk mitigating treatment in line with Article 8.8.41, 15.1.24 (ASF) and 15.2.24 (CSF) of the WOAH Terrestrial Code.

9.

Is there a relevant international standard? If so, identify the standard:

[ ] Codex Alimentarius Commission (e.g. title or serial number of Codex standard or related text):

[X] World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) (e.g. Terrestrial or Aquatic Animal Health Code, chapter number): Article 8.8.41, 15.1.24 (ASF) and 15.2.24 (CSF)

[ ] International Plant Protection Convention (e.g. ISPM number):

[ ] None

Does this proposed regulation conform to the relevant international standard?

[ ] Yes   [X] No

If no, describe, whenever possible, how and why it deviates from the international standard: The United Kingdom deems it necessary to include an additional risk mitigating condition in the health certificate requiring confirmation that the casings are derived from animals that are from holdings that are not subject to animal health restrictions for these diseases. This is due the risk of possible incursion of diseases such as FMD, ASF and CSF into the United Kingdom and as such, to protect the UK's biosecurity.

10.

Other relevant documents and language(s) in which these are available:

Safeguard measures have been made under:

• the Trade in Animals and Related Products (England) Regulations 2011;

• the Trade in Animals and Related Products (Wales) Regulations 2011;

• the Trade in Animals and Related Products (Scotland) Regulations 2012.

These declarations can be accessed here, under the heading 'Declaration of special measures: importation of animal casings of susceptible animals for certain third countries and territories': Imports, exports and EU trade of animals and animal products: topical issues - GOV.UK.

In addition, a revised export health certificate has been issued to accompany animal casings from permitted countries which set out the import conditions that need to be complied with. A copy of the health certificate can be found here:

Other meat: model health certificates - GOV.UK (available in English).

11.

Date of entry into force (dd/mm/yy)/period of application (as applicable): 17 January 2025

[ ] Trade facilitating measure

12.

Agency or authority designated to handle comments: [X] National Notification Authority, [X] National Enquiry Point. Address, fax number and e-mail address (if available) of other body:

UK WTO SPS National Notification Authority and Enquiry Point

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Seacole Building

2 Marsham St

London SW1P 4DF

E-mail: uksps@defra.gov.uk

13.

Text(s) available from: [X] National Notification Authority, [X] National Enquiry Point. Address, fax number and e-mail address (if available) of other body:

UK WTO SPS National Notification Authority and Enquiry Point

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Seacole Building

2 Marsham St

London SW1P 4DF

E-mail: uksps@defra.gov.uk