Special support for new EU members

What is the situation with food processing enterprises in the 10 new member states? 

Bringing food processing establishments up to EU standards is a big challenge for the new Member States. A lot has been done and many establishments already fulfil the EU requirements. Others still have significant upgrading work to do if they want to reach EU compliance. Six of the new Member States (*) have requested transitional periods to upgrade a limited number of food processing plants after accession. These transitional arrangements are limited in time and scope, lasting until 2006 or 2007 (see Annex). The European Commission required the new Member States to present detailed information on the situation of the food processing establishments and a binding plan for upgrading each of those which request a transitional period.

Additionally, severe conditions have been imposed as regards the marketing and the special marking of the products coming from establishments in transition: Products must stay on the domestic market of the new Member States and cannot be sold within the EU. Therefore these products will have to be clearly marked so as to distinguish them from those that can be traded within the internal market. The Commission will closely monitor the situation in the establishments and the new Member States will have to report regularly on developments.

For establishments that have no transitional periods and do not fulfil EU legislation, the Treaty is clear. If they do not comply with EU standards by the time of accession, they will be closed down. The list of establishments in transition can be amended by Commission decision, but only to a limited extent.  (*) Czech Republic, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland and Slovakia

What are the standards to be met in the area of food safety ?

EU food safety and veterinary/phytosanitary legislation sets high standards in terms of transposing the legal requirements but particularly as regards the administrative structures which need to be in place. Therefore most new Member States need to make major efforts in putting the relevant legislation in place, organising effective lines of responsibility for food safety, in upgrading plants, getting analytical and laboratory capacity up and running and training personnel for inspection services, laboratory staff etc.

At the moment, the new Member States have many agri-food establishments that may not fulfil the detailed requirements of EU legislation governing the infrastructure and organisation of the production chain. In food factories, implementation of EU rules may mean bigger investments in rebuilding/ refurbishing part of the factory.

To implement effective pesticide residue monitoring for example, the new Member States need to set up a sampling programme (covering both domestic production and imported food), an analytical programme, have the necessary laboratory infrastructure and equipment and have properly qualified staff. They also must put in place effective procedures for identifying lots, reporting results of analysis and for taking appropriate action should problems arise.

Laboratories need to be accredited according to norms on good laboratory practice, such as ISO. Similar requirements apply to the monitoring of residues such as hormones, antibiotics and contaminants, and also testing for the presence of diseases, such as BSE.