Foodstuffs of animal origin: procedures for the establishment of residue limits of pharmacologically active substances

The Commission fully supports the common position.

Key amendments proposed by the European Parliament in the first reading relating to:

• the availability of veterinary medicinal products,
• the provisions on reference points for action, such as the inclusion of control measures, the clarification relating to the residue levels triggering sanctions by competent authorities and equal treatment of Third country imports and intra-Community trade,
• the clarification of the conditions under which a further scientific assessment by the EMEA is not required when an MRL has been set in the framework of Codex Alimentarius Commission of FAO/WHO, are addressed in the political agreement.

In order to respond to specific availability related amendments, two minor changes to Directive 2001/82/EC on the Community code relating to veterinary medicinal products are included. Furthermore, the Commission has agreed to a Declaration on an assessment of options for a future review of Directive 2001/82/EC.

European Parliament amendments not included in the amended proposal and not incorporated in the common position concern: the legal base of the regulation; the implementing measures as regards to the proposed change to the Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health; the classification of pharmacologically active substances; the prohibition of the administration of a substance to food-producing animals; the proposed change to the regulatory procedure with scrutiny when fixing individual MRLs; the circulation of foodstuff.