The EU official control rules are a key element of the governance of the agri-food chain in Europe, recognised world-wide as an example of best practice.

These rules provide national authorities and the European Commission with the necessary powers to ensure effective enforcement of regulatory requirements and with mechanisms that allow the full cooperation of all parties involved in ensuring the correct application of the law across national borders.

The Official Controls Regulation also provides the European Commission with audit and control powers in the EU countries and non-EU countries, and with the power to take action at EU level.

The European Parliament and the Council adopted the new Official Controls Regulation No 2017/625 on 15 March 2017. The new rules replace Regulation (EU) No 882/2004 on official controls and other legislation which previously governed the control and enforcement of rules along the agri-food chain. The new rules gradually became applicable with the main application date being 14 December 2019. An overview on delegated and implementing acts adopted under Regulation (EU) 2017/625 can be found here.

Further information: 

Better Training for Safer Food: Better Training for Safer Food (BTSF) is a Commission training initiative covering food and feed law, animal health and welfare and plant health rules

Coordinated Control Programmes: Article 53 of Regulation (EC) No 882/2004 on official controls empowers the Commission to recommend coordinated plans organised on an ad hoc basis.

Financing of Official Controls and Other Official Activities: Mandatory fees for certain official controls. List of cost elements to take into account in the calculation of fees. Greater transparency.

Reference Laboratories and Centres: The Commission is empowered to establish EU Reference Laboratories (EURLs) in those sectors where there is a recognised need to promote uniform practices and reliability of methods of analysis, tests and diagnosis.

Related regulations:

• Regulation (EU) 2017/625 on official controls and other official activities performed to ensure the application of food and feed law, rules on animal health and welfare, plant health and plant protection products (Official Controls Regulation).

• Regulation (EU) 2017/625 has a number of Delegated acts: 

  • 2019/624 – Official controls on meat production and live bivalve molluscs
  • 2019/2090 – Official controls on residues of pharmacologically active substances
  • 2019/478 – Systematic border controls on composite products, hay, and straw
  • 2019/2122 – Exemptions from BCP controls
  • 2019/1081 – Training requirements for BCP staff
  • 2019/1602 – CHED accompanying consignments
  • 2019/2124 – Transit and onward transportation
  • 2019/2123 – Identity and physical checks at control points
  • 2019/1012 – Re-designation of BCPs, derogations
  • 2019/2074 – Controls for animals and goods returning after refusal by third country
  • 2019/1666 – Monitoring consignments’ arrival at destination
  • 2019/2125 – Controls for wood packaging material
  • 2019/2126 – Specific controls for exempted animal and goods categories
  • 2018/631 – Establishing plant EURLs
  • 2019/625 – Entry requirements for certain animals and goods, authorized export lists
  • 2019/2127 – Change in application date for provisions in older directives

• Regulation (EU) 2017/625 has a number of Implementing acts:

  • 2019/627 – Official controls on meat production and live bivalve molluscs
  • 2019/66 – Official controls on plants, plant products, and objects for compliance with plant health rules
  • 2019/2007 – Identification of animals and goods subject to systematic border controls
  • 2019/1793 – Temporary increase of official controls for certain third-country food and feed
  • 2019/2130 – Operations during and after BCP checks
  • 2019/2129 – Uniform frequency rates for identity and physical checks
  • 2019/1013 – Minimum time requirements for prior notification
  • 2019/1014 – BCP facilities and listing requirements
  • 2019/1873 – Coordinated intensified controls at BCPs
  • 2019/2128 – Model certificate for goods delivered to vessels, NATO, or US military bases
  • 2019/530 – EURLs for pests of plants
  • 2019/1685 – EU Reference Centre for animal welfare (poultry and small farmed animals)
  • 2018/329 – EU Reference Centre for Animal Welfare (pigs)
  • 2019/723 – Standard model form for Member States' annual reports
  • 2019/626 – Entry requirements for certain animals and goods, authorized third-country export lists
  • 2019/628 – Model official certificates for animals and goods
  • 2019/1715 – IMSOC, information exchange, and CHED format