Information for food GMC providers in SCC

In the Netherlands in recent years, the NVWA has allowed document control to take place on scanned documents. From 16 January 2023, this will stop and the European regulation that requires the inspection to take place on the basis of original documents will be strictly enforced. Would you therefore please ensure that we receive the original health certificates and analysis certificates from you as soon as possible as we cannot do anything before then. This will prevent delays in processing.

According to Regulation (EU) 2017/625, Art 50, document control of foodstuffs subject to inspection must be carried out on the basis of original documents. These include the health certificate and the corresponding analytical report from the country of origin. These documents must be provided at the time of pre-notification of certain foodstuffs. These foods are listed in:

– Implementing document (EU) 2019/1793 Annex 2 on official controls of non-animal food and feed.
– Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/1533 on specific conditions for imports of food and feed in relation to the accident at the Fukoshima nuclear power plant.
– Implementing Regulation (EU) 2020/1158 on specific conditions for imports of food and feed in relation to the accident at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant.
– Executive Order (EU) 2013/287 on unauthorised GMOs in rice (products) from China.

In the Netherlands in recent years, the NVWA has allowed document checks to be carried out on scanned documents. You are used to scanning the original documents and sending them to Customs in PDF format. The EU Commission has emphatically challenged the Netherlands on this, meaning this situation can no longer continue. NVWA has therefore started to set up document control based on original documents.