(RASFF) Annual Report 2009 - European Commission - Europa

Annual Report 2009
Two notifications reported contamination with dioxins and dioxin-like PCBs.
One notification, reporting high levels of dioxins contamination, concerned
dried Tagetes flowers for pigmentation of egg yolks. The product and feed
produced with it was distributed to several countries in Europe and globally.
Switzerland: a new partial member of RASFF
On the first of January 2009, an amendment to the agreement on the trade
of agricultural products 20 entered into force, adding two BIPs in Switzerland.
With this, Switzerland has become part of the European market for products
of animal origin and live animals. As part of the package, Switzerland became
a member of RASFF for border rejections of products of animal origin with a
view to becoming a full member once the full body of EU law is adopted.
Increased participation of third countries in RASFF
Already for several years, RASFF has become less of a secret to countries that
are not a member of it. The Commission improved its communication with
them over the years (read more under the heading on RASFF Window), as can
be seen in the chart below.
FOLLOW-UP NOTIFICATIONS RECEIVED FROM THIRD COUNTRIES
500
450
400
350
300
250
200
150
100
50
0
1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009
New technologies for RASFF
RASFF Window
RASFF Window is a web interface that has been developed in order to improve
the speed of transmission of the information between the European Commission
and third countries in the context of the RASFF. The application provides
authorities of concerned third countries with direct access to the notifications.
44
20 Decision No 1/2008 of the joint veterinary committee set up by the agreement between the European Community
and the Swiss Confederation on trade in agricultural products, O.J. L 6, 10.1.2009, p. 89–116