Products of Animal Origin (Third Country Imports) (England) Regulations 2002 (S.I. No. 1227 of 2002).

Directive 97/78/EC, here implemented for England, applies to products of animal origin - meat, fish (including shellfish), milk and products made from these, together with egg products and a large number of animal by-products, including casings, skins, bones and blood. When read with Annex I to the Agreement on the European Economic Area the Directive requires that products of animal origin which enter the European Economic Area must undergo specified veterinary checks at border inspection posts to ensure that they comply with requirements laid down by Community legislation for the protection of animal and public health. The products to which the Regulations apply are defined in regulation 2(1) and Schedule 3 and the requirements with which they must comply are listed, by reference to the relevant Community legislation, in Schedule 2. Small quantities of products intended for personal use, and trade samples and products intended for exhibition or study or analysis are exempt from all but a few of the Regulations (reg. 3). Regulation 4 defines the authorities who will enforce the Regulations. Regulations 7, 8 and 9 confer the necessary enforcement powers. Part III establishes the inspection system which will apply to the generality of products. The introduction into England of products which do not comply with the Schedule 2 requirements is prohibited, unless they are being transported across England (reg. 15). Products must be introduced at border inspection posts, advance notice of their introduction must be given, and they must be made available for inspection, together with required documentation, at a border inspection post (regs. 16 to 19). Remaining regulations deal, inter alia, with infringements, charges and enforcement.