4MEMO05498

Helping with implementation
What are the implementing rules for the Food Hygiene Package?
The implementing rules for the hygiene package, adopted by the Commission on December 5th 2005, aim to make sure that the new hygiene legislation is properly interpreted and applied. They include provisions for food chain information, specific testing methods for marine biotoxins, lists of approved establishments, model health certificates for certain products, derogations for traditional foods and specific rules for the control of the parasite Trichinella in certain types of meat. Transitional arrangements until 31 December 2009 are also laid down for some of the new hygiene provisions, to allow a gradual change-over from the current to the new regime.
What are the guidance documents?
The Commission drew up 3 guidance documents on the new food hygiene
legislation to provide advice and direction to food business operators and Member
States on a number of different aspects of the Hygiene Package. The first 2
guidance documents aim to clarify a number of questions on the hygiene legislation,
including the scope of the Regulations, procedural issues such as the registration
and approval of establishments, and technical points related to certain products such
as meat and milk. The third guidance document aims to assist all players in the food
chain in understanding the application of the HACCP system