Harmonized veterinary certificates in CEFTA – Reference SEED+ 2023-04

Brief Description of Main Deliverables/Outputs:
Annex I of the CEFTA Additional Protocol 5 foresees simplification of inspections related to clearance procedures and reducing formalities to the maximum extent possible and data exchange between competent authorities involved in the clearance of goods. It stipulates data exchange for Veterinary Health Certificate for products of animal origin and Veterinary Health Certificate for live animals. CEFTA TRACES NT as a multilingual online platform available 24/7, that streamlines the certification process and facilitates the exchange of data, information, and documents between all involved trading parties and authorities operates with non-harmonized veterinary certificates bilaterally exchanged between the CEFTA Parties. The overall objective of the project was to facilitate and expedite trade among CEFTA Parties with respect to the veterinary matters, animal health, and food safety, in particular towards the harmonization of Veterinary Certificates using the EU model of veterinary certificate in line with the CEFTA Additional Protocol 5. The purpose of this contract is to achieve the use of harmonized Veterinary Certificates, addressing diverging requirements in the individual CEFTA Parties, and then discussing and agreeing on harmonized veterinary certificates on a product-by-product basis.

Role on the Assignment

The expert team completed the following activities:

Conducted analysis of the existing situation was conducted and a work plan for the project developed;

Organized workshops and bilateral meetings (both virtual as well as physical) with the CEFTA Secretariat and the designated stakeholders were conducted;

Identified short-term and long-term product categories (against predefined criterions) for harmonization and short-term (for year 2023) and a long-term harmonization action plans were produced;

Produced a methodology for the review of divergences of the relevant rules and regulations in CEFTA Economies compared to regulation and practice within the European Union and EU Member States (EU MS);

For each selected product category, a gap analyses with the comparison tables including national regulation and practice (products and production safety control systems, hygiene rules, the recognition of animal disease status and residue monitoring plans) compared to the regulation and practice within the European Union and EU MS was prepared;

Proposals were prepared laying down harmonized rules for the Health Certificates and Veterinary Health Certificates for 11 selected product categories, including establishments authorized for trade with EU and Programmes for Monitoring of Residues and Other Contaminants in live animals and animal origin products; A Final Report with a short description of the achievements including problems encountered and recommendations and Long Term Action plan were delivered and approved. The project deliverables including gap analyses with the comparison tables for each of the selected products and the model of harmonized veterinary certificates were delivered as annexes to the Final Report.