The European Commission has approved another series of proposals on food safety and animal health issues, related to the upcoming accession of Bulgaria and Romania to the EU.

Veterinary experts from the Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health voted in favour of approving the Bulgarian and Romanian contingency plans for avian influenza, Newcastle disease, classical swine fever and foot-and-mouth disease.

They also endorsed transitional measures for imports of animal origin, which enter Bulgaria and Romania before 1 January 2007 and agreed to transitional measures for a considerable number of Bulgarian milk establishments.

A considerable proportion of raw milk delivered to milk processing establishments in Bulgaria is currently not in compliance with EU requirements, the EC said in a statement. Therefore, much of the milk processed by the dairy sector is not eligible for export to other Member states.

Under the decision agreed on Tuesday, a series of establishments across Bulgaria have been listed as able to continue to receive non-compliant milk until 31 December 2009, on the condition that their products are only sold on the domestic market. The produce from these establishments will carry a special identification mark.

Only products made from compliant milk may be dispatched to other parts of the EU. The Bulgarian authorities will be responsible for checking that these conditions are adhered to.

We need your support so Novinite.com can keep delivering news and information about Bulgaria! Thank you!