valstybinė maisto ir veterinarijos tarnyba state food and veterinary service lithuanias...

Valstybinė maisto ir veterinarijos tarnyba State Food and Veterinary Service

Lithuania’s perspectives and experience (positive and negative) in the development

and implementation of veterinary legislation

Prof. Dr. Kazimieras Lukauskas

Vice-President of the OIE Regional Commission for Europe

Djerba, Tunisia 7-9 December 2010


Based on 5 essential supports:

1) The EU initiative for new food safety strategy in EU

2) New demands of society, consumer rights protection in food area

3) The OIE policy and the Standards of OIE Codes and Manuals

4) Future visions of the EU towards veterinary legislation

5) Lithuania’s great wish to be in the EU family by transposing all requested EU Acquis into the national law

Push factors to new reforms in Lithuania after declaration of independence


Some background features

Lithuania was made full member of the OIE in 1932

After the WW II the membership to the OIE was suspended

In 1992 Lithuania re-established the membership to the OIE


Towards the State Veterinary Service (SVS) in 1991-2000

1. After re-establishment of independence, liquidation of big state agricultural farms, kolkhozs, started.

2. The number of farm animals and poultry decreased substantially and the market for animal products and animals shrank due to severed relations with the large former Soviet Union market.

3. Situation changed when veterinary services were provided to new actors of agricultural sector (large industrial farms and big herds replaced by small family-farms).

4. Big demand emerged for private vets, especially in towns (small animals).


Towards the State Veterinary Service (SVS) in 1991-2000

5. A need for legal regulation of private veterinary practices and of veterinary pharmacy activities.

6. A new field in veterinary sector i.e. border veterinary control, had to be regulated immediately, (hence a new authority - Border Veterinary Control institution was created in 1991).

7. A new system for registration and identification of farm animals had to be set up.

8. Because of lack of appropriate animal welfare surveillance system a new one had to be introduced across the country.

9. The bulk of of veterinary legislation was inherited from the former Soviet legislation thus had to be modified accordingly.


Towards the State Veterinary Service (SVS)in 1991-2000

- The Codes and Manuals of the OIE, specifically the fundamental principles of the Terrestrial Animal Health Code on “official veterinary services”, its role and structure became the cornerstone in the preparation of the new Law on Veterinary Activities and in reorganisation of the whole existing national veterinary legislation.

- For the above reorganisation OIE standards and recommendations were of crucial importance, both politically and from the professional point of view


State Veterinary Service (SVS) in 1991-2000

1. Such a structure was fully in line with the fundamental principles of the OIE Terrestrial Animal Health Code (Chapter 3.1).

2. SVS comprised veterinarians, other professionals and para-professionals with the responsibility and competence for ensuring and supervising the animal health, animal welfare, animal origin food/feed requirements, who also carried out veterinary certification across Lithuania.

3. Activities of SVS comprised all partners, farmers, veterinary practitioners, laboratories, official veterinarians, competent authorities related to the veterinary field.


Law on Veterinary Activities – legal basis for creation of the new Veterinary Services and later reforms

In 1992 the State Veterinary Service under the Government of Republic of Lithuania was established. A new Authority included subordinate regional and local veterinary services, veterinary labs and diagnostic units, the body responsible for controls of veterinary pharmaceuticals , the Consulting Centre for vets, the Border Veterinary Control institution.

In early 1994 the Government of Lithuania raised a clear goal – for Lithuania to become an EU Member with national legislation harmonised with EU Acquis, including veterinary legislation.


Enlargement of the EU

1973: Denmark, Ireland and the UK1981: Greece1986: Spain and Portugal1990: Re-unification of Germany (the territory of the former German Democratic Republic was incorporated into the Federal Republic of Germany)

1995: Austria, Finland and Sweden(Norway decided again not to join the EU but to remain a member of EFTA)

2004: Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Slovakia and Slovenia2007: Bulgaria and Romania ? Future enlargement – Candidate and Associated countries


Lithuania’s way to the EU (Pre-accession)

Following approval of negotiation chapters transitional periods were discussed on some provisions of EU Acquis on which LT will negotiate with COMM The position was adopted to start negotiations with “light chapters” (e.g. education, enterprise law, etc.) and gradually to go over to “heavy” negotiation chapters. Besides the Government adopted the plan for the harmonisation of acquis - the so-called “Timetable for transposition of acquis” and set up a working group for each negotiation chapter


Lithuania’s way to the EU (Pre-accession)

2001- Government adopted negotiation chapter- “Agriculture”, (7th chapter)

30-03-2001- “Consumers and Health” acquis chapter approximated and closed, 11-06-2002– “Agriculture” negotiation chapter incl. Veterinary and Phytosanitary legislation completed

December 2002- negotiations on accession to the EU with the candidate countries including Lithuania were officially concluded


Preparation of Lithuania for EU accession in veterinary and food control field

I. Establishment of the legal system and harmonisation of the national legislation with the EU acquis

II. Development of the sector of animal product handling establishments

III. Reorganization of official food control sector

Valstybinė maisto ir veterinarijos tarnyba State Food and Veterinary ServiceTransposition of legislation

Transposing EU legal acts into

the national system

1. the scope of the work must be evaluated and also the strategy for that work foreseen

2. the hierarchy of the legal acts must be clearly defined

3. tables of correspondence have been introduced.Adoption of each national legal act should followthrough the use of the table of correspondence

for better understanding by farmers, manufacturers, consumers, other public administrations inside and outside


LITHUANIAN FOOD /VETERINARY LEGISLATION

Primary Legislation - Law on Veterinary Activities and Law on Food – framework acts regulating all veterinary and food operators’ activities in accordance with international requirements and EU legislation

Secondary legislation - Government Resolutions and Orders of Director of SFVS

Valstybinė maisto ir veterinarijos tarnyba State Food and Veterinary ServiceLITHUANIAN VETERINARY

LEGISLATION

Transposition of EU acquis communautaire completed by 1 January 2004 by Orders of Director of SFVS on:

– Animal health protection & disease control– Veterinary public health – Animal welfare – Veterinary checks of imports from third countries – Veterinary checks in intra-Community trade– Animal identification & registration, veterinary certification, fees for

veterinary inspection, veterinary funding

SFVS WAS ALSO RESPONSIBLE FOR THE TRANSPOSITION OF:trade directives health protection and disease control legislation animal welfare legislation


Transitional periods granted

Until 31-12-2006 on reconstruction (construction) of meat, milk, fish processing plants in accordance with the EU veterinary requirements (Council Directives 64/433/EEC, 71/118/EEC, 77/99/EEC, 91/493/EEC, 92/46/EEC

but the transition period agreed was only accessible for the

establishments appearing on a special list which had to adopt the EU requirements gradually

The products of the establishments was marked by special stamp and supplied to the local market only (placing on the EC market strictly forbidden)

Establishing of working groups upon sectorsEstablishing of working groups upon sectors


The advantages of reorganization

Better coordination of work

Enhanced efficiency of work

More trust from the public and stakeholders

Separation of legislative and executive powers

Independence of SFVS, the institution executing control on the safety of food

High quality of functions performed

Transparency and efficiency of operation


Central elements of food safety and veterinary policy

Chain approach from “farm to fork”

Clear division of responsibilities

More transparency

Measures based on scientific result (risk-analysis)

Consumer orientation


GOVERNMENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF LITHUANIA

PARLIAMENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF LITHUANIA

Ministry ofEconomy

Ministry of Agriculture

Ministry ofHealth

Adopts veterinary (animal health, welfare, animal products, feed, vet. medicine) legislation Single institution for food control (raw materials, animal and non animal foodstuffs, feed, monitoring, HACCP and other)

Adopts general rules for labelling for all products

Establishes requirements for the assessment of quality and quality and compositioncomposition of food, raw materials, growing of plants for human consumption, organic food

Adopts legislationfor contaminants, food hygienefood additives, novel foods,GMO, packagingmaterials

State Food and Veterinary

Service


HARMONIZED CONTROL OF ANIMAL DISEASES

Laws of the Republic

of Lithuania

Decisions of the Government of the Republic

of Lithuania

Orders of the Director

of the SFVS

Regulations of the European

Parliament and Council


1. Veterinary / food field turned out to be one of the most complicated parts of negotiations (deep concern of agricultural industry)

2. But some transitional periods were agreed in veterinary field until 2007

3. COMM followed very closely the progress of transposition of EU Acquis into the national law as well the progress of implementation and enforcement (FVO Missions, Peer-review missions by TAIEX)

4. A lot of assistance from the EU was given as granting aid, co-financing, in form of PHARE, TWINNING projects, trainings and study visits of SFVS staffs were provided, support for approximation of legislation, etc.

Lessons learned by Lithuania during pre-accession period


CONCLUSIONS

Accurate transposition of the EU legislation and OIE norms is one of the key elements for successful accession to the EU Implementation of the EU Acquis and OIE norms raise many discussions with business operators and consumers Full implementation of EU legislation and OIE norms increases trust in transparent and efficient controls, supports the international trade


CONCLUSIONS

Timely transposed EU legislation and OIE norms helps to quickly respond to emergencies, food scandals Skilled and experienced staff with multidisciplinary motivation is a good platform for implementation of the above goals Clear organizational structure, adequate position and power of food control authority in the country Systematic work management guarantees successful food safety and good consumer health.

valstybinė maisto ir veterinarijos tarnyba state food and veterinary service lithuanias...

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