EU Inspectors Recommend Changes to Argentinian Egg Processors

ARGENTINA - Following an audit earlier this year, the EU Food and Veterinary Office (FVO) recommended some changes to procedures at egg processing facilities in Argentina before the country can export egg products to the EU.
calendar icon 17 September 2013
clock icon 3 minute read

This FVO report describes the outcome of an audit carried out by the EU Food and Veterinary Office in Argentina from 22 April to 3 May 2013.

The objective of this audit was to assess the performance of the competent authority with regard to supervision of public health conditions of the production of egg products destined for export to the EU.

The report concludes that the system of official controls in place is based on regular controls at establishment level, including permanent presence of official veterinarian services at establishments during production.

However, the effectiveness of this system is compromised by the several deficiencies detected by
the audit team, the main ones being as follows:

  • There is no documented evidence that the competent authority assesses all EU requirements during EU approval procedures (notably HACCP plan and its implementation).
  • Deficiencies in establishments visited (related to sanitary conditions and hygiene practices) had not previously been detected or recorded in any official control report, demonstrating that monitoring of ongoing compliance with initial approval conditions is not entirely effective.
  • Weaknesses in the certification procedures in place (date and language).
  • Deficiencies in both official and own-check sampling of egg products in the approved
  • establishments (for microbiological analyses and organic acids).

The report includes recommendations addressed to Argentinian competent authority aimed at rectifying the identified shortcomings and enhancing the control system in place.

For the full FVO report and comments from the Argentinian authorities, click here.

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