Always Afloat!Timothy Mc Killen

Belfast City Council

Belfast Port Health

Sea Port Air Port

RESPONSIBILITY

Passengers per annum

km of quayside

Ship Movements

Recent challenges

• Food

• International Health Regulations

• Ship / Aircraft inspection

• IUU

Imported Food

Legislative Tools

• Three basic legal tools for taking measures

• Article 53 of regulation (EC) 178/2002: emergency measures - Serious risk for public /animal health – (safeguard measures)

• Article 15.5 of Regulation (EC) 882/2004: increased frequency of control for emerging or known risk for public and animal health of certain feed and food of non-animal origin from certain third countries (e.g: Production of 669/2009)

• Article 48 of Regulation (EC) 882/2004: Specific import conditions for goods of third countries - measures of a more permanent nature (e.g:1152/2009)

Commission Regulation (EC) No 669/2009

• A new import control system for certain food and feed of non animal origin

• The list of food and feed concerned (Annex I) - Currently 21 entries

• Reviewed quarterly • Applicable as of 25th January 2010

The Import Control System – Main Features

Designated Point of Entry (Art.5)

- Requirements: Staff, facilities and equipment- Member states designate the DPE’s (and de-list them)- List of DPE’s to be made available on Commission Website

Prior notification of arrival through the CED (Art.6)

- CED to be used for prior notification of arrival- Duly completed, for the release for free circulation- e-CED at present- Pilot to start using TRACES (TRAde Control and Expert System) creates a single electronic database for monitoring the movement of animals and certain products of animal origin within the European Union (EU) and from third countries, as well as providing all the reference data relating to trade in such goods.

The Import Control System – Main Features

Documentary + Identity and Physical checks (Art. 8)- All entries require 100% documentary checks - Frequency of physical checks in the Annex, depends on risk- Ranges between 10 – 50%

Without undue delay (Art. 8)- Documentary checks completed within 2 working days from arrival- Physical checks: the result shall be made available as soon as technically possible

Release for Free Circulation (Art. 8) -Only possible when all controls carried out and results of analysis (if required) available- On presentation of a duly completed CED

Collection of Fees (Art. 14)

How do emerging risks become known?

The imported products listed or Annex 1 of 669/2009 are products, which merit an increased level of attention and control at borders, on the basis of information from various sources

• RASFF notifications,

• reports from the Food and Veterinary Office (FVO),

• from Member States and

• from third countries.

How do emerging risks become known?

When a RASFF member state has any information about a serious health risk deriving from food or feed, it must immediately notify the European Commission using RASFF.

The notifications through RASFF of products from third countries provided valuable data to decide on reinforced import controls according Regulation (EC) No 669/2009.

Relaxation of controls are as a result of the findings at DPE’s

International Health Regulations

Historical Context

1377 quarantine restrictions enacted by City of Venice

International Sanitary Regulations 1851

World Health Organisation 1948

IHR (2005) entered into force, on 15 June 2007

International Health Regulations

International Health Regulations 2005

• They are an international agreement that gives rise to international obligations. They focus on serious public health threats with potential to spread beyond a country's border to other parts of the world.

• Such events are defined as public health emergencies of international concern, or PHEIC. The Regulations outline the assessment, the management and the information sharing for PHEICs.

International Health Regulations 2005

International Health Regulations 2005

Definition“contamination” means the presence of an infectious or

toxic agent or matter on a human oranimal body surface, in or on a product prepared for

consumption or on other inanimate objects,including conveyances, that may constitute a public health

risk;

International Health Regs

• Notification• Focal points• Points of entry• Designated points of entry• Approved Ports of entry

National Core Capacities

KEY DATE

Designated airports, ports and ground crossingsCompleted by 15 June 2012

(a) Assessment and Medical care, staff & equipment

(b) Equipment & personnel for

transport ill travellers

(c) Trained personnel for inspection of conveyances

(d) ensure save environment: water, food, waste, wash rooms

& other potential risk areas - inspection programmes

(e) Trained staff and programme for vector

control

Core capacity requirements at all times (routine)

a

Public Health Emergency Contingency plan: coordinator, contact points for relevant PoE, PH & other agencies

Provide assessment & care for affected travellers, animals: arrangements with medical, veterinary facilities for isolation, treatment & other services

b cProvide space, separate from other travellers to interview suspect or affected persons

dProvide for assessment, quarantine of suspect or affected travellers

e

To apply recommended measures, disinsect, disinfect, decontaminate, baggage, cargo, containers, conveyances, goods, postal parcels etc

f To apply entry/exit control for departing & arriving passengers

gProvide access to required equipment, personnel with protection gear for transfer of travellers with infection/ contamination

Capacity requirements for responding to potential PHEIC (emergency)

Ship Inspection

Ship Sanitation Inspection

A ship is a seagoing or inland navigation vessel on an international voyage.

An “Affected” ship according to IHR art 27 and Art 39 is a ship that:

• If a valid SSCEC or SSCC is not produced or even if a valid SSCEC or SSCC is produced• If clinical signs or symptoms and information based on fact or evidence of a public health risk, including sources of infection and contamination, are found on board a ship.

Ship Sanitation Inspection

Ship Sanitation InspectionAn inspection provides a snapshot of the ship’s operations and how its systems are implemented and maintained.

The inspection should determine whether the ship’s operator and/or master has identified relevant hazards, assessed risks and identified suitable controls to effectively manage health risks.

Ship Sanitation Inspection

Ship Sanitation Control Certificate (SSCC)

Ship Sanitation Control Exemption Certificate (SSCEC)

Extension of Ship Sanitation Certificates

Evidence Report Form

Ship Sanitation Inspection

Ship Sanitation Inspection

Catering• Codex Alimentarius• ILO, Maritime Labour Convention• HACCP• Food Hygiene Regulations• Document review, Food Management plan, Cleaning, purchasing, temperature logs, etc

AircraftInspection of aircraft

An authorised officer may inspect and aircraft

But an authorised officer shall:

1. Inspect on arrival if the aircraft commander has communicated a death other than an accident, the presence of an infected person or a person with symptoms which may indicate the presence of an infectious disease

AircraftInspection of aircraft

Aircraft

AircraftThe competent authority needs to exercise

oversight over cleaning and disinfection programmes so that its obligations under the IHR (2005) are fulfilled. Under the IHR (2005), the competent authorities are responsible for supervising service providers relating to travellers, baggage, cargo, containers, conveyances and goods at points of entry,

including with inspections and medical examinations, as necessary. They are also responsible for supervision of disinfection, disinsection and decontamination of conveyances, as well as baggage, cargo, containers and goods under the IHR (2005).

illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing

Illegal Fishing

Under recently adopted rules only marine fisheries products validated as legal by the relevant flag state or exporting state can be imported to or exported from the EU. A European black list has been drawn up covering both IUU vessels and states that turn a blind eye to illegal fishing activities. EU operators who fish illegally anywhere in the world, under any flag, face substantial penalties proportionate to the economic value of their catch, which deprive them of any profit.

Illegal Fishing

The EC is the largest market for, and importer of,fisheries products in the world – major target for IUUoperators• IUU fish imports estimated at €1.1 billion every year• EC a major producer – trading partners on allcontinents – must therefore take a key role in globalfight against IUU fishing• Measures already adopted at regional and internationallevel are not sufficient to stop the problem

Illegal Fishing

• All marine fishery products traded with the EC, including processed products, must be accompanied by validated catch certificates• The flag State authority of the fishing vessel which made the catches will validate the catch certificate• The validation must certify that the catch was made in accordance with all applicable laws, regulations and international conservation and management measures

Illegal Fishing

Physical checks to match the product to that declared on the catch certificate. Checks to verify the authenticity of validation stamps and signatures, by cross-checking against the Specimen Management System. Requests to Competent Authorities in third countries to verify the validity of the catch certificate, e.g. in the case of missing signatures, unreadable stamps or missing information.

Chernobyl to Fukushima

My first encounter with Port Health in my working life was as a relief Port Health officer working during 1986

There has only been two Nuclear incidents to have been rated 7 on the International Nuclear and Radiological Event Scale.

International Nuclear and Radiological Event Scale

Chernobyl to Fukushima

Chernobyl to Fukushima

What is over the horizon?