Courses

The overall objective of the BTSF Training Programme on the implementation of EU legal requirements for the Trade Control and Expert System (TRACES) is to strengthen the knowledge and practical skills of competent authority staff in the correct, consistent and efficient use of TRACES.

The programme enables participants to understand and apply the functionalities, workflows, business rules and features of the relevant TRACES modules in accordance with EU legislation. It thereby supports the harmonised implementation of official controls, sanitary and phytosanitary certification, intra-EU movement procedures and export certification across participating countries.

During Phase I, the TRACES technical area comprises seven workshops divided into three complementary courses:

• Course 1C: General training for Border Control Post staff on TRACES CHED-A and CHED-P.
• Course 2C: General training for Border Control Post and competent authority staff on TRACES CHED-D, CHED-PP, NoA and COI.
• Course 3C: General training for local competent authority and veterinary staff on TRACES INTRA, AJL, DOCOM and EXPORT.

The course for National experts on Residues and article 118 aims to provide participants with the necessary information and skills for a successful participation, as national expert, in audits carried out as part of the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Health and Food Safety programme

The overall objectives of the BTSF Training Programme/Course on Production and trade of bivalve molluscs within and into the EU are to give participants:

• a good understanding of the risks posed by the consumption of bivalve molluscs;
• the legislation that is intended to provide the basis for control of those risks;
• the practical application of those controls.

This course will improve participants’ knowledge on:

• the necessary steps to ensure a risk-based planning of audit programmes;
• practical tools for the auditing of the effective implementation and suitability of official controls;
• the importance of the implementation of an effective follow-up system for audit recommendations;
• the requirements of a system of independent scrutiny and best practice;
• the need for transparency of the audit process outside the auditing organisation and identify the requirements for compliance within this area.

The overall objectives of the BTSF Training Programme/Course on Implementation of EU legal requirements for Official Controls Regulation are:

• Provide hands-on training and practical experience on the operation of OCR competent authorities, extending beyond the theoretical explanation of the provisions.
• Examine the internal working methods of competent authorities and provide examples of implementation and best practices.
• Foster the exchange of experiences on OCR implementation among Member States and across OCR areas.

By the end of the training, participants should have a practical understanding of the OCR rules presented in the course and be able to apply them efficiently in their administration.

During Phase 1, the OCR technical area comprises seven workshops divided into two complementary courses:

           Course 1A: General Training on Official Control Regulation (OCR) - 4 full days 

           Course 2A: General Training on Official Control Regulation (OCR) - 3 full days

The overall objective of the BTSF Training Programme/Course on BTSF non-EU Sub-regional WS on CODEX Alimentarius is to strengthen the capacity of Member countries to participate actively in the work of the Codex Alimentarius Commission and its subsidiary bodies.

• Enhancing the understanding of the participants on the international trading system in agri-food products (WTO, SPS) and the role of international standard-setting bodies, with particular focus on the work of Codex.
• Strengthening the capacity of countries to participate actively in the development and implementation of standards by the Codex Alimentarius Commission (CAC) and its subsidiary bodies.
• Explaining the organization, management and procedures of Codex bodies.
• Supporting the establishment in participating countries of a strong, solid and sustainable national capacity to engage in Codex.
• Supporting the use and relevance of Codex standards, guidelines and codes of practice by countries in the region as an essential component of a science- and rule-based food safety system.

The main target of this BTSF course is to provide support on strategies and actions at promoting and strengthening the areas covered within the SPS framework, and related areas for which the European Commission has a strategic interest. They are broadly encompassed in the fields of food safety, plant health, animal health and welfare, and general bi-lateral trade matters (i.e. EU importing requirements) covered within those topics.

The main objectives that this BTSF non-EU SPS workshop aims to achieve are to contribute to:

• Train the officers of the competent authorities of invited countries on the European Union’s food safety control system in place on Import regime for food of animal origin.
• Better understanding of EU legal framework on sanitary and phytosanitary measures (SPS), animal health, entry certificates to the EU, microbiological criteria, residues of pharmacologically active substances, pesticides, and contaminants in animals and animal-origin products, residue control plans, and official controls at EU border control posts
• Better trade relations with non-EU countries for which improved market access is sought by both parties.
• Promote the EU standards as globally recognised standards that provide a high level of consumer, plant and animal protection.
• Promote European Commission’s strategic interests such as the development of sustainable food systems, and the EU’s animal welfare laws that can contribute to improving animal welfare standards that contributes to meet the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

The main target of this BTSF course is to provide support on strategies and actions at promoting and strengthening the areas covered within the SPS framework, and related areas for which the European Commission has a strategic interest. They are broadly encompassed in the fields of food safety, plant health, animal health and welfare, and general bi-lateral trade matters (i.e. EU importing requirements) covered within those topics:

• Train the officers of the competent authorities of invited countries on the European Union’s food safety control systems in place governing the production and placing on the market of fishery products
• Better understanding of European Union Import Conditions for Fishery Products: The European Union (EU) is by far the world’s biggest importer of fish, seafood and aquaculture products
• Better trade relations with non-EU countries with whom the European Commission has a strategic interest, and for which improved market access is sought by both parties
• Promote the EU standards as globally recognised standards that provide a high level of consumer and animal protection
• Promote European Commission’s strategic interests such as the development of sustainable food systems, and the EU’s animal welfare laws that can contribute to improving animal welfare standards that contributes to meet the UN Sustainable Development.

The main target of this BTSF course is to provide support on strategies and actions at promoting and strengthening the areas covered within the SPS framework, and related areas for which the European Commission has a strategic interest. They are broadly encompassed in the fields of food safety, plant health, animal health and welfare, and general bi-lateral trade matters (i.e. EU importing requirements) covered within those topics:

• Train the officers of the competent authorities of invited countries to deal with animal health threats by reinforcing levels of disease preparedness (including early warning systems, contingency planning and animal disease control).
• Better ‘preparedness’, as it provides increased protection against the introduction and spread of transmissible animal diseases
• Exchange of thoughts and experiences on animal health management in general, and more specifically on the lessons learnt after dealing with outbreaks of HPAI, SPP & GTP and FMD
• Promote the EU standards as globally recognised standards that provide a high level of consumer and animal protection
• Promote European Commission’s strategic interests such as the development of sustainable food systems, and the EU’s animal welfare laws that can contribute to improving animal welfare standards

Die BTSF-Multiplikationsschulung zum Thema HACCP richtet sich an alle Behördenmitarbeitenden in der Lebensmittelkontrolle. Neben einem Überblick über die 7 HACCP-Prinzipien werden auch Fragen der Abgrenzung zwischen GHP und HACCP, der Flexibilität und der Auditierung sowie Leitfäden für gute Praxis behandelt. Der Fokus liegt dabei darauf, HACCP-Konzepte zu bewerten, nicht zu erstellen. Praxisbeispiele und Übungen sollen ein Verständnis für den praktischen Umgang mit HACCP-Konzepten stärken und die Übertragung des Erlernten in den Arbeitsalltag fördern.

The course on Animal Disease Prevention aims to strengthen knowledge and skills on how to implement and verify the requirements of the EU Animal Health Law (AHL) and support efforts to prevent animal diseases and ensure regulatory compliance.

The overall objectives are: 

• Help participants understand and apply the EU Animal Health Law (AHL) requirements for animal health, including biosecurity, disease prevention, surveillance, establishment approval and registration, animal identification, traceability, certification, and the movement of animals and germinal products within the EU.
• Develop the competence to verify compliance and perform official controls by assessing operators, establishments, records, surveillance systems, and certification procedures, identifying non-compliances and risks, and determining appropriate corrective actions.
• Support disease prevention, surveillance, and safe intra-EU trade by strengthening knowledge of disease-specific requirements (including Categories B, C, and D diseases), the use of TRACES NT, and the implementation of measures that maintain animal health and disease-free status.

The course on Animal Disease Emergency Preparedness and Disease Control Measures aims to equip competent authorities and official veterinarians with the knowledge and practical skills needed to prepare for, detect, investigate, and manage outbreaks of Category A animal diseases in accordance with the EU Animal Health Law (AHL).

The objective is to ensure that veterinary authorities and emergency responders can apply EU animal health legislation effectively, respond rapidly and consistently to Category A disease outbreaks, implement appropriate control measures, and maintain a high level of preparedness to protect animal health, public health, and the livestock sector