The overall objectives of the BTSF Training Programme/Course on
- To disseminate best practices for import control procedures, improving knowledge of this complex area of work and ensuring consistent and high implementation standards across the Union;
- To facilitate transition to the new scheme represented by the OCR and the comprehensive set of rules built around it;
- To go deep into the legal requirements and procedures relating to official border controls, covering theoretical content and legal requirements but including a practical approach to ensure a good understanding of the current framework;
- To facilitate the development of a harmonised approach to official controls at BCPs, offering an environment and atmosphere where delegates can share their experiences & problems encountered during their daily work;
- To put on the table common problems and experiences to find common solutions, best practice and encounter alternative and improved ways of working more effectively and efficiently;
- To provide the participants with the necessary tools and materials to disseminate the knowledge gained through the training course to colleagues in their home countries;
- To promote relationships between BCPs.
Content
The course addresses the following topics:
- Selected aspects of EU legislation, especially where interpretation can be difficult such as rules on welfare and other environemental field (CITES, invasive alien species), world of equidae, non-commercial entry of pets, non-harmonised animals, rules on composite products, personal consignments (luggage, postal/courier parcels), monitoring plans), rules on samples, destruction of kitchen waste and other waste animal products from vessels and other means of transport
- Practical aspects of implementation procedures (best practices) for controls on imports/transits of products (documentary checks, re-entry of Union consignments, channelling, sampling of consignments, laboratory tests, re-enforced checks, non conforming consignments etc...)
- Cooperation with customs services, intelligence gathering, risk assessment procedures and information exchange with other competent authorities
- Use of IT systems (TRACES)
- Discussion groups or common problems concerning veterinary checks and on their solution, particularly with regard to infringement detextions, decisions to be taken and their enforcement
Target audience
This Training Programme has been designed for the profiles and positions described below. Please verify compliance with the selection criteria before submitting or validating applications.
- Official control staff from relevant competent authorities operating or involved in Border Control Posts (seaport, airport and road/rail) control systems.
- Participants must be newcomer participants with a basic knowledge of border official controls or participants with a working knowledge of border official controls, all of them working in a BCP or working at local or central level with responsibilities in import controls.
- Participants should register for the type of course (Food of animal origin and composites products or Live animals) they are interested in whatever the type of Border Control Post (Airport/Seaport/Road/Rail) they work in or are experienced.
- Participants must be in a position to provide training to other colleagues and share the experience following their attendance to the training.
- Participants must be able to understand and speak English in order to participate actively in the training session.
Calendar and locations
Session | Start Date | End Date | Course | City | Country |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
3 | 26/01/2022 | 04/02/2022 | ABP | Online | Online |
5 | 20/04/2022 | 29/04/2022 | ABP | Online | Online |

The overall objectives of the
- To disseminate best practices for import control procedures, improving knowledge of this complex area of work and ensuring consistent and high implementation standards across the Union;
- To facilitate transition to the new scheme represented by the OCR and the comprehensive set of rules built around it;
- To go deep into the legal requirements and procedures relating to official border controls, covering theoretical content and legal requirements but including a practical approach to ensure a good understanding of the current framework;
- To facilitate the development of a harmonised approach to official controls at BCPs, offering an environment and atmosphere where delegates can share their experiences & problems encountered during their daily work;
- To put on the table common problems and experiences to find common solutions, best practice and encounter alternative and improved ways of working more effectively and efficiently;
- To provide the participants with the necessary tools and materials to disseminate the knowledge gained through the training course to colleagues in their home countries;
- To promote relationships between BCPs.
Content
The course addresses the following topics:
- Selected aspects of EU legislation, especially where interpretation can be difficult such as rules on welfare and other environemental field (CITES, invasive alien species), world of equidae, non-commercial entry of pets, non-harmonised animals, rules on composite products, personal consignments (luggage, postal/courier parcels), monitoring plans), rules on samples, destruction of kitchen waste and other waste animal products from vessels and other means of transport
- Practical aspects of implementation procedures (best practices) for controls on imports/transits of products (documentary checks, re-entry of Union consignments, channelling, sampling of consignments, laboratory tests, re-enforced checks, non conforming consignments etc...)
- Cooperation with customs services, intelligence gathering, risk assessment procedures and information exchange with other competent authorities
- Use of IT systems (TRACES)
- Discussion groups or common problems concerning veterinary checks and on their solution, particularly with regard to infringement detextions, decisions to be taken and their enforcement
Target audience
This Training Programme has been designed for the profiles and positions described below. Please verify compliance with the selection criteria before submitting or validating applications.
- Official control staff from relevant competent authorities operating or involved in Border Control Posts (seaport, airport and road/rail) control systems.
- Participants must be newcomer participants with a basic knowledge of border official controls or participants with a working knowledge of border official controls, all of them working in a BCP or working at local or central level with responsibilities in import controls.
- Participants should register for the type of course (Food of animal origin and composites products or Live animals) they are interested in whatever the type of Border Control Post (Airport/Seaport/Road/Rail) they work in or are experienced.
- Participants must be in a position to provide training to other colleagues and share the experience following their attendance to the training.
- Participants must be able to understand and speak English in order to participate actively in the training session.
Calendar and locations
Session | Start Date | End Date | Course | City | Country |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 25/10/2021 | 03/11/2021 | FOAO & CP | Online | Online |
6 | 16/05/2022 | 25/05/2022 | FOAO & CP | Online | Online |
7 | 13/06/2022 | 17/06/2022 | FOAO & CP | Algeciras | Spain |
8 | 19/09/2022 | 23/09/2022 | FOAO & CP | Algeciras | Spain |
9 | 24/10/2022 | 28/10/2022 | FOAO & CP | Antwerp | Belgium |
10 | 21/11/2022 | 25/11/2022 | FOAO & CP | Algeciras | Spain |

The overall objectives of the BTSF Training Course on
- To disseminate best practices for import control procedures, improving knowledge of this complex area of work and ensuring consistent and high implementation standards across the Union;
- To facilitate transition to the new scheme represented by the OCR and the comprehensive set of rules built around it;
- To go deep into the legal requirements and procedures relating to official border controls, covering theoretical content and legal requirements but including a practical approach to ensure a good understanding of the current framework;
- To facilitate the development of a harmonised approach to official controls at BCPs, offering an environment and atmosphere where delegates can share their experiences & problems encountered during their daily work;
- To put on the table common problems and experiences to find common solutions, best practice and encounter alternative and improved ways of working more effectively and efficiently;
- To provide the participants with the necessary tools and materials to disseminate the knowledge gained through the training course to colleagues in their home countries;
- To promote relationships between BCPs.
Content
The course addresses the following topics:
- Selected aspects of EU legislation, especially where interpretation can be difficult such as rules on welfare and other environemental field (CITES, invasive alien species), world of equidae, non-commercial entry of pets, non-harmonised animals, rules on composite products, personal consignments (luggage, postal/courier parcels), monitoring plans), rules on samples, destruction of kitchen waste and other waste animal products from vessels and other means of transport
- Practical aspects of implementation procedures (best practices) for controls on imports/transits of products (documentary checks, re-entry of Union consignments, channelling, sampling of consignments, laboratory tests, re-enforced checks, non conforming consignments etc...)
- Cooperation with customs services, intelligence gathering, risk assessment procedures and information exchange with other competent authorities
- Use of IT systems (TRACES)
- Discussion groups or common problems concerning veterinary checks and on their solution, particularly with regard to infringement detextions, decisions to be taken and their enforcement
Target audience
This Training Programme has been designed for the profiles and positions described below. Please verify compliance with the selection criteria before submitting or validating applications.
- Official control staff from relevant competent authorities operating or involved in Border Control Posts (seaport, airport and road/rail) control systems.
- Participants must be newcomer participants with a basic knowledge of border official controls or participants with a working knowledge of border official controls, all of them working in a BCP or working at local or central level with responsibilities in import controls.
- Participants should register for the type of course (Food of animal origin and composites products or Live animals) they are interested in whatever the type of Border Control Post (Airport/Seaport/Road/Rail) they work in or are experienced.
- Participants must be in a position to provide training to other colleagues and share the experience following their attendance to the training.
- Participants must be able to understand and speak English in order to participate actively in the training session.
Calendar and locations
Session | Start Date | End Date | Course | City | Country |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
2 | 06/12/2021 | 15/12/2021 | LA | Online | Online |
4 | 07/03/2022 | 16/03/2022 | LA | Online | Online |

BTSF Training Programme on Border Inspection Posts - Animal by-products
The specific objective is to disseminate the best practices for border control procedures, improving knowledge of this complex area of work and ensuring consistent and high implementation standards across the European Union.

The European Commission’s Directorate-General for Health and Food Safety regularly carries out audits in the EU Member States on the implementation of import controls of animals, goods, and goods subject to special import conditions.
Properly functioning border controls are a key factor to ensure that animals and food and feed (especially of animal origin) entering the European Union are safe and meet specific import requirements laid down in the Union legislation.
The general rules on official controls on animals and goods, both of animal and non-animal origin are laid down in Regulation (EU) 2017/625 and its implementing acts. Moreover, Union legislation lays down special conditions for import controls of goods for which there may be an increased risk to human health, animal health or to the environment (e.g. Regulation (EU) 2019/1793).

The adoption of harmonised rules on travelling with pets has made it easier for EU citizens and their dogs, cats or ferrets to enjoy the freedom of movement within the Union. This significant step was made possible by dramatic advances made in the fight against rabies.
For movement between EU countries or from non-EU countries vaccination against rabies documented in the pet passport or the animal health certificate is the sole requirement for dogs, cats and ferrets to travel across EU borders, with certain exceptions.
The topics of the BTSF Training Programme/Course on
- The role of the EU-approved rabies serology laboratories;
- EU legislation and controls on trade-in and pet movements within the EU;
- EU legislation on import and on non-commercial movements of dogs and cats from Third Countries;
- The controls at Border Inspection Posts and at Traveller Points of Entry;
- Best practices in communication and cooperation between competent authorities and other stakeholders;
- Best practices in detecting the illegal movements
Target audience
This Training Programme has been designed for the profiles and positions described below. Please verify compliance with the selection criteria before submitting or validating applications.
- Be officers from competent authorities designated to have competencies in the design and implementation of the controls on Movements of dogs (import, trade-in or non-commercial movements).
- Therefore, Veterinarians working at Border Inspection Posts, at central level and local level are eligible. In addition, customs’ staff responsible for the controls at the Traveller Points of Entry are invited
Calendar and locations
Session | Start Date | End Date | City | Country |
---|---|---|---|---|
14 | 11/10/2022 | 14/10/2022 | MALAGA | SPAIN |
15 | 15/11/2022 | 18/11/2022 | AMSTERDAM | NETHERLANDS |
16 | 13/12/2022 | 16/12/2022 | MALAGA | SPAIN |
