<p> To: Interested Parties</p><p>Reference: FIN 003/2013</p><p>12 November 2013</p><p>Dear Sir or Madam</p><p>IMPORT REQUIREMENTS FOR GLUCOSAMINE, CHONDROITIN AND CHITOSAN INTO THE UK</p><p>This is to update you on the UK’s policy towards the importation of consignments of glucosamine, chondroitin and chitosan derived from products of animal origin.</p><p>Commission Decision 2007/275/EC (Annex II) allows for a derogation from veterinary controls at BIPs for food supplements packaged for the final consumer containing small amounts of animal products and those including glucosamine, chondroitin and chitosan. Currently bulk consignments of glucosamine, chondroitin and chitosan have to be notified and presented to BIPs where they are subject to veterinary controls.</p><p>The EU Commission encourages a consistent approach on the import of products which are outside of the derogation. Defra and the Food Standards Agency are currently drawing together proposals, to be put to the EU Commission and other Member States, to develop a harmonised approach to such imports. The UK in the meantime will apply the following interim measures pending conclusion of these discussions:</p><p> The raw animal material would need to come from an EU approved establishment in an EU approved third country. This does not include establishments which are only approved for animal by-products under the animal by-products regulations as these only apply to products not intended for human consumption.</p><p>Aviation House 125 Kingsway London WC2B 6NH T 020 7276 8018 [email protected]  Consignments of the finished product need to come from a third country that is EU approved for fresh meat/fish of the species from which the product is derived. This includes countries with EU approved residue plans, according to Commission Decision 2011/163/EU (as amended).</p><p> The consignment must be accompanied by a health certificate containing all relevant requirements for the animal derived material used in the product. Model certificates are included with this letter to assist compliance. The models include a box for details of the establishment of origin of the raw animal material.</p><p> Where the EU applies safeguard measures to the import of products of animal origin by means of a Regulation or Decision, those requirements will also apply to glucosamine, chondroitin and chitosan derived from the affected animal origin material.</p><p> All consignments must be authorised prior to import.</p><p>As this is a change with certification requirements, an 8 week transitional period will apply from the date of this letter to aid trade compliance. During this period existing arrangements may apply to allow for consignments on the water to enter the UK. Following this period, consignments can only be imported with either a certificate providing the information in the attached models, or the current species specific certificate.</p><p>I hope that this is helpful but if you need any further information please let me know. The Agency’s imports section on our website can be found at http://www.food.gov.uk/imports</p><p>Importers may also register for the Agency’s on-line Guidance and Regulatory Advice on Import Legislation system (GRAIL) by following this link: https://grail.foodapps.co.uk/grail/general/home.aspx</p><p>Yours sincerely</p><p>Simon Petty Imported Food Team Consumer Protection and Commercial Support Division</p>