Reference

There is no specific guidance to inspectors on when or how to notify inspections. However, it is standard practice to provide farmers with brief advance notice of the inspection, typically on the morning it is scheduled to take place. Actions in cases of non-compliances

Inspections are usually announced unless there are specific grounds for conducting them without prior notice. 71. Controls on farms and in slaughterhouses

In the event of major biosecurity non-compliance, the services ask the farmers by formal notice to request the support of their technical or veterinary health management in order to establish an action plan and a precise timetable for compliance. There is a system in place to follow-up identified non-compliances with re-inspections and sanctions when deemed appropriate. Results for these inspections over recent years demonstrate a continuously improving situation, e.g. 22% of inspections scored C (insufficient) or D (very insufficient) in 2024 compared to 32% for the same categories in the combined period 2022 and 2023. The audit team reviewed reports of such inspections which appear appropriate.

Farm inspections are conducted regularly and in general meet the set targets. Staff performing inspections is competent and receives regular training and advisory support when needed to perform their tasks. The inspections have an evident impact in identifying non-compliances and enforcing the law, thus improving animal welfare state at farms. The effectiveness and consistency of the inspections are hindered in some cases by the 2 https://efsa.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.2903/j.efsa.2012.2669 3 limited/absent guidance interpreting the legal requirements.

The inspectors interviewed by the audit team confirmed that inspections are unannounced, except when the presence of specific operators' staff is required. In such cases, appointments are made. Similarly, inspections to farms can be announced with no more than a 48-hour prior notice. Based on the inspection reports reviewed and the discussions held with the inspectors, the audit team noted that instances of prior notification remain exceptional.

A training system aimed at ensuring that official staff and approved veterinarians are able to carry-out its tasks adequately is in place.

In general, in accordance with the professional and technical rules for the veterinary profession, veterinarians are obliged to demonstrate that they participate regularly in trainings related to their area of work. In this respect, OVs need to demonstrate participation in training courses in relation to food safety, meat hygiene etc.

VETERINARY SUPERVISION

VETERINARY SUPERVISION

VETERINARY SUPERVISION

The competent authority can have confidence in the laboratory performance and the reliability of analytical results generated under the residue monitoring plan, as all laboratories are accredited and methods are fit for purpose. 9

Laboratories are accredited to EN ISO/IEC 17025:2017, the methods used are largely included in their respective scopes of accreditation and the laboratories' performance in proficiency tests has been generally satisfactory, providing assurance on the reliability of results. However, the absence of formal verification of certain designation criteria for official laboratories, the partial absence of information essential for interpretation of the analytical results and the erroneous approach by one contracted laboratory to interpret certain analytical data undermine the effectiveness of the residue control system.

All methods used for the residue monitoring plan are within the laboratory's scope of accreditation. The accreditation includes a flexible scope for a part of the methods implemented.

As required by EU legislation (47), all of the laboratories involved in testing samples under the residue monitoring plan are accredited to ISO/IEC 17025:2017 by the Spanish National Accreditation Body (Entidad Nacional de Acreditación, ENAC). The audit team visited one official laboratory, the Laboratory for Public Health of Valencia, and one NRL, the CNA. Both laboratories avail of a flexible scope of accreditation for the testing of residue samples and meet the requirements of EU legislation (48). The CNA

In line with the EU requirements for residue laboratories 37, since 2014 the network laboratories have participated in a number of proficiency tests for various compounds in different matrices organised either by EURLs or commercial providers, with largely satisfactory results. When results were unsatisfactory, corrective measures to identify their cause had been undertaken. However, contracted laboratories have not participated in any proficiency tests for those matrices they are testing under the residue monitoring plan. Conclusions on laboratories

ANIMAL WELFARE DURING TRANSPORT

ANIMAL WELFARE DURING TRANSPORT

Main findings (information received and facts found) in the field of animal welfare during transport, including certain aspects of animal identification

BACKGROUND A previous mission on animal welfare during transport in Sweden was undertaken from 4 to 8 March 1996. In its conclusions the report indicated that animal transport was overall carried out under acceptable conditions.

BACKGROUND A previous mission on animal welfare during transport in Finland was undertaken from 26 to 29 February 1996. In its conclusions the report indicated that animal transport was overall carried out under acceptable conditions.

The bovine database system plays an effective role in the official controls on bovine identification and traceability.

In the large bovine slaughterhouse visited, the traceability of the animals had been subject to regular internal checks and the traceability exercises were regularly carried out during official audits. Evidence of official controls on traceability was provided to the audit team with no deficiencies on record.

The national cattle database has the necessary information and functionalities to ensure animal traceability and support the implementation of the eradication programme.

The HIT DB provides adequate information for bovine animals and their traceability. However, due to the fact that CAs are restricted in accessing data related to holdings outside their territory, good co-operation is required among the districts in order to investigate traceability inconsistencies of animals.

The traceability of imported consignments is ensured by the use of TRACES for live animals and products of animal origin and the use of well-developed alternative systems for products of non-animal origin and feed.

Follow-up to audit recommendations is described clearly in the audit manual: all recommendations have to be followed up by the auditor and effectiveness of corrective action evaluated. All follow-up actions are to be documented and entered into a database. At the end of the year, a report is issued on follow-up status of recommendations and the percentage of corrective actions implemented.

The audits are concluded with individual audit reports, detailing the objectives, scope, findings and conclusions, and recommendations if applicable. Follow-up of previous audit recommendations is carried out by desk-based assessment or during the subsequent on-the-spot audit. As no audits have taken place since 2018 for above-mentioned reasons, follow-up on the 2018 audits is still outstanding.

Whilst the TAS will follow up recommendations in subsequent audits, these may take place years later. The TAS stated that it intended to introduce a follow-up sheet for updates on measures taken in response to recommendations. Nonetheless, the need to follow up recommendations by auditing the same area and authority again has an impact both on resources (staff and time) and planning (the next audit on the same subject is supposed to cover different areas and authorities in order to get a better picture of the national situation, whereas if follow-up is required, the audit plan needs to include the previously audited authorities and some new ones), making it unsustainable.

Not all Recommendations from previous audits have been followed up satisfactorily.

The recommendations from the last audit are mostly addressed.