(1)

Regulation (EU) 2017/625 provides for a comprehensive framework for official controls and other official activities performed to ensure the application of Union agri-food chain law.

(2)

Official controls on animals and goods entering the Union are a key element in ensuring a high level of protection of human, animal and plant health, animal welfare and the environment, as well as the smooth functioning of the internal market.

(3)

The number of consignments of animals and goods entering the Union through border control posts has increased, while the competent authorities responsible for official controls and other official activities operate with limited resources. To ensure a high level of food safety and protection of human, animal and plant health, animal welfare and the environment, it is necessary to enhance the efficiency of those activities, including by optimising working methods and risk-based approaches, thus allowing more consignments to be checked with the same resources. A programme for the exchange of staff between competent authorities is an efficient means to promote mutual learning and the dissemination of best practices and practical solutions across the Union.

(4)

It is therefore appropriate to establish a programme for the exchange of staff of the competent authorities responsible for the organisation of official controls and other official activities on animals and goods entering the Union (‘the Programme’), in order to increase the consistency and efficiency of such controls and activities at border control posts by enhancing cooperation between competent authorities and facilitating the identification of common challenges and best practices in organising those controls and activities.

(5)

Participants in the Programme should report to the Commission on their findings and experience from those activities. Such reports should provide evidence-based and operational observations regarding common challenges and good practices of the competent authorities. They should also contribute to the development of guidance and, where appropriate, to the preparation of follow-up measures aimed at strengthening the cooperation between the Commission and competent authorities and at improving the consistent application of official controls to ensure compliance with Union rules on food and feed, animal health and welfare, and plant health.

(6)

In order to ensure the effective and transparent implementation of the Programme, it is necessary to lay down rules on its organisation and financing, the conditions for participation, and the roles and responsibilities of the participating national experts, the Member States and the Commission.

(7)

To ensure mutual trust and effective cooperation between competent authorities and to ensure that the participants in the Programme can have access to the necessary information, rules on the disclosure of information acquired during their participation in the Programme should be laid down.

(8)

In order to ensure proportionate use of resources, it is appropriate to lay down a period for the application of this Decision. The Programme should operate for a period of three years, since that is sufficient to achieve its objectives.

(9)

The measures provided for in this Decision are in accordance with the opinion of the Standing Committee on Plants, Animals, Food and Feed,

(a)

short-term secondments of national experts to the competent authorities of other Member States responsible for official controls and other official activities on animals and goods entering the Union;

(b)

collaborative visits of national experts to border control posts and other relevant sites;

(c)

the provision of specialised expertise, peer support and advice related to the organisation and performance of official controls, including solution-oriented dialogue and facilitating the exchange of knowledge necessary for the consistent implementation of official controls;

(d)

reports to the Commission on the findings from the activities referred to in points (a), (b) and (c), with the aim of identifying common challenges, documenting good practices, and contributing to the development and dissemination of practical solutions that enhance the quality and efficiency of official controls;

(e)

meetings related to the activities of the Programme.

(a)

be available at short notice to participate in activities of the Programme;

(b)

comply with the obligation of professional secrecy regarding information acquired during their participation in activities of the Programme.

(a)

members no longer fulfil the requirements laid down in Article 3(2), second sentence;

(b)

members fail to comply with the obligations laid down in Article 5;

(c)

members wish to resign from the Expert Pool.