Project Title:Establishing New Border Inspection Posts (BIPs)
Twinning Light No:
Funding Programme: EC Pre-Accession Assistance Programme 2005
Supervising Authority: Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs- General Directorate
of Protection and Control.
Maximum Budget: 0, 25 MEUR
Duration: 6 months
- Background
1.1Relevant Country Background
Establishing new Border Inspection Posts in Turkey is necessary to control of spread of animal diseases (FMD, blue tongue, sheep and goat pox(PPR), etc. some of which are endemic). Due to its geographical position, country is under potential risks. There is also serious danger of spreading diseases to Turkey due to illegal entry of animals from east and south east borders. It is getting difficult to control animals and products of animal origin in country.
Animals and products of animal origin which are to be imported are being controlled by Turkish Law no. 3285 on Animal Health and Surveillance of 1986 and its rules for application (Decision 89/13838).According to the law, only official veterinarians can carry out controls on animals and animal products at the borders. Import is allowed only through customs gates that are designated jointly by MARA and Undersecretariat of Customs. Veterinary checks can take place in two different steps: at the point of entry and at the point of destination. Turkish legislation on international trade in live animals and animal products, particularly in terms of import, export and transit, has to be harmonized to that of the EU as well since there are significant differences between Turkey and the EU Member Countries in terms of both legislation and implementation of the issues in question.
At present there is no legislation providing detailed provisions regarding principles, rules and procedures for the organization of veterinary checks (documentary, identity and physical) on animals and animal products imported from third countries, or regarding the minimum requirements for VBIPs, according to the category of animals and products imported.
Currently one airport BIP, at SabihaGokcenAirport in Istanbul was constructed through the EU assistance under 2002 Veterinary Project Number -TR 0203.05 -“Support to the Alignment of Turkey to the EU Veterinary Acquis”. Currently this BIP is competent for all live animals and all products from animal origin.
A working group meeting with the EC was held in Mersin on 30 November - 1 December 2004 on veterinary controls at the external bordersand it was agreed to establish 3 sea port BIPs and 4 land BIPs (given Annex I).
1.2Accession Partnership Priority
2005 Accession Partnership (2006/35/EC)
Medium term priorities:
Food safety, veterinary and phytosanitary policy
- Align the veterinary, food safety, and phytosanitary legislation.
- Build up the necessary administrative capacity to implement the veterinary, phytosanitary and food legislation.
National Programme on the Adoption of the Acquis (NPAA), 2003[1]
Chapter IV, 7- Agriculture
PRIORITY 7.1. Alignment to the Veterinary Acquis provides information about the harmonization process in the veterinary field which has already take basis from the Veterinary Project carried out under the 2002 Financial Cooperation Program in which veterinary legislation, animal health, disease surveillance, control and eradication, veterinary information systems, veterinary border inspection posts, veterinary public health and animal welfare were identified as priority areas.
Regarding border inspection posts, NPAA envisages that, according to the Veterinary Project, one Border Inspection Post will be upgraded initially. Then institutional capacity on EU rules and practices will be improved and detailed plans will be prepared to upgrade 6 border inspection posts to meet EU standards.
A special section is dedicated to the border inspection posts, namely “Task 7.2.2 Border Inspection Posts.”
As it was defined in the Project Fiche under this section, legislative requirements for alignment with Council Directives 97/78/EC, 91/496/EEC and 92/65/EEC: and Commission Decisions 92/527/EEC, 97/794/EC and 93/13/EEC are described. It was envisaged that legislative tasks would be completed by October 2005 thus enabling entry into force on February 2006.
NPAA also identifies institutional requirements for 2003-2005 period as:
-Identification of the Veterinary Border Inspection Posts with third countries
-Planning of the restructuring of 6 Border Inspection Posts (BIPs) with technical specifications in compliance with EU standards
-Upgrading of one selected BIP to meet EU standards in the framework of the Veterinary Project and restructuring of other border inspection posts according to the results of this project
-Receiving technical assistance on the examination of the status of veterinary border controls and preparation of a manual on border inspection posts
-Training of the veterinarians in a MemberState on border inspection posts
-Increasing the number of inspector veterinarians working at border inspection posts, and
-Training of inspectors and other Ministry staff working at border inspection posts
Financing Requirements including staffing for BIPs are also elaborated in detail.
1.3Current state of affairs in the relevant sector
Animal Movements and Quarantine Department of General Directorate of Protection and Control (GDPC) is responsible for all import and export procedure of live animals and products of animal origin;
- Controlling and monitoring of animal movements
- Taking necessary measures against illegal movements
- Regulating the requirements for export, import and transit of animals and products of animal origin
- Execution of the task with regard to foreign trade
MARA has 81 provincial directorates with provincial veterinary services and 801 district directorates operating under the authority of GDPC and carrying out official veterinary tasks at the local level. According to legislation, checks on import and export of animals and animal products from/to third countries are under the responsibility of official veterinarians and can be carried out exclusively by the:
1) Authorized Provincial Directorates. At present, 17 Provincial Directorates have been authorized by the GDPC headquarters for issuing import/export permits regarding a limited number of products (hides, skins, guts, wool, feathers) and to perform veterinary checks also on live animals, eggs and chicks, and race horses. The authorization to the Provincial Directorates is issued based on number and type of establishments and factories present in a given Province. Authorizations can be withdrawn and new authorizations can be issued, according to the productive and commercial situation.
2) Warehouse and Customs Veterinary Directorates (WCVD) which can be compared, for their status, location and functions, to the VBIPs in the EU. These directorates are administratively attached to the Provincial Directorates, but for operational purposes they are directly linked to GDPC headquarters.There were 13 Warehouses and Customs Veterinary Directorates, however seven of those assignments were withdrawn in 2002 due to lack of personnel and limited amount of trade in animals and products of animal origin (although they are still functioning as veterinary border inspection posts under the responsibility of veterinary officers at the Provincial Directorates). At present there are five WCVD still operating, namely at:
- Kapikule (at the land border with Bulgaria)
- Gurbulak/Agri (at the land border with Iran)
- Cilvegozu/Hatay (at theland border with Syria)
- Izmir (seaport)
- Mersin (seaport)
There are also 29 other customs gates authorised for importing live animals and 58 customs gates for products of animal origin in Turkey. Most of them are not at the borders.
Services concerning quarantine for live animals are performed at either in particular the quarantine premises of the Warehouses and Customs Veterinary Directorates or the holding of destination. Cattle, sheep and goats imported are kept under quarantine for 21 days at the holdings of destination under the supervision of the official veterinarians.
While all the border inspection posts in EU are located in the customs areas enabling other administrative formalities to be carried out, including customs formalities relating to importation, the Warehouses and Customs Veterinary Directorates in Turkey are located outside the customs areas except Sabiha Gökçen Veterinary Border Inspection Post in Istanbul which was constructed within the scope of 2002 Turkey EU Financial Cooperation -“Support to the Alignment of Turkey to the EU Veterinary Acquis” Project.
The current state of the Turkish VBIP facilities is generally poor and inadequate for the scope they will be used for in the future. The veterinary services usually have inadequate offices and further limited facilities at the VBIPs. They are not equipped for carrying out any physical check on incoming and outgoing consignments in line with the EU legislation.
At the two seaports, the situation is very similar. Despite the fact that these ports represent the most important entry gate for skins, wools and casings, (which constitute the the vast majority of all imports in the country) proper facilities are not available in place, so that the veterinarian has to travel from the Provincial Directorate to the ports to inspect the arrival of consignments.For non human consumption consignments, the responsible veterinarians are in the Custom Warehouses, but for human-consumption consignments, the responsible veterinarians have to travel from the Provincial Directorate to the ports to inspect the arrival of consignments.
Turkey has land borders with Greece, Bulgaria, Syria, Iraq, Iran, Azerbaijan, Armenia and Georgia and several international airports and seaports. Once Turkey becomes an EU member, the EU’s external borders would be extended to the Turkish borders with Asia and the Middle East. The EU procedure for veterinary checks and controls must be applied to all live animals and products of animal origin imported from non-EU member states. The checks and controls procedure includes detailed documentary, identity and physical examinations and inspections. The implementation of veterinary control and inspection at the external borders, will lead to drastic procedural changes. These in turn will have an effect on the physical infrastructure and equipment necessary to carry out the checks.
A Draft Regulation for the control of live animals, germinal products, food, feed and animal by-products entering Turkey from third countries has been prepared within the scope of 2002 Turkey EU Financial Cooperation -“Support to the Alignment of Turkey to the EU Veterinary Acquis” Project.
MARA elaborated in cooperation with the twinning project of the veterinary service an overall strategic plan for upgrading the veterinary border inspection system.The location of the border inspection posts to be established in line with EU requirements are identified within the strategy. TWL team shall also coordinate its activities with the ongoing Food Safety twinning project whish also has complementary activities in this area.
In addition to this Twinning Light project, the current overall project has three other components, which comprises the construction, supervision and equipment of the 6 BIPs.
In line with the BIP strategy, two more BIPs may be established at the land borders with Armenia and Azerbaijan and one more seaport BIP along Blacksea.
- Description of the Assignment
2.1 The Beneficiary
The beneficiary for twinning light is Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, General Directorate of Protection and Control.
Twinning Light Contact Points at the MARA
Name :Dr.Nihat PAKDİL
Title: Undersecretariat/ Project Leader
Address:Akay Cad. No: 3, 06100 Ankara, Turkey
Tel No:+90 312 425 7789
Fax no:+90 312 418 6318
E-mail:
Name: Habib CAN
Title: Head of Department/SPO
Responsabilitity in TWL: Management and Coordination
Address:Akay Cad.No 3, Bakanliklar, 06100 Ankara, Turkey
Tel No: +90312417 41 76
Fax No: +90312417 82 09
E-mail:
Name:Dr Şebnem GÜRBÜZ
Title: Director of Quarantine Section, GDPC/SPO Delegate
Responsabilitity in TWL: Management and Coordination
Address:Akay Cad.No 3, Bakanliklar, 06100 Ankara, Turkey
Tel No: +90312417 41 76/4092
Fax No: +90312417 82 09
E-mail:
Name:Sinem DUYUM
Address:Akay Cad.No 3, Bakanliklar, 06100 Ankara, Turkey
Title: Veterinarian/Project Team at MARA
Responsabilitity in TWL: Work with the experts and provide all necessary technical information required by TWL team
Tel No: +90312417 41 76/4052
Fax No: +90312417 82 09
E-mail:
Name:Hediye YILMAZ
Address:Eskişehir Yolu 9.km Lodumlu/Ankara, Turkey
Title: EU Assistant Expert/Project Team at MARA
Responsabilitity in TWL: Work with the experts and provide all necessary technical information required by TWL team
Tel No: +903122873360/2142
Fax No:+90312417 82 09
E-mail:
Note: Temporary assigned at GDPC for the duration of Project
The general management of the TWL project will be the responsibility of the Project Leader, General Director of the GDPC. However on daily basis it will be managed and implemented by the SPO, SPO Delegate and the project team. Information on the current system, related legislation and the legal texts will be provided by the project team.
2.2 Objectives
2.2.1 Overall Objective
The overall objective of the project is to accelerate Turkey's accession by enabling Turkey to achieve a veterinary control regime at external borders in compliance with the EU legislation which will also provide high level of protection of animal health and public health in relation to transboundary movement of live animals and animal products.
2.2.2 Specific objectives
To reduce the risk of penetration and spread of animal diseases in Turkey through upgraded control mechanisms for animals and animal products entering Turkey from its eastern and south-eastern borders and public health protection.
2.3 Requested assistance
2.3.1 The twinning light shall provide assistance on completion of import Legislation which is crucial for animal health and public health protection regarding the harmonization with the pertinent EU legislation in particular the provisions as mentioned in Annex II;
- determination and training of the staff who will be in charge at BIPs,
- establishing a supervisory system,
- training of the staff at central competent authority to create third country list and establishment list.
By taking this assistance administrative, legal and institutional capacity of the Competent Authority and veterinary controls at BIPs shall be improved and will be upgraded to EU standards.
2.3.2 Specific Activities
The specific activities shall be related to the following matters;
1-Assistance in the completion of the legal framework for the BIPs
- Comparison of the existing draft import legislation with therelevant EU legislation
- Review and completion of the existing draft import legislation related to import, export, and transit and free zones with regard to live animals and animal products regarding the harmonization with the pertinent EU legislation in particular the provisions as mentioned Annex II.
2- Assistance in the course of determination of the number and qualifications of BIPs staff required for functioning of the BIPs, e.g. how many staff with which qualifications (education, training) will be required for functioning of BIPs.
3- Assistance in the preparation of recommendations on creation of supervisory system for BIPs to act as supervisory department of BIPs regulator and assist in implementation of such system;
4- Training the relevant department at central competent authority to create third country list, establishment list concerning import of live animals and products of animal origin.
5- Training of the staff who will be in charge at BIPs.
- Training veterinary inspectors at BIPs and customs services employees about EU import procedures and implementation.
- Assistance for taking and processing the samples from live animals and products of animal origin for routine checks.
- Providing assistance for using equipment in routine checks and special laboratory analysis carried out at the BIPs.
- Training veterinary border inspectors regarding the various aspects of border control and preparation of guidelines for co-operation between veterinary border inspection and customs services.
- Training of 4 senior Turkish officials from the GDPC headquarters, 6 senior staff from newly established border inspection posts in a MemberState for 15 days especially in a seaport and land border and training of BIP officials in Turkey by EU experts
- Training of border post inspectors and the staff of GDPC headquarters regarding TRACES and RASSF..
It should be taken into consideration that training will be given at Sabiha Gökçen airport BIP in Istanbul, as being the only operational BIP during the lifetime of this TWL project. As indicated in the 2005 project fiche namely Establishing New Border Inspection Posts (BIPs), supply of equipment for inspectors will be provided after completion of construction of the 6new BIPs.
In addition as mentioned in 1.3Current state of affairs in the relevant sector there are 5 Warehouse and Customs Veterinary Directorates (WCVD) which can be compared, for their status, location and functions, to the VBIPs in the EU namely;
- Kapikule (on land border with Bulgaria)
- Gurbulak/Agri (on land border with Iran)
- Cilvegozu/Hatay (on land border with Syria)
- Izmir (seaport)
- Mersin (seaport)
Except for Kapıkule, new border inspection posts will be established in the above mentioned gates so that training will be given to staff who have already carried out control at Warehouse and Customs Veterinary Directorates (WCVD). For Hopa-Sarp and Şırnak-Habur land border inspection posts training will be given to staff who have already carried out control at animal health sections of the Provincial Directorates.
The assistance should be provided by a team of experts in accordance with the following indicative work plan:
Activities / Man, input daysExpert
Team Leader / Legal Expert / Veterinary Expert /
Total
Project management / 15 / - / - / 15Assistance in the completion of the legal framework for the BIPs / 15 / 25 / 40 / 80
Assistance in the course of determination of the number and qualifications of BIPs staff required for functioning of the BIPs e.g. how many staff with which qualifications (education, training) will be required for functioning of BIPs / 10 / - / 10 / 20
Assistance in the preparation of recommendations on creation of supervisory system for BIPs to act as supervisory department of BIPs regulator and assist in implementation of such system; / 10 / 5 / 10 / 25
Training the relevant department at central competent authority to create third country list, establishment list concerning import of live animals and products of animal origin. / 10 / - / 10 / 20
Training of the staffs who will be in charge at BIPs / 20 / - / 50 / 70
TOTAL
/ 80 / 30 / 120 / 2302.4 Expected results