FOREIGN AGRICULTURAL SERVICE
U.S. MISSION TO THE EUROPEAN UNION

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Shipments need to be accompanied by a health certificate issued by FSIS.  All bovine meat exported to the EU must originate from animals that have never been treated with growth hormones.  Assurances that this requirement is met are provided through participation in the FSIS Non-Hormone Treated Cattle Program (NHTC).  Export establishments need to be approved for export to the EU.  FSIS is also responsible for issuing the "certificate of authenticity".  This certificate provides the guarantees that the product shipped meets the definition of the HQB quota.  Both the health certificate and the certificate of authenticity need to be obtained via the FSIS inspector present in the exporting establishment.

Import licenses are issued by the competent authorities in the EU member states.  The member state competent authorities communicate to the European Commission the quantity of license applications on a monthly basis.  The quantity available is published every month in the Official Journal.  If the quantity covered by license applications is less than the quantities available, all licenses are granted.  Alternatively, if the applications exceed the quantities available, the Commission fixes a reduction coefficient.  Import licenses are issued on the 11th of each month.