Has anybody gone though TRACES Certification?

Hi all,

 

I have this client asking about the Trade Control and Expert System (TRACES) certification as he carries live animals and sell them in the European Union (EU).

 

As you may know TRACES is the European Commission's multilingual online management tool for all sanitary requirements on intra-EU trade and importation of animals, semen and embryo, food, feed and plants: https://ec.europa.eu...imals/traces_en.

 

Questions:

1. Has anybody gone though this process?
2. Is there a standard or requirements to get the certification?
3.  Would you care sharing your experience?
4. How long is the process?

Much appreciated :sleazy:

 

nope, I've always tried to steer really clear of the EU!  But I found a tool kit that may of some use to you

 

https://ec.europa.eu...-toolkit_en.pdf

 

 

https://ec.europa.eu.../animals/traces/join-traces_en

 

 

I hope your client is moving high value meat, otherwise I cannot see how this would be in their best interests, the EU is a very expensive proposition when selling from Canada

Bon Chance

I've been through the TRACES registration process - albeit for the purpose of importing organic products rather than animals.

Nonetheless my understanding is that the system interface is broadly the same, but the specific authorisations differ.

Despite being located in the EU (at least for another few months yet ;) ) I have to say the process of getting set up and approved in the system seemed pretty confusing and opaque.

One of the problems we had was that some of the regulatory bodies didn't know what they were supposed to do within the system, so it gets to the point that we need the next part of the registration signed off by the FSA in the UK, and our local team have to use it so rarely that they aren't sure what they need to do...

Once it was clear to everyone what was supposed to happen it went relatively quickly, but getting to that stage was rather hard work.

 

The principle of the system is good; it should simplify some types of import, improve traceability and avoid the dreaded lost/delayed paperwork creating issues at customs. But getting to a point of sufficient familiarity to achieve this can be a bit of a headache, as the guidance docs aren't great. The Helpdesk service were also reasonably good (once they understood what we and/or the UK regulatory people didn't understand) so I'd definitely be suggesting to your client to contact them if they get stuck or confused.

Thank you both.

@PHFruit
- What is the contact you used to reach them?
- Specifity on the requirements to use?

Thanks again

Hi SFC,

The requirements to use question is probably one that I can't directly help on, as we've only gone into the organic bit - for that it is primarily interested in who your CB is and who your local regulator is, getting their approval etc. I suspect the process for animal import will be somewhat similar but would be reticent to speculate without direct first-hand experience.

To get assistance I used santé-traces(at)ec.Europa.eu - credit to them as always responded in a matter of hours.

Great!

 

I will start with them.

 

Thanks again all!!! :happydance: