S.L. 437.72 ст. 22Measures to be taken on the basis of risk assessment in the event of hazards.

(1) Where the Veterinary Services of Malta have information indicating, on the basis of the risk assessment factors available, that a consignment of products for animal nutrition poses a serious risk to human health, animal health or to the environment they shall verify the information received and, where appropriate, ensure that the necessary measures are taken so that the consignment is not used in animal nutrition, put the consignment under restriction and investigate immediately -

(a) the nature of the hazard and where appropriate the level of undesirable substances,

(b) the possible origin of the undesirable substances or of the hazard, in order to assess the risk more closely.

(2) Where appropriate, the risk assessment shall be extended to other consignments of the same product or to other products in the feed or food chain which might contain undesirable substances or in respect of which such a hazard might exist, taking into account any admixture of the undesirable substances in other products for animal nutrition and possible recycling of dangerous products into the feed chain.

(3) Where the existence of a serious risk is confirmed in accordance with sub-rule (1), the Veterinary Services shall ensure that the final destination of the consignment containing undesirable substances, including possible decontamination, further action to render the products harmless, reprocessing or destruction, cannot have harmful effects on human or animal health or on the environment and where it is possible that the undesirable substances or the risk of such substances being present has extended to other consignments or to the feed or food chain.

(4) Subject to sub-rule (3) the Veterinary Services shall immediately identify and put under control other consignments of the products deemed hazardous and also, where appropriate, identify live animals fed with hazardous products and implement the measures provided for in European Union Council Directive 96/ 23/EC or in other relevant veterinary provisions relating to animal health or to the food safety of products of animal origin ensuring co-ordination between the relevant control services, in order to avoid the hazardous products being put into circulation and to ensure the enforcement of recall procedures for the products already in circulation.