Main topics to be addressed in the workshops are:

• General overview of the OCR
• Obligations resulting from the specific rules on transparency of official controls and the possibility for rating scheme systems for operators
• Risk-based approach applied to the planning of controls (e.g. use of past data and own-check results, adaptation of control frequencies)
• Specific conditions to be met for delegating certain control tasks from competent authorities to delegated bodies
• Official controls on animals and goods entering the Union including rules on animals and goods other than those subject to official controls at border control posts and specific rules applicable to import controls on goods, animals and plants at border control posts, including practical aspects of implementation of procedures (best practices) for controls on imports/transits of products (documentary checks, re-entry of Union consignments, channelling, sampling of consignments, laboratory tests, re-enforced checks, non-conforming consignments, etc.) and cooperation with customs services
• Enforcement actions by the competent authorities
• Use of information management systems for official controls and mechanisms for administrative assistance and cooperation
• Specific rules on control laboratories, including reference laboratories, and on methods of sampling, analysis, tests and diagnosis used for official controls as well as to other official activities (‘cascade of methods’)
• Regime for sanctions and penalties for fraudulent or deceptive practices.
• Rules on financing of controls (fees on operators).

Target participants

The workshop is intended for  both officials from relevant competent authorities involved in policy making planning and control activities (at central and regional level) and field inspectors involved in such control activities, including border control post staff.

Dissemination

The BTSF programme is based on the “train the trainers” approach, and for this reason dissemination of the received knowledge is fundamental for the trainings to have a greater impact. Participants will be requested to commit themselves to disseminate the information received via different methods, i.e. informing colleagues about the information received at the training, distributing the training materials, preparing informative articles in the professional national or, if possible, in international journals, preparing presentations based on the training materials for the staff of national Competent Authorities or other disseminating methods which could be appropriate to share the information received via the BTSF training. During the course participants will be provided with a training package to be used as supporting dissemination material.