Information exchange and investigations in case of confirmed presence of a prohibited or non-allowed substance
Article 6
Where the results of official controls, including analytical tests, identify residues of prohibited or non-allowed substances at levels above, equal to or below the reference points for action, the competent authority shall carry out the investigations referred to in Articles 137(2) or (3) of Regulation (EU) 2017/625 and Articles 13, 16(2), 17 and 22 to 24 of Directive 96/23/EC ( 10 ) , to determine whether there has been illegal treatment with a prohibited or non-allowed pharmacologically active substance. In the event of established non-compliance, the competent authority shall take one or more actions referred to in Article 138 of Regulation (EU) 2017/625 and Articles 15(3), 17 and 23 to 25 of Directive 96/23/EC. The competent authority shall retain a record of the findings. Where the results of official controls, including analytical tests on foods of animal origin from the same operator, show a recurrent pattern pointing to suspicion of non-compliance related to one or several prohibited or non-allowed substances from a particular origin, the competent authority shall inform the Commission and the other Member States in the Standing Committee on Plants, Animals, Food and Feed. Where the recurrent pattern concerns imported food, the Commission shall bring this to the attention of the competent authority of the country or countries of origin. Member States shall report the results of official controls, including analytical tests, showing confirmed presence of a prohibited or non-allowed substance at levels above or equal to the reference points for action through the Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed.