Commission Decision of 31 October 2003 laying down animal health requirements and the veterinary certification for the import of animal casings from third countries (notified under document number C(2003) 3988) (Text with EEA relevance) (2003/779/EC)

Commission Decision

of 31 October 2003

laying down animal health requirements and the veterinary certification for the import of animal casings from third countries

(notified under document number C(2003) 3988)

(Text with EEA relevance)

(2003/779/EC)

THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,

Having regard to Council Directive 92/118/EEC of 17 December 1992 laying down animal health and public health requirements governing trade in and imports into the Community of products not subject to the said requirements laid down in specific Community rules referred to in Annex A(1) to Directive 89/662/EEC and, as regards pathogens, to Directive 90/425/EEC(1), as last amended by Commission Decision 2003/721/EC(2), and in particular Article 10(2)(a) and (c) thereof,

Whereas:

(1) Commission Decision 94/187/EC of 18 March 1994 laying down animal health requirements and the veterinary certification for the import of animal casings from third countries(3) has been substantially amended several times(4). In the interests of clarity and rationality, the said Decision should be codified.

(2) Annex I(2) to Directive 92/118/EEC allows the importation from any third country of animal casings which have undergone a prescribed treatment.

(3) The animal health conditions and veterinary certification must be laid down in order to guarantee that the prescribed treatment of the casings is carried out.

(4) The measures provided for in this Decision are in accordance with the opinion of the Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health,

HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:

[F1 Article 1 U.K.

Member States shall authorise the importation of animal casings from any third country accompanied by a health certificate as laid down in Annex I A, which shall consist of one sheet and shall be completed in at least one official language of the Member State carrying out the import control.]

Textual Amendments

F1 Substituted by Commission Decision of 28 April 2004 amending Commission Decision 2003/779/EC as regards the animal health conditions and veterinary certification for animal casings transiting or being temporarily stored in the Community (notified under document number C(2004) 1561) (Text with EEA relevance) (2004/414/EC).

[F2 Article 1a U.K.

Member States shall ensure that consignments of animal casing for human consumption introduced into the territory of the Community and which are destined for a third country either by transit immediately or after storage in accordance with Articles 12 (4) or 13 of Directive 97/78/EC, and not intended for importation into the EC shall comply with the following requirements:

(a)

they shall meet the specific animal health conditions set out in the model animal health certificate drawn up under Annex I A;

(b)

they shall be accompanied by an animal health certificate established in accordance with the model laid down in Annex I B, signed by an official veterinarian of the competent veterinary services of the third country concerned;

(c)

they are certified as acceptable for transit or storage (as appropriate) on the Common Veterinary Entry Document by the Official Veterinarian of the Border Inspection Post of introduction.]

Textual Amendments

F2 Inserted by Commission Decision of 28 April 2004 amending Commission Decision 2003/779/EC as regards the animal health conditions and veterinary certification for animal casings transiting or being temporarily stored in the Community (notified under document number C(2004) 1561) (Text with EEA relevance) (2004/414/EC).

[F2 Article 1b U.K.

1. By way of derogation from Article 1a, Member States shall authorise the transit by road or by rail through the Community, between designated Community border inspection posts listed in Annex to Decision 2001/881/EC, of consignments coming from and destined to Russia directly or via another third country provided that the following conditions are met:

(a) the consignment shall be sealed with a serially numbered seal at the border inspection post of entry to the EC by the veterinary services of the competent authority;

(b) the documents accompanying the consignment and referred to in Article 7 of Directive 97/78/EC shall be stamped ‘ ONLY FOR TRANSIT TO RUSSIA VIA THE EC ’ on each page by the official veterinarian of the competent authority responsible for the BIP;

(c) the procedural requirements provided for in Article 11 of Directive 97/78/EC shall be complied with;

(d) the consignment is certified as acceptable for transit on the Common Veterinary Entry Document by the Official Veterinarian of the Border Inspection Post of introduction.

2. unloading or storage, as defined in Article 12 (4) or Article 13 of Directive 97/78/EC, on EC territory of such consignments shall not be allowed.

3. regular audits shall be made by the competent authority to ensure that the number of consignments and the quantities of products leaving the EC territory matches the number and quantities entering.]

Textual Amendments

F2 Inserted by Commission Decision of 28 April 2004 amending Commission Decision 2003/779/EC as regards the animal health conditions and veterinary certification for animal casings transiting or being temporarily stored in the Community (notified under document number C(2004) 1561) (Text with EEA relevance) (2004/414/EC).

Article 2 U.K.

Decision 94/187/EC is repealed.

References to the repealed Decision shall be construed as references to this Decision and read in accordance with the correlation table in Annex III.

Article 3 U.K.

This Decision is addressed to the Member States.

[F1 ANNEX I A] U.K.

[F1 ANNEX I B] U.K.

ANNEX II U.K.

Repealed Decision and its successive amendments

Decision 94/187/EC	(OJ L 89, 6.4.1994, p. 18)
Decision 94/461/EC, Article 2 only	(OJ L 189, 23.7.1994, p. 88)
Decision 94/775/EC, Article 2 only	(OJ L 310, 3.12.1994, p. 77)
Decision 95/88/EC, Article 1 only	(OJ L 69, 29.3.1995, p. 45)
Decision 95/230/EC, Article 1 only	(OJ L 154, 5.7.1995, p. 19)
Decision 96/106/EC, Article 1 only	(OJ L 24, 31.1.1996, p. 34)

ANNEX III U.K.

CORRELATION TABLE

Decision 94/187/EC	This Decision
Article 1	Article 1
—	Article 2
Article 2	—
Article 3	Article 3
Annex	Annex I
—	Annex II
—	Annex III

(1)

OJ L 62, 15.3.1993, p. 49.

(2)

OJ L 260, 11.10.2003, p. 21.

(3)

OJ L 89, 6.4.1994, p. 18.

(4)

See Annex II to this Decision.