Commission Decision

of 14 October 1996

laying down special conditions governing the import of fishery and aquaculture products originating in the Ivory Coast

(Text with EEA relevance)

(96/609/EC) (repealed)

THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,

Having regard to Council Directive 91/493/EEC of 22 July 1991 laying down the health conditions for the production and the placing on the market of fishery products(1), as last amended by Directive 95/71/EC(2) are respected, and in particular Article 11 thereof,

Whereas a group of Commission experts has conducted an inspection visit to the Ivory Coast to verify the conditions under which fishery products are produced, stored and dispatched to the Community;

Whereas the provisions of the Ivory Coast legislation on health inspection and monitoring of fishery products may be considered equivalent to those laid down in Directive 91/493/EEC;

Whereas the ‘Ministère de l'Agriculture et des Ressources Animales-Direction Générale des Ressources Animales (MARA-DGRA)’ in the Ivory Coast is capable of effectively verifying the application of the laws in force;

Whereas the procedure for obtaining the health certificate referred to in Article 11 (4) (a) of Directive 91/493/EEC must also cover the definition of a model certificate, the minimum requirements regarding the language(s) in which it must be drafted and the grade of person empowered to sign it;

Whereas, pursuant to Article 11 (4) (b) of Directive 91/493/EEC, a mark should be affixed to packages of fishery products, giving the name of the third country and the approval number of the establishment of origin;

Whereas, pursuant to Article 11 (4) (c) of Directive 91/493/EEC, a list of approved establishments must be drawn up; whereas that list must be drawn up on the basis of a communication from the MARA-DGRA to the Commission; whereas it is therefore for the MARA-DGRA to ensure compliance with the provisions laid down to that end in Article 11 (4) of Directive 91/493/EEC;

Whereas the MARA-DGRA has provided official assurances regarding compliance with the rules set out in Chapter V of the Annex to Directive 91/493/EEC and regarding fulfilment of requirements equivalent to those laid down by that Directive for the approval of establishments;

Whereas the measures provided for in this Decision are in accordance with the opinion of the Standing Veterinary Committee,

HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:

[F1Article 1 U.K.

The Ministère de la production animale et des ressources halieutiques — Direction des services vétérinaires et de la qualité (MIPARH-DSVQ) shall be the competent authority in the Ivory Coast for verifying and certifying compliance of fishery and aquaculture products with the requirements of Directive 91/493/EEC.]

[F1Article 2 U.K.

Fishery and aquaculture products imported from the Ivory Coast must meet the following conditions:

1.

each consignment must be accompanied by a numbered original health certificate, duly completed, signed dated and comprising a single sheet in accordance with the model in Annex A hereto;

2.

the products must come from approved establishments, factory vessels, cold store or registered freezer vessels listed in Annex B hereto;

3.

except in the case of frozen fishery products in bulk and intended for the manufacture of preserved foods, all packages must bear the words THE IVORY COAST and the approval/registration number of the establishment, factory vessel, cold store or freezer vessel of origin in indelible letters.]

Article 3U.K.

1.The certificate referred to in point 1 of Article 2 must be drawn up in at least one official language of the Member State where the checks are carried out.

[F12. Certificates must bear the name, capacity and signature of the representative of the MIPARH-DSVQ and the latter’s official stamp in a colour different from that of other endorsements.]

Article 4U.K.

This Decision is addressed to the Member States.