Commission Decision

of 18 February 2005

amending Decision 1999/710/EC as regards the inclusion of establishments in Bulgaria in provisional lists of third-country establishments from which Member States authorise imports of minced meat and meat preparations

(notified under document number C(2005) 364)

(Text with EEA relevance)

(2005/156/EC)

THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,

Having regard to Council Decision 95/408/EC of 22 June 1995 on the conditions for drawing up, for an interim period, provisional lists of third country establishments from which Member States are authorised to import certain products of animal origin, fishery products or live bivalve molluscs1, and in particular Article 2(4) thereof,

Whereas:

(1)

Provisional lists of establishments in third countries from which the Member States authorise imports of minced meat and meat preparations have been drawn up by Commission Decision 1999/710/EC2.

(2)

Bulgaria has sent a list of establishments producing minced meat and meat preparations for which the competent authority provided satisfactory guarantees that the establishments comply with Community rules.

(3)

Those establishments should be included in the lists drawn up by Decision 1999/710/EC.

(4)

As on-the-spot inspections have not yet been carried out, imports from such establishments are not eligible for reduced physical checks pursuant to Article 10 of Council Directive 97/78/EC3.

(5)

Decision 1999/710/EC should therefore be amended accordingly.

(6)

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: