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, and in particular Article 11(1) thereof,
Whereas:
(1)Commission Decision 2002/472/EC of 20 June 2002 laying down specific conditions for imports of fishery products from the Republic of Bulgaria
2 provides that the addition of new establishments and vessels to the list of establishments and vessels from which imports of fishery products from Bulgaria are authorised will require a Community inspection.
(2)Decision 2002/472/EC also provides that the reduction in the frequency of physical checks, laid down by Commission Decision 94/360/EC
3 is not applied to fishery products imported from Bulgaria.
(3)The outcome of a new inspection visit by Commission experts indicates that Bulgaria now meets the conditions to provide sanitary guarantees at least equivalent to those applied in the Community. In view of that outcome it is appropriate to grant the reduction in the frequency of physical checks, include new establishments in the list and apply the procedure laid down in Article 5 of Council Decision 95/408/EC
4 for future modifications of that list.
(4)Decision 2002/472/EC should therefore be amended accordingly.
(5)It is appropriate for this Decision to be applied 45 days from the date of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union thereby providing for the necessary transitional period.
(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: