Commission Decision

of 22 October 2008

amending Decision 2007/777/EC as regards imports of certain meat products from New Caledonia into the Community

(notified under document number C(2008) 6050)

(Text with EEA relevance)

(2008/817/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(I) to Directive 89/662/EEC and, as regards pathogens, to Directive 90/425/EEC1, and in particular Article 10(2)(a) thereof,

Having regard to Council Directive 2002/99/EC of 16 December 2002 laying down the animal health rules governing the production, processing, distribution and introduction of products of animal origin for human consumption2, and in particular the introductory phrase of Article 8, the first paragraph of Article 8(1) and Article 8(4) thereof,

Whereas:

(1)

Commission Decision 2007/777/EC of 29 November 2007 laying down the animal and public health conditions and model certificates for imports of certain meat products and treated stomachs, bladders and intestines for human consumption from third countries and repealing Decision 2005/432/EC3 lays down rules on imports into the Community of consignments of certain meat products for human consumption. Part 2 of Annex II to that Decision contains the lists of third countries and parts thereof from which imports of those products are to be authorised. That Decision also lays down model certificates and rules on treatments required for those products.

(2)

New Caledonia has requested authorisation for imports into the Community of meat products prepared from domestic bovine animals and certain game and of certain parts of those animals.

(3)

The Commission has carried out an audit of New Caledonia which demonstrated that the competent veterinary authority of that third country provides appropriate guarantees as regards compliance with Community legislation, in accordance with the first subparagraph of Article 8(1) of Directive 2002/99/EC.

(4)

It is therefore appropriate to authorise the imports from New Caledonia into the Community of meat products prepared from domestic bovine animals and certain game and of certain parts of those animals with the application of the non-specific treatment laid down in Part 4 of Annex II to Decision 2007/777/EC for animal health reasons to those products.

(5)

Decision 2007/777/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: