Commission Decision

of 14 December 2009

amending Decision 2004/407/EC as regards authorising imports of photographic gelatine into the Czech Republic

(notified under document C(2009) 9899)

(Only the Czech, Dutch, English, French and German texts are authentic)

(2009/960/EU)

THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION,

Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,

Having regard to Regulation (EC) No 1774/2002 of European Parliament and of the Council of 3 October 2002 laying down health rules concerning animal by-products not intended for human consumption1, and in particular Articles 4(4) and Article 32(1) thereof,

Whereas:

(1)

Regulation (EC) No 1774/2002 prohibits the importation and transit of animal by-products and processed products into the Union, unless they are authorised in accordance with that Regulation.

(2)
Commission Decision 2004/407/EC of 26 April 2004 on transitional sanitary and certification rules under Regulation (EC) No 1774/2002 of the European Parliament and of the Council as regards import from certain third countries of photographic gelatine2 provides that Belgium, Luxembourg, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom are to authorise the importation of certain gelatine exclusively intended for the photographic industry (photographic gelatine), in compliance with that Decision.
(3)

Decision 2004/407/EC provides that the importation of photographic gelatine is only authorised from the third countries listed in the Annex to that Decision, namely Japan and the United States of America. In accordance with that Decision, imported consignments have to be transported to the plant of destination under strict channelling conditions, in order to prevent potential risks to public and animal health.

(4)

The Czech Republic has submitted a request for the authorisation of imports of photographic gelatine from those third countries to an establishment on its territory. The Czech Republic has confirmed that the strict channelling conditions under Decision 2004/407/EC will be applied in order to prevent potential health risks.

(5)
Accordingly, and pending the review of the technical requirements for the import of animal by-products under the revised Animal by-products Regulation3 the Czech Republic should be allowed to authorise the importation of photographic gelatine subject to compliance with the conditions set out in Decision 2004/407/EC. However, for geographical reasons, those imports may take place via Germany.
(6)

Decision 2004/407/EC should therefore be amended accordingly.

(7)

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: