CHAPTER IIICONDITIONS FOR THE INTRODUCTION OF FRESH MEAT INTO THE UNION
Article 14General conditions for the importation of fresh meat
Consignments of fresh meat intended for human consumption shall only be imported into the Union if they comply with the following conditions:
they come from the third countries, territories or parts thereof listed in columns 1, 2 and 3 of the table in Part 1 of Annex II for which there is a model veterinary certificate corresponding to the consignment concerned listed in column 4 of the table in Part 1 of Annex II;
they are presented at the border inspection post of introduction into the Union accompanied by the appropriate veterinary certificate, drawn up in accordance with the relevant model veterinary certificate set out in Part 2 of Annex II, taking into account the specific conditions indicated in column 6 of the table in Part 1 of that Annex, and completed and signed by an official veterinarian of the exporting third country;
they comply with the requirements set out in the veterinary certificate referred to in point (b), including:
the supplementary guarantees laid down in that certificate, where indicated in column 5 of the table in Part 1 of Annex II;
any additional veterinary certification requirements that the Member State of destination may impose in accordance with Union veterinary legislation and which are included in the certificate.
Article 15Conditions to be applied following the importation of unskinned carcases of wild cloven-hoofed game
In accordance with Article 8(2) of Council Directive 97/78/EC(1), consignments of unskinned carcases of wild cloven-hoofed game for human consumption after further processing shall be conveyed without delay to the processing establishment of destination.
Article 16Transit and storage of fresh meat
The introduction into the Union of consignments of fresh meat not intended for importation into the Union but destined for a third country either by immediate transit or after storage in the Union in accordance with Article 12(4) and Article 13 of Directive 97/78/EC, shall only be authorised if the consignments comply with the following conditions:
they come from the third countries, territories or parts thereof listed in columns 1, 2 and 3 of the table in Part 1 of Annex II, for which there is a model veterinary certificate corresponding to the consignment concerned listed in column 4 of the table in Part 1 of Annex II;
they comply with the specific animal health requirements for the consignment concerned, as set out in the relevant model veterinary certificate referred to in point (a);
they are accompanied by a veterinary certificate, drawn up in accordance with the model veterinary certificate set out in Annex III, and completed and signed by an official veterinarian of the exporting third country;
they are certified as acceptable for transit, including for storage as appropriate, on the common veterinary entry document referred to in Article 2(1) of Commission Regulation (EC) No 136/2004(2), signed by the official veterinarian of the border inspection post of introduction into the Union.
Article 17Derogation for transit through Latvia, Lithuania and Poland
1.By way of derogation from Article 16 the transit by road or by rail through the Union, between the designated border inspection posts in Latvia, Lithuania and Poland listed in Commission Decision 2009/821/EC(3), of consignments coming from and destined to Russia directly or via another third country shall be authorised provided that the following conditions are complied with:
(a)the consignment is sealed with a serially numbered seal at the border inspection post of introduction into the Union by the veterinary services of the competent authority;
(b)the documents accompanying the consignment and referred to in Article 7 of Directive 97/78/EC are stamped ‘ONLY FOR TRANSIT TO RUSSIA VIA THE EU’ on each page by the official veterinarian of the competent authority responsible for the border inspection post of introduction into the Union;
(c)the procedural requirements provided for in Article 11 of Directive 97/78/EC are complied with;
(d)the consignment is certified as acceptable for transit on the common veterinary entry document signed by the official veterinarian of the border inspection post of introduction into the Union.
2.Unloading or storage, as defined in Article 12(4) or in Article 13 of Directive 97/78/EC, of such consignments on Union territory shall not be allowed.
3.Regular audits shall be made by the competent authority to ensure that the number of consignments and the quantities of products leaving the Union territory matches the number and quantities entering.