Annex III to Regulation (EC) No 853/2004 is amended as follows:

1. (1)

   in Section III, the following point 3a is inserted:

   3a.By way of derogation from point 3(j), the competent authority may authorise that the attestation of the correct slaughter and bleeding and of the date and time of slaughter be included only in the declaration by the food business operator referred to in point 3(i), provided that:

   1. (a)

      the holding is situated in a Member State or region, as defined in Article 2(2)(p) of Directive 64/432/EEC which is not under health restrictions in accordance with Union law or national legislation;

   2. (b)

      the food business operator has demonstrated the appropriate level of competence to slaughter animals without causing the animals any avoidable pain, distress or suffering in accordance with Article 7(2) of Regulation (EC) No 1099/2009 and without prejudice to Article 12 of that Regulation.

2. (2)

   in Chapter II of Section IV, point 4(a) is replaced by the following:

   4.

   1. (a)

      If no abnormal characteristics are found during the examination referred to in point 2, no abnormal behaviour was observed before killing, and there is no suspicion of environmental contamination, the trained person must attach to the animal body a numbered declaration stating this. This declaration must also indicate the date, time and place of killing.

      The declaration need not be attached to the animal body and may cover more than one animal body, provided that each animal body is appropriately identified and the declaration bears an indication of the identification number of each animal body covered by it, with the corresponding date, time and place of killing. All animal bodies covered by a single declaration may only be sent to a single game-handling establishment.

      The head and the viscera need not accompany the body to the game-handling establishment, except in the case of species susceptible to trichinosis (porcine animals, solipeds and others), whose heads (except for tusks) and diaphragm must accompany the body.

      However, the competent authority may authorise that heads of animals susceptible to Trichinella infestation be sent to a technical plant for the production of game trophies, which has been approved in accordance with Article 18 of Regulation (EC) No 1774/2002. The technical plant shall be indicated in the declaration of the trained person. A copy of that declaration shall be sent to the technical plant. Where the results of the Trichinella examination of the carcase are positive, the competent authority shall carry out an official check to verify the proper handling of the head in the technical plant.

      However, hunters must comply with any additional requirements imposed in the Member State where hunting takes place, in particular to permit the monitoring of certain residues and substances in accordance with Directive 96/23/EC.