Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) No 780/2013Show full title

Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) No 780/2013

of 14 August 2013

amending Commission Regulation (EU) No 206/2010 laying down lists of third countries, territories or parts thereof authorised for the introduction into the European Union of certain animals and fresh meat and the veterinary certification requirements

(Text with EEA relevance)

THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION,

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

Having regard to Council Directive 2004/68/EC of 26 April 2004 laying down animal health rules for the importation into and transit through the Union of certain live ungulate animals, amending Directives 90/426/EEC and 92/65/EEC and repealing Directive 72/462/EEC(1), and in particular the first and second subparagraphs of Article 3(1), the first subparagraph of Article 6(1), Article 7(e), Article 8(c) and Article 13(1) thereof,

Whereas:

(1) Commission Regulation (EU) No 206/2010(2) lays down the requirements for the introduction into the Union of, amongst others, certain ungulates. That Regulation does not apply to non-domesticated animals intended for an approved body, institute or centre as defined in Article 2(1)(c) of Directive 92/65/EEC of 13 July 1992 laying down animal health requirements governing trade in and imports into the Community of animals, semen, ova and embryos not subject to animal health requirements laid down in specific Community rules referred to in Annex A (I) to Directive 90/425/EEC(3).

(2) The lack of specific animal health requirements for the introduction of ungulates intended for an approved body, institute or centre into the Union causes practical problems for such structures and strongly limits their activities, because of their need to introduce those animals.

(3) It is appropriate to lay down animal health requirements for the introduction of ungulates intended for an approved body, institute or centre into the Union, which would take account of the specific situation of such animals. In the interest of simplification of Union law, it is appropriate that such rules be laid down in Regulation (EU) No 206/2010. The scope of that Regulation should therefore be amended accordingly.

(4) Regulation (EU) No 206/2010 provides that consignments of ungulates may only be introduced into the Union if they come from the third countries, territories or parts thereof listed in Part 1 of Annex I to that Regulation.

(5) 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 consumption(4) provides for the adoption by the Commission of lists of the third countries or regions of third countries from which imports of specified products of animal origin are permitted.

(6) Council Directive 2009/156/EC of 30 November 2009 on animal health conditions governing the movement and importation from third countries of equidae(5) provides that the importation of equidae into the Union is to be authorised only from third countries that appear on a list to be drawn up or amended in accordance with the procedure laid down in that Directive.

(7) Council Directive 2009/158/EC of 30 November 2009 on animal health conditions governing intra-Community trade in, and imports from third countries of, poultry and hatching eggs(6) provides that poultry and hatching eggs imported into the Union must have originated in a third country or part of a third country included on a list drawn up by the Commission in accordance with the procedure laid down in that Directive.

(8) The introduction of ungulates intended for an approved body, institute or centre into the Union should, in particular, fulfil the general requirements for the introduction of live animals into the Union and further specific animal health requirements and offer specific guarantees ensuring that the animals introduced into the Union do not endanger the animal health status of the Union.

(9) The general requirements for the introduction of live animals into the Union, consisting of an effective system of veterinary services in charge of the control of animal health, are currently fulfilled by those third countries, territories and parts thereof listed pursuant to Directives 2002/99/EC, 2009/156/EC and 2009/158/EC.

(10) However, the general requirements for the introduction of live animals into the Union do not guarantee that ungulates are free of diseases. Individual animals may still carry infectious diseases that could spread into the Union and consequently consitute a danger to animal health in the Union. Ungulates intended for an approved body, institute or centre should therefore only be introduced into the Union directly from a body, institute or centre which complies with certain requirements and is approved by the competent authority of the third country, territory or part thereof in which it is situated.

(11) It is appropriate that the list of such bodies, institutes or centres be established by the Member State of destination, following an assessment of all relevant information.

(12) In order to protect the animal health in the Union, it is crucial that consignments of ungulates introduced into the Union and destined to approved bodies, institutes or centres be transported directly and without delay to their destination in sealed containers and that further movement of such animals within the Union be restricted.

(13) In order to address exceptional circumstances such as situations concerning animal welfare problems, conservation of endangered species, sudden natural disasters or political unrest, in which it is not possible to apply all the animal health requirements and especially those related with the approval of the body, institute or centre of origin, Member States should be able to introduce into their territory certain ungulates destined to an approved body, institute or centre, under specific conditions. However, even in such cases, a permit should be required in order to ensure sufficient reduction of the animal health risk.

(14) Regulation (EU) No 206/2010 should therefore be amended accordingly.

(15) The measures provided for in this Regulation are in accordance with the opinion of the Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health,

HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION:

(1)

OJ L 139, 30.4.2004, p. 321.

(2)

OJ L 73, 20.3.2010. p. 1.

(3)

OJ L 268, 14.9.1992, p. 54.

(4)

OJ L 18, 23.1.2003, p. 11.

(5)

OJ L 192, 23.7.2010, p. 1.

(6)

OJ L 343, 22.12.2009, p. 74.