Commission Decision 2003/779/EC is amended as follows:

1. 1.

   Article 1 is replaced with the following:

   ‘Article 1

   Member States shall authorise the importation of animal casings from any third country accompanied by a health certificate as laid down in Annex I A, which shall consist of one sheet and shall be completed in at least one official language of the Member State carrying out the import control.’

2. 2.

   The following Article la is inserted:

   ‘Article 1a

   Member States shall ensure that consignments of animal casing for human consumption introduced into the territory of the Community and which are destined for a third country either by transit immediately or after storage in accordance with Articles 12 (4) or 13 of Directive 97/78/EC, and not intended for importation into the EC shall comply with the following requirements:

   1. (a)

      they shall meet the specific animal health conditions set out in the model animal health certificate drawn up under Annex I A;

   2. (b)

      they shall be accompanied by an animal health certificate established in accordance with the model laid down in Annex I B, signed by an official veterinarian of the competent veterinary services of the third country concerned;

   3. (c)

      they are certified as acceptable for transit or storage (as appropriate) on the Common Veterinary Entry Document by the Official Veterinarian of the Border Inspection Post of introduction.’

3. 3.

   The following Article lb is inserted:

   ‘Article 1b

   1.

   By way of derogation from Article 1 a, Member States shall authorise the transit by road or by rail through the Community, between designated Community border inspection posts listed in Annex to Decision 2001/881/EC, of consignments coming from and destined to Russia directly or via another third country provided that the following conditions are met:

   (a)

   the consignment shall be sealed with a serially numbered seal at the border inspection post of entry to the EC 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 shall be stamped “ONLY FOR TRANSIT TO RUSSIA VIA THE EC” on each page by the official veterinarian of the competent authority responsible for the BIP;

   (c)

   the procedural requirements provided for in Article 11 of Directive 97/78/EC shall be complied with;

   (d)

   the consignment is certified as acceptable for transit on the Common Veterinary Entry Document by the Official Veterinarian of the Border Inspection Post of introduction.

   2.

   unloading or storage, as defined in Article 12 (4) or Article 13 of Directive 97/78/EC, on EC territory of such consignments 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 EC territory matches the number and quantities entering.’

4. 4.

   Annex I is replaced by the Annex to this Decision.