Commission Decision
of 28 April 2004
amending Commission Decision 2003/779/EC as regards the animal health conditions and veterinary certification for animal casings transiting or being temporarily stored in the Community
(notified under document number C(2004) 1561)
(Text with EEA relevance)
(2004/414/EC)

THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,
Having regard to 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, in particular Article 8(5), third indent, and Article 9(2)(b) and (4)(c),
OJ L 18, 23.1.2002, p. 11.
Whereas:
(1) Council Directive 92/118/EEC lays down animal health and public health requirements governing trade in and imports into the Community of products not subject to the said requirements laid down in specific Community rules referred to in Annex A(l) to Directive 89/662/EEC and, as regards pathogens, to Directive 90/425/EEC.
OJ L 62, 15.3.1993, p. 49. Directive as last amended by Decision 2003/721/EC (OJ L 260, 11.10.2003, p. 21).
(2) Commission Decision 2003/779/EC lays down animal health conditions and veterinary certificates for the importation of animal casings from third countries.
OJ L 285, 1.11.2003, p. 38.
(3) Council Directive 97/78/EC lays down the principles governing the organisation of veterinary checks on products entering the Community from third countries and certain provisions for transit are already provided for in Article 11 such as the use of ANIMO messages and of the common veterinary entry document.
OJ L 24, 30.1.1998, p. 9. Directive as last amended by the Act concerning the conditions of Accession (OJ L 236, 23.9.2003, p. 381).
(4) However, it is necessary in order to safeguard the disease situation in the Community to further ensure that consignments of animal casing transiting through the Community, comply with the animal health import conditions applicable for authorised countries.
(5) Council Decision 79/542/EEC drawing up a list of third countries or parts of third countries, and laying down animal and public health, and veterinary certification conditions for the importation into the Community of certain live animals and their fresh meat, has recently been amended to include transit conditions and a derogation for transit between Russia with a reference to the specific border inspection posts designated for this latter purpose.
OJ L 146, 14.6.1979, p. 15. Decision as last amended by Commission Decision 2004/212/EC (OJ L 73. 11.3.2004, p. 11).
(6) In the light of experience, it appears that the presentation to the border inspection post, pursuant to Article 7 of Directive 97/78/EC, of the original veterinary documents established in the exporting third country to fulfil the regulatory requirement of the third country of destination, is not sufficient to ensure that the animal health conditions required for the safe introduction into the territory of the Community of the products concerned are effectively satisfied; it is therefore appropriate to establish a specific model of animal health certificate to be used in transit situations for the products concerned.
(7) However specific conditions for transits via the Community of consignments to and from Russia should be foreseen due to the geographical situation of Kaliningrad and taking into account climatic problems impeding the use of some ports at certain times of the year.
(8) Commission Decision 2001/881/EC draws up a list of border inspection posts agreed for veterinary checks on animals and animal products from third countries and it is appropriate to specify the border inspection posts designated for the control of such transits taking into account this Decision.
OJ L 326, 11.12.2001, p. 44. Decision as last amended by Commission Decision 2003/831/EC (OJ L 313, 28.11.2003, p. 61.).
(9) It is opportune to amend the animal health certificate for the import of animal casings to reflect the format laid down for other certificates.
(10) Commission Decision 2003/779/EC should be amended accordingly.
(11) 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:

Article 1 Commission Decision 2003/779/EC is amended as follows:
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. 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:
(a) they shall meet the specific animal health conditions set out in the model animal health certificate drawn up under Annex I A;
(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;
(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. 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. Annex I is replaced by the Annex to this Decision.
Article 2 The previous animal health certificate drawn up under Commission Decision 2003/779/EC for the importation of animal casings may be used until 6 months after the date laid down in paragraph 1 of Article 3 at the latest.
Article 3 1. This Decision shall apply from 1 May 2004.
2. Article 1 point 2 and the Annex IB shall only apply from 1 January 2005.
Article 4 This Decision is addressed to the Member States.
Done at Brussels, 28 April 2004.
For the Commission
David Byrne
Member of the Commission
ANNEX

‘ANNEX IA ANIMAL HEALTH CERTIFICATE
(for animal casings intended for dispatch to the European Community)

ANNEX IB (for animal casings in transit and/or storage)’