Commission Decision of 8 December 2004 amending Decision 97/222/EC laying down the list of third countries from which the Member States authorise the importation of meat products (notified under document number C(2004) 4563) (Text with EEA relevance) (2004/857/EC)

Commission Decision

of 8 December 2004

amending Decision 97/222/EC laying down the list of third countries from which the Member States authorise the importation of meat products

(notified under document number C(2004) 4563)

(Text with EEA relevance)

(2004/857/EC)

THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,

Having regard to Council Directive 72/462/EEC of 12 December 1972 on health and veterinary inspection problems upon importation of bovine, ovine and caprine animals and swine, fresh meat or meat products from third countries(1), and in particular Articles 3(1) and 16 in conjunction with the first indent of Article 21a(1) thereof,

Having regard to Council Directive 92/118/EEC of 17 December 1992 laying 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 (I) to Directive 89/662/EEC and as regards pathogens, to Directive 90/425/EEC(2), and in particular Article 10(2)(a) and (3)(a) thereof,

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(3), and in particular Article 8(1) and (4) thereof,

Whereas:

(1) Commission Decision 97/222/EC(4) establishes a list of third countries or parts of third countries from which the importation of meat products are authorised.

(2) To ensure transparency and harmonisation of the codes for certain treatment regimes as laid down in the tables in Part II and III of the Annex to Decision 97/222/EC, it is necessary to amend and clarify some of the footnotes with reference to the origin and provenance of fresh meat.

(3) In the description of regionalised territories in Part I of the Annex to Decision 97/222/EC, there are outdated references to legislation that has now been repealed and replaced by new acts. It is therefore necessary to update those references. The corresponding codes of territories and treatment regimes in Part II of the Annex to Decision 97/222/EC should also be updated accordingly.

(4) Therefore, Part I, II and IV of the Annex to Decision 97/222/EC should be amended accordingly.

(5) 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:

(1)

OJ L 302, 31.12.1972, p. 28. Directive as last amended by Regulation (EC) No 807/2003 (OJ L 122, 16.5.2003, p. 36).

(2)

OJ L 62, 15.3.1993, p. 49. Directive as last amended by Commission Regulation (EC) No 445/2004 (OJ L 72, 11.3.2004, p. 60).

(3)

OJ L 18, 23.1.2003, p. 11.

(4)

OJ L 89, 4.4.1997, p. 39. Decision as last amended by Decision 2004/245/EC (OJ L 77, 13.3.2004, p. 62).