Commission Decision

of 3 January 2005

amending Decision 2001/881/EC drawing up a list of border inspection posts agreed for veterinary checks on animals and animal products from third countries and updating the detailed rules concerning the checks to be carried out by the experts of the Commission

(notified under document number C(2004) 5598)

(Text with EEA relevance)

(2005/13/EC)

THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,

Having regard to Council Directive 97/78/EC of 18 December 1997 laying down the principles governing the organisation of veterinary checks on products entering the Community from third countries1, and in particular Article 6(2) thereof,
Having regard to Council Directive 91/496/EEC of 15 July 1991 laying down the principles governing the organisation of veterinary checks on animals entering the Community from third countries and amending Directives 89/662/EEC, 90/425/EEC and 90/675/EEC2, and in particular Article 6(4) thereof,

Whereas:

(1)

The maintenance of secure borders to prevent the introduction of potentially harmful organisms both for animal health and public health is vital, and the proper enforcement of Community legislation must be monitored by the Food and Veterinary Office of the Commission.

(2)
Commission Decision 2001/881/EC3 sets down the frequency of inspections to be carried out by the Commission in border inspection posts in the Community in particular as regards the infrastructure, equipment and working of the border inspection post.
(3)
Since the introduction of harmonised standards for facilities in border inspection posts by Commission Decision 2001/812/EC4, the majority of border inspection posts now fulfil the minimum requirements in relation to such facilities.
(4)

The maintenance of effective controls on imports depends both upon proper facilities being available and upon effective implementation of procedures laid down in veterinary checks legislation, and the latter should now be the main focus of missions carried out by the Food and Veterinary Office.

(5)
Commission Regulation (EC) No 745/20045 laying down measures with regard to imports of products of animal origin for personal consumption gives a legal framework for Member States to carry out controls at all points of entry into the Community in addition to controls in border inspection posts under the veterinary checks regime; such controls outside border inspection posts should also be monitored by the Food and Veterinary Office.
(6)

The frequency and scope of missions by the Food and Veterinary Office to review import controls at border inspection posts in Member States should be decided on the basis of risks to the animal and public health in the Community, after consideration of all the information available to the Commission, including patterns of trade in the Community, statistical data available under veterinary legislation, the results of previous missions by the Office, any identified problem areas, and any other relevant information.

(7)

Decision 2001/881/EC should be amended accordingly.

(8)

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: