THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,
Having regard to Regulation (EC) No 1774/2002 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 3 October 2002 laying down health rules concerning animal by-products not intended for human consumption, and in particular Article 32(1) thereof,
Whereas:
(1)
Regulation (EC) No 1774/2002 lays down health rules concerning animal by-products not intended for human consumption. In view of the strict nature of those rules, transitional measures have been granted.
(2)
Commission Decision 2003/329/EC of 12 May 2003 on transitional measures under Regulation (EC) No 1774/2002 of the European Parliament and of the Council as regards the heat treatment process for manure, allows the industry time to adjust and develop alternative heat treatment process for manure until 31 December 2005.
(3)
An EFSA opinion on the biological safety of heat treatment of manure was adopted on 7 September 2005. On the basis of this opinion, the Commission is currently proposing amendments to the relevant chapter in Annex VIII to Regulation (EC) No 1774/2002. Pending the application of these new measures, Member States and operators have asked the Commission to extend the validity of the transitional measures provided for in Decision 2003/329/EC in order to avoid disruption of trade.
(4)
The transitional measures provided for in Decision 2003/329/EC should therefore be extended for the last time for a further period of time to enable the Member States to authorise operators to continue to apply national rules for the heat treatment process for manure until the amended requirements of Annex VIII to Regulation (EC) No 1774/2002 apply.
(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: