Directive 96/23/EC lays down measures to monitor the substances and groups of residues listed in Annex I thereto. Pursuant to Directive 96/23/EC, the inclusion and retention on the lists of third countries from which Member States are authorised to import animals and primary products of animal origin covered by that Directive, are subject to the submission by the third countries concerned of a plan setting out the guarantees which they offer as regards the monitoring of the groups of residues and substances referred to in that Directive.

Belarus, Canada, the Falkland Islands, Mauritius and Switzerland have submitted residue monitoring plans to the Commission for animals and products of animal origin not currently listed in the Annex to Decision 2004/432/EC. The evaluation of those plans and the additional information obtained by the Commission provide sufficient guarantees on the residue monitoring in those third countries for the animals and products concerned. The relevant animals and products of animal origin should therefore be included in the list for those third countries in the Annex to that Decision.

Switzerland, in addition, has submitted to the Commission a residue monitoring plan concerning honey, for which a limitation ‘third countries using only raw material from other approved third countries for food production’ applies at present. The evaluation of that plan and the additional information obtained by the Commission provide sufficient guarantees to remove that limitation. The footnote setting out that limitation should therefore be deleted from the Annex to Decision 2004/432/EC.

Ethiopia, Iran and Suriname have submitted residue monitoring plans to the Commission for certain animals and products of animal origin. The evaluation of those plans and the additional information obtained by the Commission provide sufficient guarantees on the residue monitoring in those third countries for the animals and products concerned. The relevant animals and products of animal origin should therefore be included in the list for Ethiopia, Iran and Suriname in the Annex to Decision 2004/432/EC.

Belize, Colombia, Kenya, Oman, and Zimbabwe which are currently listed for certain animals or products of animal origin in the Annex to Decision 2004/432/EC have not submitted to the Commission the requested residue monitoring plans for some of those animals and products of animal origin. The entries for the relevant animals and products of animal origin should therefore be deleted from the list for those third countries in the Annex to that Decision. The third countries concerned have been informed accordingly.

Eritrea, Israel and Tunisia which are currently listed for certain animals or products of animal origin in the Annex to Decision 2004/432/EC have not submitted to the Commission the requested residue monitoring plans for some of those animals and products of animal origin, because there are currently no exports of such animals or products of animal origin from those third countries to the Community. The entries for the relevant animals and products of animal origin should therefore be deleted from the list for those third countries in the Annex to Decision 2004/432/EC. The third countries concerned have been informed accordingly.

Ukraine which is currently listed for equidae with the limitation 'export of live equidae for slaughter (food producing animals only) in the Annex to Decision 2004/432/EC has not submitted to the Commission the requested residue monitoring plan. In addition, a Food and Veterinary Office inspection has revealed serious deficiencies concerning the live equidae testing in that third country. The relevant entry for Ukraine should therefore be deleted from the list in the Annex to that Decision. The authorities of that third country have been informed accordingly.

South Africa which is currently listed for several animals or products of animal origin in the Annex to Decision 2004/432/EC, has submitted to the Commission the requested residue monitoring plans for those animals and products of animal origin. However, a Food and Veterinary Office inspection has revealed serious deficiencies concerning the implementation of the residue monitoring plan for certain animals or products of animal origin of those referred to in the plans. On that basis South Africa has requested to delete the entries for all the animals and the products of animal origin from the list in the Annex to that Decision, with the exception of wild and farmed game, including ostriches. For these animals and products of animal origin, substantial guarantees have been received.

A transitional period should be laid down to cover consignments of animals and products of animal origin originating in Belize, Colombia, Eritrea, Israel, Kenya, Oman, Tunisia, Ukraine, South Africa, and Zimbabwe which were dispatched from those third countries for the Community before the date of application of this Decision, to cover the time needed for their arrival in the Community and avoid any disruption to trade.

Decision 2004/432/EC should therefore be amended accordingly.

The measures provided for in this Decision are in accordance with the opinion of the Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health,