THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,
Having regard to the Act of Accession of Bulgaria and Romania, and in particular the first subparagraph of paragraph (f) of Section B of Chapter 4 of Annex VI thereto,
Whereas:
(1)
Bulgaria has been granted transitional periods by the Act of Accession of Bulgaria and Romania for compliance by certain milk processing establishments with the requirements of Regulation (EC) No 853/2004 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 29 April 2004 laying down specific hygiene rules for food of animal origin.
(2)
The Appendix to Annex VI to the Act of Accession has been amended by Commission Decisions 2007/26/EC, 2007/689/EC, 2008/209/EC, 2008/331/EC and 2008/547/EC. Bulgaria has provided guarantees that five milk processing establishments have completed their upgrading process and are now in full compliance with Community legislation. Those establishments are allowed to receive and process non-compliant raw milk Therefore they should be included in the list of Chapter I of the Appendix to Annex VI.
(3)
One milk processing establishment which is currently listed as compliant establishment will receive and process in two separate lines compliant and non-compliant raw milk. That establishment should therefore be added to the list of Chapter II. Another milk processing establishment currently listed in Chapter II will receive and process only compliant milk. That establishment should therefore be deleted from Chapter II of the Appendix to Annex VI.
(4)
The Appendix to Annex VI to the Act of Accession of Bulgaria and Romania should therefore 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: