THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,
Having regard to Council Directive 90/429/EEC of 26 June 1990 laying down the animal health requirements applicable to intra-Community trade in and imports of semen of domestic animals of the porcine species(1) and in particular Article 8(1) thereof,
Whereas:
(1) Commission Decision 2002/613/EC of 19 July 2002 laying down the importation conditions of semen of domestic animals of the porcine species(2) establishes a list of third countries from which Member States are to authorise the importation of semen of domestic animals of the porcine species and a list of semen collection centres in those third countries approved for export of such semen to the Community.
(2) Canada and the United States have requested that certain amendments be made to the list of semen collection centres approved under Decision 2002/613/EC as regards the entries for those countries.
(3) Decision 2002/613/EC should therefore be amended accordingly.
(4) 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: