THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION,
Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,
Having regard to Commission Decision 2004/613/EC of 6 August 2004 concerning the creation of an advisory group on the food chain and animal and plant health, and in particular Article 3 thereof,
Whereas:
(1)
An advisory group on the food chain and animal and plant health has been established by Decision 2004/613/EC with effect from 25 August 2004. This group is consulted by the Commission on its programme of work on food and feed safety, food and feed labelling and presentation, human nutrition in relation to food legislation, animal health and welfare, and plant health and also on any measures which the Commission has to take or propose in these fields.
(2)
Pursuant to Article 3(3) of Decision 2004/613/EC, the Commission shall select representative European bodies which most effectively meet the criteria referred to in Article 3(1) of that Decision and who have responded to the call for an expression of interest.
(3)
The Commission originally selected 36 members of the advisory group. The list of original members was published in the Official Journal of the European Union in 2005.
(4)
The Commission has now decided to extend the membership of the advisory group, in particular in order to include certain unrepresented sectors. Following a call for expressions of interest, nine additional bodies have been selected.
(5)
All members of the advisory group have equal status.
(6)
It is appropriate to confirm the 36 current members of the advisory group, and, in addition, to appoint the 9 newly selected members,
HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION: