THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION,
Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,
Having regard to Council Directive 90/425/EEC of 26 June 1990 concerning veterinary checks applicable in intra-Union trade in certain live animals and products with a view to the completion of the internal market, and in particular Article 20(1) and (3) thereof,
Having regard to Council Directive 91/496/EEC of 15 July 1991 laying down the principles governing the organisation of veterinary checks on animals entering the Community from third countries and amending Directives 89/662/EEC, 90/425/EEC and 90/675/EEC, and in particular the second sentence of the second subparagraph of Article 6(4) and Article 6(5) thereof,
Having regard to Council Directive 97/78/EC of 18 December 1997 laying down the principles governing the organisation of veterinary checks on products entering the Community from third countries, and in particular Article 6(2) thereof,
Whereas:
(1)
On 29 March 2017, the United Kingdom submitted the notification of its intention to withdraw from the Union pursuant to Article 50 of the Treaty on European Union (TEU). On 22 March 2019, the European Council adopted Decision (EU) 2019/476 extending the period under Article 50(3) TEU in agreement with the United Kingdom. In accordance with that Decision, in the event that the Withdrawal Agreement is not approved by the House of Commons by 29 March 2019 at the latest, the period provided for in Article 50(3) TEU is extended until 12 April 2019. As the Withdrawal Agreement has not been approved by 29 March 2019, Union law will cease to apply to and in the United Kingdom from 13 April 2019 (‘the withdrawal date’).
(2)
Commission Decision 2009/821/EC lays down the list of border inspection posts approved in accordance with Directives 91/496/EEC and 97/78/EC and the list of central, regional and local units in the integrated computerised veterinary system (Traces). Those lists are respectively set out in Annex I and Annex II to that Decision.
(3)
Following the proposal from Belgium, the approval of the border inspection posts at Antwerp port and Zeebrugge port should be extended to unpacked products for human consumption. It is therefore appropriate to amend accordingly the list of entries for that Member State set out in Annex I to Decision 2009/821/EC.
(4)
Following the proposal from Denmark, a new inspection centre should be listed at the border inspection post at Esbjerg port for the inspection of packed products. It is therefore appropriate to amend accordingly the list of entries for that Member State set out in Annex I to Decision 2009/821/EC.
(5)
Following the proposal from Ireland, the approval of the border inspection post at Dublin port should be extended to animals and unpacked products for human consumption, and a new border inspection post at Rosslare port should be approved for animals and products. It is therefore appropriate to amend accordingly the list of entries for that Member State set out in Annex I to Decision 2009/821/EC.
(6)
Following the proposal from Spain, a new border inspection post at Ferrol port should be approved for packed products. In addition, the suspension of the border inspection post at Santander port and of one of the inspection centres of the border inspection post at Vigo port should be lifted. It is therefore appropriate to amend accordingly the list of entries for that Member State set out in Annex I to Decision 2009/821/EC.
(7)
Following the proposal from France, new border inspection posts at Caen-Ouistreham port, Calais port and rail, Cherbourg port, Dieppe port, Roscoff port and Saint-Malo port should be approved for certain categories of products or certain categories of animals. It is therefore appropriate to amend accordingly the list of entries for that Member State set out in Annex I to Decision 2009/821/EC.
(8)
Following the proposal from the Netherlands, a new inspection centre should be listed at the border inspection post at Rotterdam port for the inspection of packed products for human consumption. It is therefore appropriate to amend accordingly the list of entries for that Member State set out in Annex I to Decision 2009/821/EC.
(9)
Annexes I and II to Decision 2009/821/EC should therefore be amended accordingly.
(10)
This Decision should apply from 13 April 2019, unless Union law continues to apply to and in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland on that date.
(11)
The measures provided for in this Decision are in accordance with the opinion of the Standing Committee on Plants, Animals, Food and Feed,
HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION: