CHAPTER IIIProvisions applicable to imports into the Community
Article 9
The requirements applicable to imports of products covered by this Directive must offer at least the guarantees provided for in Chapter II, including those established in implementation of Article 6, and those laid down in the second and third indents of Article 3.
Article 10
1.
For the purposes of uniform application of Article 9, the following provisions shall apply.
2.
The products referred to in F1 X1Annex I and in the second and third indents of Article 3 may be imported into the Community only if they satisfy the following requirements:
(a)
unless otherwise specified in F1 X1Annex I , they must come from a third country or part of a third country on a list to be drawn up and updated in accordance with the procedure provided for in Article 18;
F2(b)
unless otherwise specified in F1 X1Annex I , products must come from establishments on a Community list to be drawn up in accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 18;
(c)
in the cases specifically provided for in F1 X1Annex I and in the second and third indents of Article 3, they must be accompanied by an animal health or public health certificate corresponding to a specimen to be drawn up under the procedure provided for in Article 18, certifying that the products meet the additional conditions or offer the equivalent guarantees referred to in paragraph 3 (a) and come from establishments offering such guarantees, and signed by an official veterinarian or, as appropriate, by any other competent authority recognized under the same procedure.
3.
Under the procedure provided for in Article 18:
(a)
specific requirements shall be established — in particular for the protection of the Community from certain exotic diseases or diseases transmissible to man — or guarantees equivalent to those conditions.
The specific requirements and equivalent guarantees established for third countries may not be more favourable than those laid down in F1 X1Annex I and in the second and third indents of Article 3F3.
F4Pending the fixing of the detailed rules of application provided for in the fourth and fifth indents of Chapter 2 of Annex II, Member States shall ensure that imports of products referred to therein are subject to compliance with the minimum guarantees laid down in the said indents;
F5(b)
a Community list shall be drawn up of third country establishments which satisfy the requirements of paragraph 2 (b);
(c)
the nature of any treatment or the measures to be taken to avoid recontamination of animal casings, eggs and egg products shall be established.
4.
The decisions provided for in paragraphs 2 and 3 must be taken on the basis of evaluation and, if appropriate, the opinion of the Scientific Veterinary Committee, of the real risk of the spread of serious transmissible diseases or of diseases transmissible to man which could result from movement of the product, not only for the species from which the product originates but also for other species which could carry the disease or become a focus of disease or a risk to public health.
5.
Experts from the Commission and the Member States shall carry out on-the-spot inspections to verify whether the guarantees given by the third country regarding the conditions of production and placing on the market can be considered equivalent to those applied in the Community.
The experts from the Member States responsible for these inspections shall be appointed by the Commission, acting on proposals from the Member States.
These inspections shall be made on behalf of the Community, which shall bear the cost of any expenditure involved.
Pending organization of the inspections referred to in the first subparagraph, national rules applicable to inspection in third countries shall continue to apply, subject to notification, through the Standing Veterinary Committee, of any failure to comply with the guarantees offered in accordance with paragraph 3 found during these inspections.
6.
Pending compilation of the lists provided for F3in paragraph 2 (a) and (b) second indent, Member States are authorized to maintain the controls provided for in Article 11 (2) of Directive 90/675/EEC and the national certificate required by products imported under existing national rules.
Article 11
The procedure provided for in Article 18 shall be used to stipulate specific animal health requirements for imports into the Community and the nature and content of accompanying documents for products referred to in Annex I intended for experimental laboratories.
Article 12
1.
However, for certain types of product of animal origin, derogations may be adopted in accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 18, from the physical check provided for in F6Article 4(4)(b) of Directive 97/78/EC.
F72.
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Article 13
1.
Member States may, by issuing an appropriate licence, permit the importation from third countries of products of animal origin referred to in F1 X1Annex I in the form of trade samples.
2.
The licence mentioned in paragraph 1 must accompany the consignment and contain full details of the specific conditions under which the consignment may be imported, including any derogations from the checks provided for by Directive 90/675/EEC.
3.
Where the consignment enters one Member State for onward transmission to a second Member State, the first Member State shall ensure that the consignment is accompanied by the appropriate licence. Movement shall take place in accordance with the provisions of Article 11 (2) of Directive 90/675/EEC. The responsibility for ensuring that the consignment complies with the conditions of the licence (and whether entry into its territory should be permitted) shall rest with the Member State which issues the licence.