THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,
Having regard to Council Directive 89/108/EEC of 21 December 1988 on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to quick-frozen foodstuffs for human consumption, and in particular Article 11 thereof,
Whereas:
(1)
Commission Directive 92/1/EEC of 13 January 1992 on the monitoring of temperatures in the means of transport, warehousing and storage of quick-frozen foodstuffs intended for human consumption provides requirements in order to ensure that temperatures required by Directive 89/108/EEC are fully maintained.
(2)
When Commission Directive 92/1/EEC was adopted, no European standard for instruments for monitoring temperatures in means of transport, warehousing and storage of quick-frozen foodstuffs had been established.
(3)
The European Committee for Standardisation established standards regarding the instruments for recording air temperatures and thermometers in 1999 and 2001. The use of those uniform standards would ensure that the equipment used for monitoring temperatures of foodstuffs complies with a harmonised set of technical requirements.
(4)
In order to facilitate a gradual application of those measures by operators, the use of measuring instruments installed according to legislation in force before the adoption of this Regulation should be allowed during a transitional period.
(5)
Commission Directive 92/1/EEC provides for a derogation as regards transport of quick-frozen foodstuffs by rail. This derogation is no longer justified and should be terminated after a transitional period.
(6)
The imposition of temperature-recording requirements on small equipment used in retail trade would be excessive and therefore the existing derogations for retail display cabinets and small cold chambers used in retail outlets for storing stocks should be maintained.
(7)
It is advisable to ensure the direct applicability of the new standards for measuring equipment and of the technical rules already contained in Directive 92/1/EEC. In the interest of consistency and uniformity of Community legislation it is appropriate to repeal Directive 92/1/EEC and replace it by this Regulation.
(8)
The measures provided for in this Regulation are in accordance with the opinion of the Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health,
HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION: