THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION,
Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,
Having regard to Regulation (EC) No 178/2002 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 28 January 2002 laying down the general principles and requirements of food law, establishing the European Food Safety Authority and laying down procedures in matters of food safety, and in particular Article 53(1)(b) thereof,
Whereas:
(1)
Commission Regulation (EC) No 601/2008 applies to certain fishery products originating in Gabon and intended for human consumption. It provides for laboratory checks on each consignment of such fishery products to ensure compliance with the relevant limit values for heavy metals and sulphites, respectively, that are laid down in Commission Regulation (EC) No 1881/2006 of 19 December 2006 setting maximum levels for certain contaminants in foodstuffs and in European Parliament and Council Directive 95/2/EC of 20 February 1995 on food additives other than colours and sweeteners. These protective measures were taken after a Community inspection in 2007 revealed significant shortcomings in Gabon’s monitoring system.
(2)
The Food and Veterinary Office carried out a follow-up inspection in Gabon in July 2010 to evaluate the monitoring system in place governing the production of fishery products intended for export to the Union. The inspection team observed improvements in legislation, official control procedures and laboratory performance. A number of recommendations were made that were subsequently addressed by Gabon. In addition, pre-export controls carried out in Gabon now provide appropriate guarantees to allow imports of fishery products, intended for human consumption, into the Union.
(3)
Since the checks provided for in Regulation (EC) No 601/2008 are no longer necessary that Regulation should be repealed.
(4)
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: