THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION,
Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,
Having regard to Regulation (EC) No 854/2004 of 29 April 2004 of the European Parliament and the Council laying down specific rules for the organisation of official controls on products of animal origin intended for human consumption, and in particular Article 17(1) thereof,
Whereas:
(1)
Regulation (EC) No 854/2004 lays down specific rules for the organisation of official controls on products of animal origin intended for human consumption. In particular, a number of provisions relating to meat inspections in Parts B, D and F of Chapter II of Section I, and in Chapters I and V of Section II as well as in Chapter II of Section III of Annex I to that Regulation refer to, diseases on Lists A or B of the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE).
(2)
The OIE system categorising and listing of diseases has changed. A single OIE list replaces Lists A and B. In addition, Union legislation is now in line with OIE recommendations. As a result, most references to those lists are superfluous. It is therefore appropriate to amend the relevant provisions in Sections I, II and III of Annex I to that Regulation and instead refer to animal diseases covered by Union legislation when carrying out ante-mortem or post-mortem inspection or any other inspection activity, unless reference is made to currently unknown diseases originating in third countries.
(3)
Council Directive 2002/99/EC of 16 December 2002 laying down the animal health rules governing the production, processing, distribution and introduction of products of animal origin for human consumption provides that products of animal origin are to be obtained from animals which do not come from a holding, establishment, territory or part of territory subject to relevant animal health restrictions. Annex I of that Directive lists Union legislation containing control measures for certain animal diseases of relevance to trade in products of animal origin. For reasons of consistency, the trade in products of animal origin should only be restricted for animal health reasons based on Union legislation listed in the Annex I.
(4)
In accordance with Part E of Annex II to Regulation (EC) No 2160/2003 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 17 November 2003 on the control of salmonella and other specified food-borne zoonotic agents, salmonella is to be absent in 25 grams of fresh poultry meat to be placed on the market for human consumption. However, pursuant to that Part, that criterion does not apply to fresh poultry meat destined for industrial heat treatment or other treatment to eliminate salmonella. Point 2 of Chapter V of Section II of Annex I to Regulation (EC) No 854/2004 provides that the official veterinarian may impose requirements concerning the use of certain meat. In order to allow the official veterinarian to impose industrial heat treatment or other treatment to eliminate salmonella, Section II, chapter V point 2 should be amended.
(5)
Annex I to Regulation (EC) No 854/2004 should be amended accordingly.
(6)
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: