THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION,
Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,
Having regard to 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, and in particular the introductory phrase and point (b) of Article 9(4) thereof,
Whereas:
(1)
Regulation (EU) No 605/2010 of 2 July 2010 laying down animal and public health and veterinary certification conditions for the introduction into the European Union of raw milk and dairy products intended for human consumption provides that consignments of raw milk and dairy products intended for human consumption, authorised for importation into the Union, are to be accompanied by a health certificate drawn up in accordance with the appropriate model set out in Part 2 of Annex II thereto for the commodity concerned (‘the model health certificates’).
(2)
It should be clarified that the requirement regarding the use of the model health certificates provided for in that Regulation is without prejudice to specific certification requirements laid down in other Union acts or in agreements concluded by the Union with third countries.
(3)
The model health certificates specify the commodity code for the commodities covered by Regulation (EU) No 605/2010 on the basis of the Harmonised Commodity Description and Coding System (‘HS codes’) of tariff nomenclature maintained by the World Customs Organization (WCO).
(4)
Certain dairy products covered by Regulation (EU) No 605/2010 do not fall within the commodity codes in the model health certificates. In order to allow a more precise identification of those commodities in the model health certificates, it is necessary to amend those models and add the missing HS codes, in particular as regards HS codes 35.01 and 35.02 (casein, caseinates and albumines).
(5)
In addition, it should be clarified in the model health certificates that the requirements regarding antibiotic residues, contaminants and pesticide residues may be based on the findings of official monitoring programmes which are at least equivalent to those provided for in Union legislation.
(6)
For reasons of clarity and transparency of Union legislation, the model health certificates should be replaced by the model health certificates set out in the Annex to this Regulation.
(7)
Regulation (EU) No 605/2010 should therefore be amended accordingly.
(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: