Article 2 of Regulation (EC) No 669/2009 provides that the list is to be reviewed on a regular basis, and at least quarterly, taking into account at least the sources of information referred to in that Article.

Experience gained over the last 6 years has shown that it is apropriate to provide for a reduction in the default frequency of the reviews of Annex I to a biannual schedule, while keeping the possibility for the Commission to revise the list more often if necessary. This simplification is expected to improve efficiency, while maintaining the main features and objectives of the Regulation. The reduction in the default frequency of Annex I reviews to a biannual schedule should be complemented by a corresponding change in the frequency of Member States reporting to the Commission. The Member States should therefore submit their reports biannually.

The occurrence and relevance of recent food incidents notified through the Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed, the findings of audits to third countries carried out by the Directorate for Health and Food Audits and Analysis of the Commission Directorate-General for Health and Food Safety, as well as the quarterly reports on consignments of feed and food of non-animal origin submitted by Member States to the Commission in accordance with Article 15 of Regulation (EC) No 669/2009 indicate that the list should be amended.

In particular, for consignments of hazelnuts originating from Georgia the relevant sources of information indicate the emergence of new risks requiring the introduction of an increased level of official controls. An entry concerning those consignments should therefore be included in the list.

The list should also be amended by deleting the entries for commodities for which the available information indicates an overall satisfactory degree of compliance with the relevant safety requirements provided for in Union legislation and for which an increased level of official controls is therefore no longer justified. The entries in the list concerning dried grapes from Afghanistan and almonds from Australia should therefore be deleted.

In order to ensure consistency and clarity, it is appropriate to replace Annex I to Regulation (EC) No 669/2009 by the text set out in the Annex to this Regulation.

Regulation (EC) No 669/2009 should therefore be amended accordingly.

The measures provided for in this Regulation are in accordance with the opinion of the Standing Committee on Plants, Animals, Food and Feed,