THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION,
Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,
Having regard to Council Directive 97/78/EC of 18 December 1997 laying down the principles governing the organisation of veterinary checks on products entering the Community from third countries, and in particular Article 22(6) thereof,
Whereas:
(1)
Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) No 743/2013, was adopted as audits of the Commission's audit service identified deficiencies in Turkey in the implementation of official controls of the production of bivalve molluscs intended for export to the Union, and as Member States reported non-compliant consignments of bivalve molluscs originating in Turkey which were not fulfilling Union microbiological standards.
(2)
The last audit of the Commission's audit service, which took place in September 2015, found significant deficiencies in the control system for bivalve molluscs intended for export to the Union still existed. The Turkish competent authorities presented information regarding the corrective measures initiated to address those deficiencies. However, some of those deficiencies, notably in the performance of laboratories, still exist. Due to the nature of the products involved, before any lifting of measures can be considered, a follow-up audit is necessary.
(3)
The limit of application of Implementing Regulation (EU) No 743/2013 should therefore be amended accordingly.
(4)
The measures provided for in this Regulation are in accordance with the opinion of the Standing Committee on Plants, Animals, Food and Feed,
HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION: