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 of Article 8, the first subparagraph of point (1) and point (4) of Article 8 and Article 9(4) thereof,
Whereas:
(1)
On 29 March 2017, the United Kingdom submitted the notification of its intention to withdraw from the Union pursuant to Article 50 of the Treaty on European Union (TEU). On 11 April 2019, the European Council adopted Decision (EU) 2019/584 extending the period under Article 50(3) TEU in agreement with the United Kingdom. In accordance with that Decision, the period provided for in Article 50(3) TEU has been further extended until 31 October 2019. Union law will therefore cease to apply to and in the United Kingdom from 1 November 2019 (‘the withdrawal date’).
(2)
Commission Regulation (EC) No 119/2009 lays down the public and animal health conditions and certification requirements for the introduction into the Union of consignments of meat of wild leporidae, of certain wild land mammals and of farmed rabbits and the list of third countries and parts thereof from which the introduction into the Union of such consignments is authorised.
(3)
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland has provided the necessary guarantees for that country to comply with the conditions laid down in Regulation (EC) No 119/2009 for the introduction into the Union of consignments of meat of wild leporidae, of certain wild land mammals and of farmed rabbits following the withdrawal date by continuing to comply with Union legislation for an initial period of at least nine months.
(4)
Therefore, taking into account these specific guarantees provided by the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, and in order to avoid any unnecessary disruption to trade after the withdrawal date, the United Kingdom should be included in the list of third countries and parts thereof set out in Annex I to Regulation (EC) No 119/2009 authorised for the introduction into the Union of consignments of meat of wild leporidae, of certain wild land mammals and of farmed rabbits.
(5)
Annex I to Regulation (EC) No 119/2009 should therefore be amended accordingly.
(6)
This Regulation should apply from 1 November 2019, unless Union law continues to apply to and in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland on that date.
(7)
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: