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 the introductory phrase and point (c) of Article 9(4) thereof,
Whereas:
(1)
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 certain meat of wild leporidae, of wild land mammals and of farmed rabbits. More particularly, Part 1 of Annex I to Regulation (EC) No 119/2009 lists the third countries and parts thereof authorised for the introduction into the Union of such consignments.
(2)
The United Kingdom has provided the necessary guarantees required by Regulation (EC) No 119/2009 in order for the United Kingdom to be listed in Part 1 of Annex I to that Regulation after the end of the transition period provided for in the Agreement on the withdrawal of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland from the European Union and the European Atomic Energy Community (Withdrawal Agreement), without prejudice to the application of Union law to and in the United Kingdom in respect of Northern Ireland in accordance with Article 5(4) of the Protocol on Ireland/Northern Ireland to the Withdrawal Agreement in conjunction with Annex 2 to that Protocol. Taking into account the guarantees provided by the United Kingdom, that third country should be listed in Part 1 of Annex I to Regulation (EC) No 119/2009.
(3)
Annex I to Regulation (EC) No 119/2009 should therefore be amended accordingly.
(4)
As the transition period provided for in the Withdrawal Agreement ends on 31 December 2020, this Regulation should apply from 1 January 2021.
(5)
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: