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 of Article 8, point 4 of Article 8 and Article 9(4) thereof,
Having regard to Council Directive 2009/158/EC of 30 November 2009 on animal health conditions governing intra-Community trade in, and imports from third countries of, poultry and hatching eggs, and in particular Articles 23(1), 24(2) and 25(2) thereof,
Whereas:
(1)
Commission Regulation (EC) No 798/2008 lays down veterinary certification requirements for imports into and transit, including storage during transit, through the Union of poultry and poultry products (the commodities). It provides that the commodities are only to be imported into and transit through the Union from the third countries, territories, zones or compartments listed in columns 1 and 3 of the table in Part 1 of Annex I thereto.
(2)
Regulation (EC) No 798/2008 also lays down the conditions for a third country, territory, zone or compartment to be considered as free from Newcastle disease.
(3)
The Republic of North Macedonia is listed in the table in Part 1 of Annex I to Regulation (EC) No 798/2008 as a third country from which imports into and transit through the Union of certain poultry commodities are authorised from the whole of its territory.
(4)
On 22 April 2020, the Republic of North Macedonia confirmed the presence of Newcastle disease in a poultry holding on its territory. Due to that confirmed outbreak of Newcastle disease, the Republic of North Macedonia can no longer be considered as free from that disease and the veterinary authorities of the Republic of North Macedonia can therefore no longer certify consignments of meat of poultry for human consumption intended for import into or transit through the Union.
(5)
The entry for Republic of North Macedonia in the table in Part 1 of Annex I to Regulation (EC) No 798/2008 should therefore be amended to take account of the epidemiological situation in that third country.
(6)
Annex I to Regulation (EC) No 798/2008 should therefore be amended accordingly.
(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: