These Regulations amend the Official Controls (Extension of Transitional Periods) Regulations 2021 (“the 2021 Regulations”) and Commission Decision 2000/572/EC, which lays down animal and public health and veterinary certification conditions for imports of meat preparations from third countries. The amendments extend transitional periods which apply in relation to the import of animals and goods which originate from certain third countries and territories.

Regulation 2 amends regulation 2 of the 2021 Regulations, which appoints the end date for the transitional staging period provided for by Annex 6 to Regulation (EU) 2017/625 (EUR 2017/625) as 31 December 2022. It amends regulation 2 of the 2021 Regulations to provide that the transitional staging period will end on 31 January 2024.

Regulation 3 amends Article 4za of Commission Decision 2000/572, which modifies the import conditions for imports of meat preparations from countries and territories subject to special transitional import arrangements during the transitional staging period in relation to animal products (EEA states, the Faroe Islands, Greenland and Switzerland). It amends Article 4za to provide that the import condition that meat preparations have been deep frozen at the production plant or plants of origin does not apply until 31 January 2024, where the production plant or plants of origin are in one of those countries or territories.

A Business and Regulatory Impact assessment has not been produced for this instrument as no, or no significant, impact on the private, voluntary or public sector is foreseen.