COMMISSION IMPLEMENTING DECISION
of 8 December 2014
amending Decision 2011/163/EU on the approval of plans submitted by third countries in accordance with Article 29 of Council Directive 96/23/EC
(notified under document C(2014) 9230)
(Text with EEA relevance)
(2014/891/EU)
THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION,
Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,
Having regard to Council Directive 96/23/EC of 29 April 1996 on measures to monitor certain substances and residues thereof in live animals and animal products and repealing Directives 85/358/EEC and 86/469/EEC and Decisions 89/187/EEC and 91/664/EEC (1), and in particular the fourth subparagraph of Article 29(1) and Article 29(2) thereof,
Whereas:
(1)
Directive 96/23/EC lays down measures to monitor the substances and groups of residues listed in Annex I thereto. This Directive requires that third countries from which Member States are authorised to import animals and animal products covered by that Directive submit a residue monitoring plan providing required guarantees. That plan should, at least, include the groups of residues and substances listed in Annex I of that Directive.
(2)
Commission Decision 2011/163/EU (2) approves the plans provided for in Article 29 of Directive 96/23/EC submitted by certain third countries listed in the Annex to that Decision for the animals and animal products indicated in that list (‘the list’).
(3)
Mexico is currently included in the list as regards, inter alia, equine. However, the latest audits carried out by the Commission in Mexico have confirmed serious shortcomings in the capacity of the Mexican authorities to carry out reliable checks and in particular to attest the absence of substances prohibited by Council Directive 96/22/EC (3).
(4)
The entry for Mexico as regards equine should therefore be removed from the list.
(5)
Decision 2011/163/EU should therefore be amended accordingly.
(6)
In order to avoid any disruption to trade, a transitional period should be laid down to cover the relevant consignments from Mexico which were dispatched to the Union before the date of application of this Decision.
(7)
The measures provided for in this Decision will be reviewed by the Standing Committee on Plants, Animals, Food and Feed, in light of the guarantees provided by the Mexican authorities.
(8)
The measures provided for in this Decision are in accordance with the opinion of the Standing Committee on Plants, Animals, Food and Feed,
HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:
Article 1
The Annex to Decision 2011/163/EU is replaced by the text set out in the Annex to this Decision.
Article 2
For a transitional period until 1 March 2015, Member States shall accept consignments of meat and meat products of equidae imported from Mexico and intended for human consumption provided that the importer demonstrates that the products had been certified and dispatched to the Union prior to 15 January 2015.
Article 3
This Decision is addressed to the Member States.
Done at Brussels, 8 December 2014.