Commission decision
of 29 October 2002
laying down specific conditions for imports of fishery products from Switzerland
(notified under number C(2002) 4097)
(Text with EEA relevance)
(2002/860/EC)
THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,
Having regard to Council Directive 91/493/EEC of 22 July 1991 laying down the health conditions for the production and the placing on the market of fishery products(1), as last amended by Directive 97/79/EC(2), and in particular Article 11.1 thereof,
Whereas:
(1) An inspection has been carried out on behalf of the Commission in Switzerland to verify the conditions under which fishery products are produced, stored and dispatched to the Community.
(2) The requirements in the legislation of Switzerland on health inspection and monitoring of fishery products may be considered equivalent to those laid down in Directive 91/493/EEC.
(3) In particular, the "Bundesamt für Veterinärwesen/Office Vétérinaire Fédéral (BFV/OVF)" is capable of effectively verifying the implementation of the legislation in force.
(4) It is appropriate to lay down detailed rules concerning the health certificate which must, under Directive 91/493/EEC, accompany consignments of fishery products imported into the Community from Switzerland. In particular those rules must specify the definition of a model certificate, the minimum requirements regarding the language or languages in which it must be drafted and the status of the person empowered to sign it.
(5) The mark which must be affixed to packages of fishery products should give the name of the third country and the approval/registration number of the establishment, factory vessel, cold store or freezer vessel of origin, except for certain frozen products.
(6) It is also necessary to draw up a list of approved establishments, factory vessels, or cold stores, and a list of freezer vessels equipped in accordance with the requirements of Council Directive 92/48/EEC of 16 June 1992 laying down the minimum hygiene rules applicable to fishery products caught on board of certain vessels in accordance with article 3(1) (a) (I) of Directive 91/493/EEC(3). These lists should be drawn up on the basis of a communication from the BFV/OVF to the Commission. It is therefore the responsibility of the BFV/OVF to ensure compliance with the relevant provisions of Directive 91/493/EEC.
(7) The BFV/OVF has provided official assurances regarding compliance with the rules set out in Chapter V of the Annex to Directive 91/493/EEC with regard to the control of fishery products, and regarding the fulfilment of hygienic requirements equivalent to those laid down by that Directive.
(8) The measures provided for in this Decision are in accordance with the opinion of the Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health,
HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:
Article 1
The "Bundesamt für Veterinärwesen/Office Vétérinaire Fédéral (BFV/OVF)" shall be the competent authority in Switzerland for verifying and certifying compliance of fishery products with the requirements of Directive 91/493/EEC.
Article 2
1. Fishery products imported into the Community from Switzerland shall meet the conditions set out in paragraphs 2, 3 and 4.
2. Each consignment shall be accompanied by a numbered original health certificate, duly completed, signed, dated and comprising a single sheet in accordance with the model in Annex I.
3. The products shall come from approved establishments, factory vessels or cold stores or from registered freezer vessels listed in Annex II.
4. Except in the case of frozen fishery products in bulk and intended for the manufacture of preserved foods, all packages shall bear the word "SWITZERLAND" and the approval/registration number of the establishment, factory vessel, cold store or freezer vessel of origin in indelible letters.
Article 3
1. The certificate referred to in Article 2(2) shall be drawn up in at least one official language of the Member State in which the checks are carried out.
2. The certificate shall bear the name, capacity and signature of the representative of the BFV/OVF and the latter's official stamp in a colour different from that of other endorsements.
Article 4
This Decision shall apply from 20 December 2002.
Article 5
This Decision is addressed to the Member States.
Done at Brussels, 29 October 2002.