COMMISSION DECISION of 23 December 1997 laying down special conditions governing imports of fishery and aquaculture products originating in India (Text with EEA relevance) (97/876/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 95/71/EC (2), and in particular Article 11 thereof,
Having regard to Council Directive 90/675/EEC of 10 December 1990 laying down the principles governing the organisation of veterinary checks on products entering the Community from third countries (3), as last amended by Directive 96/43/EC (4), and in particular Article 19 (7) thereof,
Whereas a Commission expert has conducted an inspection visit to India to verify the conditions under which fishery products are produced, stored and dispatched to the Community;
Whereas the provisions of legislation of India on health inspection and monitoring of fishery products may be considered equivalent to those laid down in Directive 91/493/EEC;
Whereas, in India the Export Inspection Council of India (EIC) of Ministry of Commerce is capable of effectively verifying the application of the laws in force;
Whereas the procedure for obtaining the health certificate referred to in Article 11 (4) (a) of Directive 91/493/EEC must also cover the definition of a model certificate, the minimum requirements regarding the language(s) in which it must be drafted and the grade of the person empowered to sign it;
Whereas, pursuant to Article 11 (4) (b) of Directive 91/493/EEC, a mark should be affixed to packages of fishery products giving the name of the third country and the approval number of the establishment, cooling store of freezing vessel of origin;
Whereas, pursuant to Article 11 (4) (c) of Directive 91/493/EEC, a list of approved establishments, cooling stores or freezing vessels must be drawn up; whereas that list must be drawn up on the basis of a communication from the EIC to the Commission; whereas it is therefore for the EIC to ensure compliance with the provisions laid down to that end in Article 11 (4) of Directive 91/493/EEC;
Whereas the EIC has provided official assurances regarding compliance with the rules set out in Chapter V of the Annex to Directive 91/493/EEC and regarding the fulfilment of requirements equivalent to those laid down by that Directive for the approval of establishments, cooling stores or freezing vessels;
Whereas it is necessary to repeal Commission Decision 97/515/EC of 1 August 1997 concerning certain protective measures with regard to certain fishery products originating in India (5);
Whereas the measures provided for in this Decision are in accordance with the opinion of the Standing Veterinary Committee,
HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:
Article 1
The Export Inspection Council of India (EIC) of Ministry of Commerce shall be the competent authority in India for verifying and certifying compliance of fishery and aquaculture products with the requirements of Directive 91/493/EEC.
Article 2
Fishery and aquaculture products originating in India, must meet the following conditions:
1. each consignment must be accompanied by a numbered original health certificate, duly completed, signed, dated and comprising a single sheet in accordance with the model in Annex A hereto;
2. the products must come from approved establishments listed in Annex B hereto;
3. except in the case of frozen fishery products in bulk and intended for the manufacture of preserved foods, all packages must bear the word 'INDIA` and the approval number of the establishment, cooling store or freezing vessel of origin in indelible letters.
Article 3
1. Certificates as referred to in Article 2 (1) must be drawn up in at least one official language of the Member State where the checks are carried out.
2. Certificates must bear the name, capacity and signature of the representative of the EIC and the latter's official stamp in a colour different from that of other endorsements.
Article 4
Decision 97/515/EC is repealed.
Article 5
This Decision is addressed to the Member States.
Done at Brussels, 23 December 1997.