COMMISSION IMPLEMENTING REGULATION (EU) No 644/2012
of 16 July 2012
amending Regulation (EU) No 206/2010 laying down lists of third countries, territories or parts thereof authorised for the introduction into the European Union of certain animals and fresh meat and the veterinary certification requirements, as regards Russia
(Text with EEA relevance)
THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION,
Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,
Having regard to Council Directive 2004/68/EC of 26 April 2004 laying down animal health rules for the importation into and transit through the Community of certain live ungulate animals, amending Directives 90/426/EEC and 92/65/EEC and repealing Directive 72/462/EEC (1), and in particular the first and second subparagraphs of Article 3(1), the first subparagraph of Article 6(1), Article 7(e), Article 8(d), and Article 13(1) thereof,
Whereas:
(1)
Directive 2004/68/EC lays down the animal health requirements for the transit through the Union of live ungulates. It provides that specific provisions, including model veterinary certificates, may be laid down for the transit throught the Union of live ungulates from authorised third countries, provided that such animals transit the territory of the Union under customs and official veterinary approval and supervision through approved border inspection posts and without any stop on Union territory other than those necessary for animal welfare purposes.
(2)
Commission Regulation (EU) No 206/2010 (2) lays down the veterinary certification requirements for the introduction into the Union of certain consignments of live animals, including ungulates. Annex I to that Regulation sets out a list of third countries, territories or parts thereof from which such consignments may be introduced into the Union, together with models of veterinary certificates to accompany those consignments.
(3)
On request by Russia to authorise the transit of live bovine animals for breeding and production from the region of Kaliningrad (Kaliningradskaya oblast) through the territory of Lithuania, an inspection was carried out by the Commission in Kaliningrad. It concluded that the animal health situation in that region appears to be favourable. On that basis, the introduction into the Union of consignments of such animals for the sole purpose of transit from the region of Kaliningrad to other parts of the territory of Russia through the territory of Lithuania by means of road vehicles should be authorised.
(4)
In addition, Lithuania can ensure the implementation of the measures provided for in Article 8(1) of Council Directive 90/425/EEC of 26 June 1990 concerning veterinary and zootechnical checks applicable in intra-Community trade in certain live animals and products with a view to the completion of the internal market (3) as regards those animals from the region of Kaliningrad that cannot complete the transit without unloading due to external circumstances.
(5)
Russia has also confirmed its agreement with Belarus under the customs union that includes both countries and which implies that the same standard veterinary-sanitary requirements on import apply in both countries.
(6)
Therefore, Regulation (EU) No 206/2010 should be amended to provide for the transit of live bovine animals for breeding and production from the region of Kaliningrad. The list of third countries, territories or parts thereof authorised for the introduction into the Union of certain animals set out in Part 1 of Annex I to Regulation (EU) No 206/2010 should be amended accordingly.
(7)
It is also necessary to provide for a model veterinary certificate for the transit of those animals. Accordingly, a model veterinary certificate "BOV-X-TRANSIT-RU" should be inserted in Part 2 of Annex I to Regulation (EU) No 206/2010.
(8)
Regulation (EU) No 206/2010 should therefore be amended accordingly.
(9)
The measures provided for in this Regulation are in accordance with the opinion of the Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health,
HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION:
Article 1
Commission Regulation (EU) No 206/2010 is amended as follows:
(1)
The following Article is inserted:
"Article 12a
Derogation for the transit of certain consignments of live bovine animals for breeding and production through Lithuania
1. The transit by road through Lithuania of consignments of live bovine animals for breeding and production coming from the Russian region of Kaliningrad and consigned to a destination outside the Union shall be authorised subject to compliance with the following conditions:
(a)
the animals enter Lithuania at the border inspection post at Kybartai road and exit Lithuania at the border inspection post of Medininkai;
(b)
the animals are transported in containers on road vehicles sealed with a serially numbered seal at the border inspection post of introduction into the Union at Kybartai road, by the veterinary services of the competent authority of Lithuania;
(c)
the documents referred to in the third indent of Article 7 (1) of Council Directive 91/496/EEC, including the duly completed veterinary certificate in accordance with the model veterinary certificate "BOV-X-TRANSIT-RU" set out in Part 2 of Annex I to this Regulation, accompanying the animals from the border inspection post Kybartai road to the border inspection post Medininkai are stamped “ONLY FOR TRANSIT FROM THE RUSSIAN REGION OF KALININGRAD VIA LITHUANIA" on each page by the official veterinarian of the competent authority responsible for the border inspection post at Kybartai road;
(d)
the requirements provided for in Article 9 of Council Directive 91/496/EEC are complied with;
(e)
the consignment is certified as acceptable for transit through Lithuania on the common veterinary entry document referred to in Article 1(1) of Commission Regulation (EC) No 282/2004 (4) and signed by the official veterinarian of the border inspection post at Kybartai road;
(f)
the animals are accompanied by a health certificate that allows unhindered entry into Belarus and a veterinary certificate issued for the place of destination of the animals in Russia.
2. The consignment shall not be unloaded in the Union and shall be moved directly to the border inspection post of exit of Medininkai.
The official veterinarian at the border inspection post of Medininkai shall complete part 3 of the Common Veterinary Entry Document after the exit controls on the consignment have verified that it is the same consignment that entered Lithuania at the border inspection post at ‧Kybartai road‧.
3. In case of any irregularity or emergency during the transit, the Member State of transit shall apply the measures provided for in the second indent of Article 8(1) (b) of Directive 90/425/EEC (5) as appropriate.
4. The competent authority of Lithuania shall verify regularly that the number of consignments entering and leaving the Union territory matches.
(2)
Annex I is amended in accordance with the Annex to this Regulation.
Article 2
This Regulation shall enter into force on the the twentieth day following that of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.
This Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States.
Done at Brussels, 16 July 2012.