2002D0079 — EN — 21.03.2002 — 001.001 — 1
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►B COMMISSIONDECISION
of4February2002
imposing special conditions on the import of peanuts and certain products derived from peanuts
originatinginorconsignedfromChina
(notified under document number C(2002) 385)
(TextwithEEArelevance)
(2002/79/EC)
(OJ L 34, 5.2.2002, p. 21)
Amended by:
Official Journal
No page date
►M1Commission Decision 2002/233/EC of 20 March2002 L 78 14 21.3.2002
▼B
COMMISSIONDECISION
of4February2002
imposing special conditions on the import of peanuts and certain
products derived from peanuts originating in or consigned from
China
(notified under document number C(2002) 385)
(TextwithEEArelevance)
(2002/79/EC)
THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,
Having regard to Council Directive 93/43/EEC of 14 June 1993 on the
hygiene of foodstuffs(1) and in particular Article 10(1) thereof,
Whereas:
(1)Peanuts originating in or consigned from China have been found
to be, in many cases, contaminated withexcessive levels of afla-
toxin B1 and total aflatoxin.
(2)The Scientific Committee for Food has noted that aflatoxin B1,
even at extremely low levels, causes cancer of the liver and inaddition is genotoxic.
(3)Commission Regulation (EC) No 194/97 of 31 January 1997setting maximum levels for certain contaminants in foodstuffs(
2),
as last amended by Regulation (EC) No 1566/1999(3), sets
maximum levels for certain contaminants and in particular afla-
toxins in foodstuffs. These limits have been considerably
exceeded in samples of peanuts originating in or consignedfrom China.
(4)This constitutes a serious threat to public health within the
Community and it is therefore imperative to adopt protective
measures at Community level.
(5)A mission was carried out by the European Commission's Foodand Veterinary Office (FVO) in China from 8 to 21 May 2001 to
assess the control systems in place to prevent aflatoxin contami-
nation in peanuts intended for export to the EuropeanCommunity. The mission revealed, inter alia , that the control
over aflatoxins in peanuts is minimal in production or generalprocessing. Deficiencies in laboratory performance were also
observed. It is therefore appropriate to subject peanuts or
products derived from peanuts originating in or consigned fromChina to special conditions to provide a high level of protectionto public health.
(6)It is necessary that peanuts and products derived from peanutshave been produced, sorted, handled, processed, packaged andtransported following good hygiene practices. It is necessary toestablishth e levels of aflatoxin B1 and total aflatoxin in samplestaken from the consignment immediately prior to leaving China.
(7)The Chinese authorities should provide documentary evidence toaccompany eachconsignment of peanuts originating in orconsigned from China, relating to the conditions of production,sorting, handling, processing, packaging and transport, as wellas the results of laboratory analysis of the consignment for levels
of aflatoxin B1 and total aflatoxin.
(8)From the findings of the abovementioned mission, it can be
concluded that the Chinese authorities cannot ensure currentlydependable analytical results or guarantee lot integrity in respect2002D0079 — EN — 21.03.2002 — 001.001 — 2
(1) OJ L 175, 19.7.1993, p. 1.
(2) OJ L 31, 1.2.1997, p. 48.
(3) OJ L 184, 17.7.1999, p. 17.
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of certification. Therefore, the reliability of any certificate issued
for peanuts originating from China raises serious doubts withregard to its reliability.
(9)It is therefore necessary in order to safeguard public health thatall lots of peanuts originating in or consigned from China,
imported in the European Community, are subjected to sampling
and analysis for their aflatoxin level by the competent authorityof the importing Member State prior to release onto the market.Given that this measure has a serious impact on the controlresources of the Member States, the results of this measure will
be evaluated after a short period of time and the measures
amended if appropriate.
(10)The Standing Committee for Foodstuffs has been consulted on 2April 2001 and on 19 July 2001,
HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:
Article 1
1. Member States may not import products falling in any of the
following categories originating in or consigned from China, which
are intended for human consumption or to be used as an ingredient infoodstuffs, unless the consignment is accompanied by the results ofofficial sampling and analysis, and by the health certificate in Annex Icompleted, signed and verified by a representative of the State Admin-
istration for Entry-Exit inspection and Quarantine of the People's
Republic of China:
— peanuts falling within CN code 1202 1090 or 1202 20 00,
— peanuts falling within CN code 2008 11 94 (in immediate packs of
a net content exceeding 1 kg) or 200811 98 (in immediate packs of
a net content not exceeding 1 kg),
— roasted peanuts falling within CN codes 2008 11 92 (in immediate
packs of a net content exceeding 1 kg) or 200811 96 (in immediatepacks of a net content not exceeding 1 kg).
2. Consignments may only be imported into the Community through
one of the points of entry listed in Annex II.
3. Each consignment shall be identified with a code, which corre-
sponds to the code on the health certificate and on the accompanyingreport containing the result of the official sampling and analysis
referred to in paragraph1.
4. The Competent Authorities in each Member State shall ensure
that imported peanuts originating in or consigned from China aresubject to documentary checks to ensure that the requirement for thehealth certificate and sampling results referred to in paragraph 1 are
complied with.
5. Member States shall undertake sampling and analysis of each
consignment of peanuts originating in or consigned from China foraflatoxin B1 and total aflatoxin before release onto the market fromthe port of entry into the Community, and shall inform the Commission
of the results.
Article 1a
By derogation from Article 1(1), the Member States shall authorise the
imports of consignments not accompanied by the results of officialsampling and analysis or by a health certificate, which left Chinabefore 11 March 2002, when it can be demonstrated by the operatorby sampling and analysis, according to the provisions of CommissionDirective 98/53/EC(
1), that these consignments comply with the provi-2002D0079 — EN — 21.03.2002 — 001.001 — 3
(1) OJ L 201, 17.7.1998, p. 93.▼M1
▼M1
sions of Commission Regulation (EC) No 194/97 as regards maximum
permitted levels for aflatoxin B1 and total aflatoxin.
Article 2
This Decision shall be reviewed before 1 May 2002 at the latest, in
order to assess whether the special conditions referred to in Article 1
provide a sufficient level of protection of public health within theCommunity. The review shall also assess whether there is a continuingneed for the sampling and analysis of each consignment by the compe-tent authority of the importing Member State.
Article 3
Member States shall take the measures necessary to comply with this
Decision. They shall inform the Commission thereof.
Article 4
This Decision is addressed to the Member States.2002D0079 — EN — 21.03.2002 — 001.001 — 4
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ANNEX I
2002D0079 — EN — 21.03.2002 — 001.001 — 5
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ANNEX II
Listofpointsofentrythroughwhichpeanutsandproductsderivedfrompeanutsoriginatingin
orconsignedfromChinamaybeimportedintotheCommunity
Member State Point of Entry
Belgique-België Antwerpen, Zeebrugge, Brussel/Bruxelles
Danmark All Danishh arbours and airports and all border stations
Deutschland HZA Lörrach — ZA Weil am Rhein-Autobahn, HZA Stuttgart — ZA
Flughafen, HZA München-Flughafen, HZA Hof — ZA Schirnding, HZA
Weiden — ZA Furthim Wald-Sch afberg, HZA Weiden — ZA Waid-
haus-Autobahn, Bezirksamt Reinickendorf von Berlin, Abteilung
Finanzen, Wirtschaft und Kultur, Veterinär- und Lebensmittelaufsichtsamt,
Grenzkontrollstelle, HZA Frankfurt (Oder) — ZA Autobahn, HZA Cottbus
— ZA Forst-Autobahn, HZA Bremen — ZA Neustädter Hafen, HZA
Bremerhafen — ZA Container Terminal, HZA Bremerhaven — ZA Roter-
sand, HZA Hamburg-Freihafen — Abfertigungsstelle, HZA Hamburg-
Freihafen — ZA Ericus-Abfertigungsstelle Südbahnhof, HZA Hamburg-
Freihafen — ZA Köhlfleetdamm, HZA Hamburg-ST Annen — ZA Altona,
HZA Hamburg-Waltershof — Abfertigungsstelle, HZA Hamburg-Walter-
shof — ZA Flughafen, HZA Frankfurt-am-Main-Flughafen, HZA
Braunschweig — Abfertigungsstelle, HZA Hannover — Abfertigungs-
stelle, HZA Lüneburg — ZA Stade, Stadtverwaltung Dresden,
Lebensmittelüberwachungs- und Veterinäramt, Grenzkontrollstelle
Dresden-Friedrichstadt (für Bahntransport), Landratsamt Weisseritzkreis,
Lebensmittelsüberwachungs- und Veterinäramt, Grenzkontrollstelle (für
Straßentransport), Landratsamt Niederschlesischer Oberlausitzkreis,
Lebensmittelüberwachungs- und Veterinäramt, Grenzkontrollstelle
Ludwigsdorf (für Straßentransport), HZA Itzehoe — ZA Pinneberg, HZA
Trier — ZA Idar-Oberstein, HZA Oldenburg — ZA Wilhelmshaven
Ελλάδα Athina, Pireas, Elefsis, Aerodromio ton Athinon, Thessaloniki, Volos,
Patra, Iraklion tis Kritis, Aerodromio tis Kritis, Euzoni, Idomeni, Ormenio,
Kipi, Kakavia, Niki, Promahonas, Pithio, Igoumenitsa, Kristalopigi
España Algeciras (Puerto), Alicante (Aeropuerto, Puerto), Almería (Aeropuerto,
Puerto), Asturias (Aeropuerto), Barcelona (Aeropuerto, Puerto, Ferro-
carril), Bilbao (Aeropuerto, Puerto), Cádiz (Puerto), Cartagena (Puerto),
Castellón (Puerto), Ceuta (Puerto) Gijon (Aeropuerto, Puerto), Huelva
(Puerto), Irún (Carretera), La Coruña (Puerto), La Junquera (Carretera),
Las Palmas de Gran Canaria (Aeropuerto, Puerto), Madrid (Aeropuerto,
Ferrocarril), Málaga (Aeropuerto, Puerto), Marin (Puerto), Melilla (Puerto),
Murcia (Ferrocarril), Palma de Mallorca (Aeropuerto, Puerto), Pasajes
(Puerto, Aeropuerto), San Sebastián (Aeropuerto), Santa Cruz de Tenerife
(Puerto), Santander (Aeropuerto, Puerto), Santiago de Compostela (Aero-
puerto), Sevilla (Aeropuerto, Puerto), Tarragona (Puerto), Tenerife Norte
(Aeropuerto), Tenerife Sur (Aeropuerto), Valencia (Aeropuerto, Puerto),
Vigo (Aeropuerto, Puerto), Villagarcía (Puerto), Vitoria (Aeropuerto),
Zaragoza (Aeropuerto)
France Marseille (Bouches-du-Rhône), Le Havre (Seine-Maritime), Rungis MIN
(Val-de-Marne), Lyon Chassieu CRD (Rhône), Strasbourg CRD (Bas-
Rhin), Lille CRD (Nord), Saint-Nazaire Montoir CRD (Loire), Agen
(Lot-et-Garonne)
Ireland Alle harbours, airports and border stations2002D0079 — EN — 21.03.2002 — 001.001 — 6
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Member State Point of Entry
Italia Ufficio di Sanità marittima ed aerea di Ancona
Ufficio di Sanità marittima ed aerea di BariUfficio di Sanità marittima ed aerea di Genova
Ufficio di Sanità marittima di Livorno
Ufficio di Sanità marittima ed aerea di NapoliUfficio di Sanità marittima di Ravenna
Ufficio di Sanità marittima di Salerno
Ufficio di Sanità marittima ed aerea di TriesteDogana di Fernetti-Interporto Monrupino (Trieste)Ufficio di Sanità marittima di La Spezia
Ufficio di Sanità marittima e aerea di Venezia
Ufficio di Sanità marittima e aerea di Reggio Calabria
Luxembourg Centre douanier, Croix de Gasperich, LuxembourgNederland All harbours and airports and all border stations
ÖsterreichHZA Graz, Nickelsdorf, Spielfeld, HZA Wien, ZA Wels
Portugal Lisboa, LeixõesSuomi-Finland All Finnishcustoms officesSverige Göteborg, Ystad, Stockholm
United Kingdom Belfast, Channel Tunnel Terminal, Dover, Felixstowe, Gatwick Airport,
Goole, Grangemouth, Harwich, Heathrow Airport, Heysham, Hull,
Immingham, Ipswich, King's Lynn, Leith, Liverpool, London (including
Tilbury, Thamesport and Sheerness), Manchester Airport, Manchester
Container Port, Manchester (including Ellesmere Port), Medway, Middles-
borough, Newhaven, Poole, Shoreham, Southampton, Stansted Airport2002D0079 — EN — 21.03.2002 — 001.001 — 7