Commission Decision

of 12 May 2003

on transitional measures under Regulation (EC) No 1774/2002 of the European Parliament and of the Council as regards the separation of category 1, 2 and 3 processing plants

(notified under document number C(2003) 1498)

(Only the French, Finnish and Swedish texts are authentic)

(Text with EEA relevance)

(2003/325/EC)

THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,

Having regard to Regulation (EC) No 1774/2002 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 3 October 2002 laying down health rules concerning animal by-products not intended for human consumption(1), and in particular Article 32(1) thereof,

Whereas:

(1) Regulation (EC) No 1774/2002 provides for a complete revision of Community rules concerning animal by-products not intended for human consumption, including the introduction of a number of strict requirements. In addition, it provides that appropriate transitional measures may be adopted.

(2) In view of the strict nature of those requirements, it is necessary to provide for transitional measures for France and Finland in order to allow industry sufficient time to adjust. In addition, alternative collection, transport, storage, handling, processing and uses for animal by-products need to be further developed as well as disposal methods for those by-products.

(3) Accordingly, as a temporary measure a derogation should be granted to France and Finland to enable them to authorise operators to continue to apply national rules to the separation of category 1, 2 and 3 processing plants.

(4) In order to prevent a risk to animal and public health, appropriate control systems should be maintained in France and Finland for the period of the transitional measures.

(5) 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

Derogation regarding the complete separation of category 1, 2 and 3 processing plants

Pursuant to Article 32(1) of Regulation (EC) No 1774/2002 and by way of derogation from paragraph 1 of Chapter I of Annex VI or paragraph 1 of Chapter I of Annex VII to that Regulation, France and Finland may continue to grant individual approvals until 30 April 2004 in the case of France and until 31 October 2005 in the case of Finland at the latest to operators of premises and facilities in conformity with national rules, to apply such rules for the complete separation of category 1, 2 and 3 processing plants, provided that the national rules:

(a) ensure prevention of cross-contamination between the categories of materials;

(b) are only applied in premises and facilities that applied those rules on 1 November 2002;

(c) comply with the rest of the specific requirements set out in paragraphs 2 to 9 of Chapter I of Annex VI and in paragraphs 2 to 10 of Chapter I of Annex VII to Regulation (EC) No 1774/2002.

Article 2

Control measures

The competent authority shall take the necessary measures to control compliance by authorised operators of premises and facilities with the conditions set out in Article 1.

Article 3

Withdrawal of approvals and disposal of material not complying with this Decision

1. Individual approvals by the competent authority for the complete separation of category 1, 2 and 3 processing plants shall be immediately and permanently withdrawn in respect of any operator, premises or facilities if the conditions set out in this Decision are no longer fulfilled.

2. The competent authority shall withdraw any approvals granted under Article 1 at the latest by 30 April 2004 in the case of France, and 31 October 2005 in the case of Finland.

The competent authority shall not grant a final approval under Regulation (EC) No 1774/2002 unless on the basis of its inspections it is satisfied that the premises and facilities referred to in Article 1 meet all the requirements of that Regulation.

3. Any material that does not comply with the requirements of this Decision shall be disposed of in accordance with the instructions of the competent authority.

Article 4

Compliance with this Decision by the concerned Member States

France and Finland shall immediately take the necessary measures to comply with this Decision and shall publish those measures. They shall immediately inform the Commission thereof.

Article 5

Applicability

1. This Decision shall apply from 1 May 2003 to 30 April 2004 in the case of France.

2. This Decision shall apply from 1 May 2003 to 31 October 2005 in the case of Finland.

Article 6

Addressees

This Decision is addressed to the French Republic and the Republic of Finland.

Done at Brussels, 12 May 2003.

For the Commission

David Byrne

Member of the Commission

(1) OJ L 273, 10.10.2002, p. 1.