COMMISSION IMPLEMENTING DECISION (EU) 2019/1767

of 23 October 2019

amending Annexes I and III to Decision 2010/472/EU as regards the inclusion of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland in the lists of third countries or parts thereof authorised for the introduction into the Union of semen, ova and embryos of animals of the ovine and caprine species

(notified under document C(2019) 7635)

(Text with EEA relevance)

THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION,

Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,

Having regard to Council Directive 92/65/EEC of 13 July 1992 laying down animal health requirements governing trade in and imports into the Community of animals, semen, ova and embryos not subject to animal health requirements laid down in specific Community rules referred to in Annex A(I) to Directive 90/425/EEC (1), and in particular Article 17(2)(b), Article 17(3), the first indent of Article 18(1), and the introductory phrase and point (b) of Article 19 thereof,

Whereas:

(1) On 29 March 2017, the United Kingdom submitted the notification of its intention to withdraw from the Union pursuant to Article 50 of the Treaty on European Union (TEU). On 11 April 2019, the European Council adopted Decision (EU) 2019/584 (2) extending the period under Article 50(3) TEU in agreement with the United Kingdom. In accordance with that Decision, the period provided for in Article 50(3) TEU has been further extended until 31 October 2019. Union law will therefore cease to apply to and in the United Kingdom from 1 November 2019 (‘the withdrawal date’).

(2) Commission Decision 2010/472/EU (3) sets out in its Annex I a list of third countries or parts thereof from which Member States are to authorise imports of consignments of semen of animals of the ovine and caprine species and in its Annex III a list of third countries or parts thereof from which Member States are to authorise imports of consignments of ova and embryos of animals of the ovine and caprine species.

(3) The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland has provided the necessary guarantees for that country to comply with the conditions laid down in Decision 2010/472/EU for the introduction into the Union of consignments of semen, ova and embryos of animals of the ovine and caprine species from the withdrawal date by continuing to comply with Union legislation for an initial period of at least nine months.

(4) Therefore, taking into account these specific guarantees provided by the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, and in order to avoid any unnecessary disruption to trade after the withdrawal date, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland should be included in the lists of third countries or parts thereof set out in Annexes I and III to Decision 2010/472/EU authorised for the introduction into the Union of consignments of semen, ova and embryos of animals of the ovine and caprine species.

(5) Annexes I and III to Decision 2010/472/EU should therefore be amended accordingly.

(6) This Decision should apply from 1 November 2019, unless Union law continues to apply to and in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland on that date.

(7) The measures provided for in this Decision are in accordance with the opinion of the Standing Committee on Plants, Animals, Food and Feed,

HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:

Article 1 Annexes I and III to Decision 2010/472/EU shall be amended in accordance with the Annex to this Decision.

Article 2 This Decision shall apply from 1 November 2019. However, it shall not apply if Union law continues to apply to and in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland on that date.

Article 3 This Decision is addressed to the Member States.

Done at Brussels, 23 October 2019. For the Commission Vytenis ANDRIUKAITIS Member of the Commission

(1) OJ L 268, 14.9.1992, p. 54.

(2) European Council Decision (EU) 2019/584 taken in agreement with the United Kingdom of 11 April 2019 extending the period under Article 50(3) TEU (OJ L 101, 11.4.2019, p. 1).

(3) Commission Decision 2010/472/EU of 26 August 2010 on imports of semen, ova and embryos of animals of the ovine and caprine species into the Union (OJ L 228, 31.8.2010, p. 74).