Corrigendum to Commission Decision 2004/463/EC of 29 April 2004 amending the Appendix to Annex XIV to the 2003 Act of Accession to include certain establishments in the meat sector in Slovakia in the list of establishments in transition

( Official Journal of the European Union L 156 of 30 April 2004 )

Decision 2004/463/EC should read as follows:

COMMISSION DECISION

of 29 April 2004

amending the Appendix to Annex XIV to the 2003 Act of Accession to include certain establishments in the meat sector in Slovakia in the list of establishments in transition

(notified under document number C(2004) 1730)

(Text with EEA relevance)

(2004/463/EC)

THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,

Having regard to the Treaty of Accession of the Czech Republic, Estonia, Cyprus, Latvia, Lithuania, Hungary, Malta, Poland, Slovenia and Slovakia (1), and in particular Article 2(3) thereof,

Having regard to the Act of Accession of the Czech Republic, Estonia, Cyprus, Latvia, Lithuania, Hungary, Malta, Poland, Slovenia and Slovakia (2), and in particular Annex XIV, Chapter 5, Section B, paragraph (d) thereto,

Whereas:

(1) Annex XIV, Chapter 5, Section B, paragraph (a) to the 2003 Act of Accession provides that the structural requirements laid down in Annex I to Council Directive 64/433/EEC of 26 June 1964 on health conditions for the production and marketing of fresh meat (3) and in Annexes A and B to Council Directive 77/99/EEC of 21 December 1976 on health problems affecting the production and marketing of meat products and certain other products of animal origin (4) are not to apply to establishments in Slovakia listed in the Appendix to Annex XIV to the Act of Accession until 31 December 2006, subject to certain conditions.

(2) In Slovakia, nine more high-capacity meat establishments have difficulties in complying with the structural requirements laid down in Annex I to Directive 64/433/EEC and in Annexes A and B to Directive 77/99/EEC by 1 May 2004.

(3) Accordingly those nine establishments need time to finalise their upgrading process in order to be in full compliance with the relevant structural requirements laid down in Directives 64/433/EEC and 77/99/EEC .

(4) The nine establishments, which are currently in an advanced state of upgrading, have given reliable guarantees that they have the necessary funds to correct their remaining shortcomings within a short time and have received a favourable opinion from the Slovak Food and Veterinary Service, as regards the finalisation of their upgrading process.

(5) For Slovakia, the detailed information regarding the shortcomings for each establishment is available.

(6) In order to facilitate the transition from the existing regime in Slovakia to that resulting from the application of the Community veterinary legislation, it is justified therefore upon the request of Slovakia, to grant the nine establishments a transitional period.

(7) Due to the advanced stage of upgrading of the nine establishments, the transitional period should be limited to a maximum of 12 months.

(8) The Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health has been informed of the measures provided for in this Decision,

HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:

Article 1

1. The establishments listed in the Annex to this Decision are added to the Appendix referred to in Chapter 5, Section B to Annex XIV of the 2003 Act of Accession.

2. For the establishments listed in the Annex to this Decision, the rules foreseen in Annex XIV, Chapter 5, Section B, paragraph (b) of the Act of Accession are applicable

Article 2

This Decision shall apply subject to and as from the date of the entry into force of the Treaty of Accession of the Czech Republic, Estonia, Cyprus, Latvia, Lithuania, Hungary, Malta, Poland, Slovenia and Slovakia.

Article 3

This Decision is addressed to the Member States.