EN Official Journal of the European Union 30.4.2004 
 
 L 151/70
COMMISSION DECISION 
of 29 April 2004 
amending Commission Decision 2000/609/EC as regards the animal health conditions and 
veterinary certification for farmed ratite meat  transiting or being temporarily stored in 
the Community 
(notified under document number C(2004) 1580) 
 
(Text with EEA relevance) 
 
(2004/415/EC) 
THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES, 
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, Having regard to Council Directive 2002/99/E C of 16 December 2002 laying down the animal 
health rules governing the produc tion, processing, distribution and introduction of products of 
animal origin for human consumption
1, in particular Article 8 (5), third indent, and Article 9 (2) 
(b) and (4) (c), 
Whereas: (1) Council Directive 92/118/EEC lays down anim al health and public health requirements 
governing trade in and imports into the Commu nity of products not subject to the said 
requirements laid down in specific Communi ty rules referred to in Annex A (1) to 
Directive 89/662/EEC and, as regard s pathogens, to Directive 90/425/EEC
2. 
(2) Council Directive 91/494/EEC lays down animal health condit ions governing intra-
Community trade in and imports from third countries of fresh poultry meat3. 
(3) Commission Decision 2000/609/EC lays down animal health condit ions and veterinary 
certificates for the importation of farmed ratite meat from third countries4. 
                                                 
1 OJ L 18, 23.1.2002, p. 11. 
2 OJ L 62, 15.3.1993, p. 49. Directive as last amended by Decision 2003/721/EC (OJ L 260, 11.10.2003, 
p. 21.). 
3 OJ L 268, 24.9.1991, p. 35. Directive as last amen ded by Directive 1999/89/EC (OJ L 300, 23.11.1999, p. 
17.). 
4 OJ L 258, 12.10.2000, p. 9. Decision as last am ended by Commission Decision 2004/118/EC (OJ L 36, 
7.2.2004, p. 34.). 
30.4.2004 EN Official Journal of the European Union 
 
 L 151/ 71
(4) Council Directive 97/78/EC lays down the principles go verning the organisation of 
veterinary checks on products entering  the Community from third countries5 and certain 
provisions for transit are already provided for in Article 11 such as the use of ANIMO 
messages and of the common veterinary entry document.  
(5) However, it is necessary in order to safe guard the disease situation in the Community to 
further ensure that consignments of ratite  meat transiting through the Community, 
comply with the animal health import condit ions applicable for authorised countries in 
regard to the relevant species concerned. 
(6) Council Decision 79/542/EEC drawing up a list of third countries or parts of third 
countries, and laying down animal and pu blic health, and veterinary certification 
conditions for the importation into the Community of certain live animals and their fresh meat
6, has recently been amended to include transit conditions and a derogation for 
transit between Russia with a reference to the specific border inspection posts designated 
for this latter purpose. 
(7) In the light of experience, it  appears that the presentation to the border inspection post, 
pursuant to Article 7 of Directive 97/78/ EC, of the original veterinary documents 
established in the exporting third country to fu lfil the regulatory requirement of the third 
country of destination, is not sufficient to ensure that the animal  health conditions 
required for the safe introduction into the territory of the Community of the products 
concerned are effectively satisfied; it is ther efore appropriate to establish a specific model 
of animal health certificate to be used in transit situations for the products concerned. 
(8) It is further appropriate to clarify the implem entation of the conditio n laid down in Article 
11 of Directive 97/78/EC, that transit is only  allowed from third countries whose products 
are not prohibited for introduction in th e territory of the Community, by making 
reference to the list of third countries annexed to Decision 2000/609/EC. 
(9) However specific conditions for transits vi a the Community of consignments to and from 
Russia should be foreseen due to the geographical situation of Kaliningrad and taking into account climatic problems impeding the use of  some ports at certain times of the year. 
(10) Commission Decision 2001/881/EC draws up a list of border inspection posts agreed for 
veterinary checks on animals and an imal products from third countries
7 and it is 
appropriate to specify the border inspection  posts designated for the control of such 
transits taking into account this Decision. 
(11) Commission Decision 2000/609/EC should be amended accordingly. 
                                                 
5 OJ L 24, 30.1.1998, p. 9. Directive as last amended by  the Act concerning the conditions of Accession (OJ L 
236, 23.9.2003, p. 381.). 
6 OJ L 146, 14.6.1979, p. 15. Decision as last amended by Commission Decision 2004/212/EC (OJ L 73, 
11.3.2004, p. 11.). 
7 OJ L 326, 11.12.2001, p. 44. Decision as last amended by Commission Decision 2003/831/EC (OJ L 313, 
28.11.2003, p. 61.). 
 EN Official Journal of the European Union 30.4.2004 
 
 L 151/72
(12) The measures provided for in this Decisi on are in accordance with the opinion of the 
Standing Committee on the Food  Chain and Animal Health. 
HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION: 
Article 1 
Commission Decision 2000/609/EC is amended as follows: 
1. The following Article 1a  is inserted: 
“Article 1a 
Member States shall ensure that consignm ents of farmed ratite meat for human 
consumption introduced into the territory of the Community and which are destined for 
a third country either by transit immediately or  after storage in accordance with Articles 
12 (4) or 13 of Directive 97/78/EC, and not in tended for importation into the EC shall 
comply with the following requirements: 
(a) they shall come from the territory of a third country or a part thereof listed in 
Annex I to this Decision for the import of fresh meat of that species. 
(b) they shall meet the specific animal heal th conditions for the species concerned set 
out in the animal health attestation part in  the model certificate, part 2 model A or 
B of health attestation drawn up under Annex II. 
(c) they shall be accompanied by an an imal health certificate established in 
accordance with the model laid down in Annex III, signed by an official 
veterinarian of the competent veterinary services of the third country concerned. 
(d) they are certified as acceptable for transit or storage (as appropriate) on the 
Common Veterinary Entry Document by the Official Veterinarian of the Border 
Inspection Post of introduction.” 
2. The following Article 1b is inserted: 
“Article 1b 
1. By way of derogation from Article 1a, Me mber States shall authorise the transit by 
road or by  rail through the Community, between designated Community border inspection posts listed in Annex to Decision 2001/881/EC, of consignments 
coming from and destined to Russia directly or via another third country provided that the following conditions are met: 
(a) the consignment shall be sealed with a serially numbered seal at the border 
inspection post of entry to the EC by the veterinary services of the 
competent authority; 
30.4.2004 EN Official Journal of the European Union 
 
 L 151/ 73
(b) the documents accompanying the consignment and referred to in Article 7 
of Directive 97/78/EC shall be stamped “ONLY FOR TRANSIT TO RUSSIA VIA THE EC” on each page by the offi cial veterinarian of the competent 
authority responsible for the BIP; 
(c) the procedural requirements provided for in Article 11 of Directive 
97/78/EC shall be complied with; 
(d) the consignment is certified as acceptable for transit on the Common 
Veterinary Entry Document by the O fficial Veterinarian of the Border 
Inspection Post of introduction. 
2. unloading or storage, as defined in Article12 (4) or Article 13 of Directive 
97/78/EC, on EC territory of such consignments shall not be allowed. 
3. regular audits shall be made by the comp etent authority to ensu re that the number 
of consignments and the quantities of pr oducts leaving the EC territory matches 
the number and quantities entering.” 
3. A new Annex III is added in accordance with the Annex to this Decision. 
Article 2 
This Decision shall apply from 1 May 2004. 
Article 1 point 1 and the Annex shal l only apply from 1 January 2005. 
Article 3 
This Decision is addressed to the Member States. 
Done at Brussels, 29 April 2004. 
 For the Commission 
 David BYRNE 
 Member of the Commission 
 
___________ 
 EN Official Journal of the European Union 30.4.2004 
 
 L 151/74
ANNEX 
“ANNEX III 
(Transit and/or storage) 
Model TRANSIT/STORAGE 
1. Consignor  (name and address in full)  
 …….…………………………………………………….  …….……………………………………………………. VETERINARY CERTIFICATE 
for fresh ratite meat
(1), for [transit][storage](2) (7)   in the 
European Community 
 …….…………………………………………………….  No(3)     ORIGINAL 
 …….……………………………………………………. 3. Origin of the meat (4)  
2. Consignee  (name and address in full) 3.1 ISO code and name of Country:……………………… 
 …….……………………………………………………. 3.2 Territory(10): ……………………………………… 
 …….……………………………………………………. 4. Competent Authority  
 …….……………………………………………………. 4.1 Ministry:………………………………………………… 
 …….……………………………………………………. 4.2 Service:………………………………………………….. 
5. Intended [transit]/[storage](7) destination of the meat   …….……………………………………………………. 
5.1 Storage in EU Member  4.3 Local/Regional level:…………………………………… 
 State:………………………………………. 
 Name and address of the establishment(5) (10)  …….……………………………………………………. 
 :………………………………………  …….……………………………………………………. 
 …….……………………………………………………. 6. Place of loading for exportation  
5.2    Final third country dest ination after [transit]/[storage] (10): 
….…………………………………………………….  …….……………………………………………………. 
 Exit Community BIP name and address(10): 
…….…………………………………………………….  …….……………………………………………………. 
7. Means of transport and consignment identification(6) 7.3 Consignment identification details(8): 
7.1  [Lorry]/[Rail-wagon]/[Ship]/[Aircraft](7)  …….……………………………………………………. 
7.2 Registration number(s), ship name or flight number :…..  …….……………………………………………………. 
 …….…………………………………………………….  …….……………………………………………………. 
 …….…………………………………………………….  …….……………………………………………………. 
8. Identification of the meat  
8.1 Meat from: ……..……………………………………………………………………….…………………. (animal species) . 
8.2 Individual identification of the me at included in this consignment : 
  Nature  Number of the establishment(s)   Number of Net                   of cuts
(8)                   |   Slaughterhouse | Cutting/Manu facturing |   Cold store   |    packages/pieces  | weight(kg) .  
                                                   |                             |                                       |                       |                               |                   .  
                                                   |                             |                                       |                       |                               |                   .  
                                                   |                             |                                       |                       |                               |                   .  
                                                   |                             |                                       |                       |                               |                   .  
                                                   |                             |                                       |                       |                               |                   .  
                                                   |                             |                                       |                       |                               |                   .  
                                                   |                             |                                       |                       |                               |                   .  
                                                   |                             |                                       |                       |                               |                   .  
                                                   |                             |                                       |                       |                               |                   .  
                                                   |                             |                                       |                       |                               |                   .  
                                                                                                                                   Total     |                               |                   .  
 
30.4.2004 EN Official Journal of the European Union 
 
 L 151/ 75
9. Animal Health attestation  
 I, the undersigned official veteri narian, hereby certify, that the fr esh ratite meat described above :  
9.1 comes from a country or region authoriz ed for imports into the EC as laid down in Annex I to 2000/609/EC at the time of 
slaughter and 
9.2 complies with the relevant animal health conditions as laid  down in the animal health a ttestation in the model certificate part [A] 
(7) or [B] (7) in Annex II  part 2 to 2000/609/EC and 
9.3 is derived from animals which were slaughtered and pr ocessed on or between  ……. (9). 
Official stamp and signature 
Done at ……………………………………………….. on ................................................................................................ .................  
(signature of official veterinarian) (11) 
(stamp) (11) 
(name in capital letters, qualifications and title)  
Notes  
(1) Meat means any parts of ratites which are fit for human cons umption and which have not unde rgone any treatment other than 
cold treatment to ensure its preservation : vacuum-wrapped meat or meat wrapped in  a controlled atmosphere must also be 
accompanied by a certificate according to this model. 
(2) In accordance with Article 12 (4) or  Article 13 of Council Directive 97/78/EC. 
(3) Issued by the competent authority. 
(4) Country and description of territory as appearing the A nnex I to Commission Decision  2000/609/EC (as last amended). 
(5) Address (and approval number if known) of the warehouse in a free zone, free warehouse, customs warehouse or ship chandler 
shall be included. 
(6) The registration number(s) of rail-wagon or lorry and the name of the ship should be given as appropriate. If known, the fl ight 
number of the aircraft. 
In case of transport in containers or boxes, the total number, th eir registration and seal numbers,  if present, should be indic ated 
under point 7.3. 
(7) Keep as appropriate. 
(8) Complete if appropriate. 
(9) Date or dates of slaughter. Imports of this meat shall not be allowed when obtain ed from ratites slaughtered either prior t o the 
date of authorisation for exportation to the European Community of the territory mentioned under (4), or during a period where 
restrictive measures have been adopted by the European Co mmunity against imports of this  meat from this territory. 
(10) Complete as appropriate. 
(11) The colour of the signature shall be different to that of the printing. The same rule applies to stamps other than those e mbossed 
or watermark. 
“