Commission Regulation (EC) No 2379/2002

of 30 December 2002

approving operations to check compliance with the marketing standards applicable to fresh fruit and vegetables carried out in Slovakia prior to import into the European Community

THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,

Having regard to Council Regulation (EC) No 2200/96 of 28 October 1996 on the common organisation of the market in fruit and vegetables(1), as last amended by Commission Regulation (EC) No 545/2002(2), and in particular Article 10 thereof,

Whereas:

(1) Article 7 of Commission Regulation (EC) No 1148/2001 of 12 June 2001 on checks on conformity to the marketing standards applicable to fresh fruit and vegetables(3), as amended by Regulation (EC) No 2379/2001(4), lays down the conditions under which approval will be given - to those third countries that request it - for the compliance checks they perform prior to import into the Community.

(2) On 10 October 2002, the Slovak authorities sent the Commission a request for the approval of checking operations performed by Slovakia's national, regional and local veterinary and food administrations (SVPS, KVPS and RVPS) under the responsibility of the National Administration (SVPS). The request states that that establishment has the necessary staff, equipment and facilities to carry out checks, that it uses methods equivalent to those referred to in Article 9 of Regulation (EC) No 1148/2001 and that the fresh fruit and vegetables exported from Slovakia to the Community must meet the Community marketing standards.

(3) The information supplied to the Commission by the Member States shows that imports of fresh fruit and vegetables from Slovakia between 1997 and 2002 had levels of non-compliance with the marketing standards that were above the average level for other third countries. However, in a more recent period (1999 to 2002), non-compliance has dropped to levels comparable with those in third countries that have already received approval and, moreover, the legislation in force since 1 October 2002 has made checks on exports obligatory. During an on-the-spot visit in June 2002, information was obtained guaranteeing that this rate of non-compliance would improve with the change in legislation.

(4) Representatives of the Slovak inspection services are regular participants in international efforts to agree trading standards for fruit and vegetables in the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe's (UNECE) Working Party on Standardisation of Perishable Produce and Quality Development. Slovakia is also taking part in the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development's (OECD) Scheme for the Application of International Standards for Fruit and Vegetables. Lastly, the Slovak inspection services have for many years taken part in various conferences and training activities organised by several Member States.

(5) The compliance checks performed by Slovakia should therefore be approved with effect from the date on which the procedure for administrative cooperation provided for in Article 7(8) of Regulation (EC) No 1148/2001 is established.

(6) The measures provided for in this Regulation are in accordance with the opinion of the Management Committee for Fresh Fruit and Vegetables,

HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION:

Article 1

The checks on compliance with the marketing standards for fresh fruit and vegetables performed by Slovakia prior to import into the Community are hereby approved in accordance with the terms set out in Article 7 of Regulation (EC) No 1148/2001.

Article 2

Details of the official correspondent and inspection bodies in Slovakia referred to in the second subparagraph of Article 7(2) of Regulation (EC) No 1148/2001 are given in Annex I to this Regulation.

Article 3

1. The certificates referred to in the second subparagraph of Article 7(3) of Regulation (EC) No 1148/2001, issued following the checks referred to in Article 1 of this Regulation, must be issued on forms drawn up in accordance with the model given in Annex II to this Regulation.

2. Notwithstanding the sixth subparagraph of Article 7(3) of Regulation (EC) No 1148/2001, box 3 of the form referred to in subparagraph 1 of this Article may be printed partially in Slovak.

Article 4

This Regulation shall enter into force on the 20th day following its publication in the Official Journal of the European Communities.

It shall apply from the date the notice referred to in Article 7(8) of Regulation (EC) No 1148/2001 relating to the establishment of administrative cooperation between the Community and Slovakia is published in the C series of the Official Journal of the European Communities.

This Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States.

Done at Brussels, 30 December 2002.

For the Commission

Franz Fischler

Member of the Commission

(1) OJ L 297, 21.11.1996, p. 1.

(2) OJ L 84, 28.3.2002, p. 1.

(3) OJ L 156, 13.6.2001, p. 9.

(4) OJ L 321, 6.12.2001, p. 15.

ANNEX I

Official correspondent within the meaning of Article 7(2) of Regulation (EC) No 1148/2001

National Veterinary and Food Administration of the Slovak Republic (Státna Veterinárna a Potravinová Správa SR) Directorate of Food Safety and Hygiene

Specialised Crops Unit

Botanicka 17 842 13 Bratislava Slovakia Tel. (421-2) 60 25 74 12 or 419 Fax: (421-2) 60 25 74 50 E-mail: fvcontrol@svssr.sk

Inspection bodies within the meaning of Article 7(2) of Regulation (EC) No 1148/2001

National Veterinary and Food Administration of the Slovak Republic (Státna Veterinárna a Potravinová Správa SR) Directorate of Food Safety and Hygiene

Specialised Crops Unit

Botanicka 17 842 13 Bratislava Slovakia Tel. (421-2) 60 25 74 12 or 419 Fax: (421-2) 60 25 74 50 E-mail: fvcontrolkvsba@svssr.sk

Bratislava Regional Veterinary and Food Administration (Krajská Veterinárna a Potravinová Správa Bratislava) Botanicka 17 842 13 Bratislava Slovakia Tel. (421-2) 65 42 34 87 Fax (421-2) 65 42 34 87 E-mail: kvsbakvsba@svssr.sk

Trnava Regional Veterinary and Food Administration (Krajská Veterinárna a Potravinová Správa Trnava) Zavarska 11 918 21 Trnava Slovakia Tel. (421-33) 550 16 18 Fax (421-33) 550 35 41 E-mail: kvsttkvsba@svssr.sk

Nitra Regional Veterinary and Food Administration (Krajská Veterinárna a Potravinová Správa Nitra) Akademicka 1 949 80 Nitra Slovakia Tel. (421-37) 652 54 73 Fax (421-37) 653 16 57 E-mail: kvsnrkvsba@svssr.sk

Trencin Regional Veterinary and Food Administration (Krajská Veterinárna a Potravinová Správa Trencin) Sudna 22 Trencin Slovakia Tel. (421-32) 652 21 22 Fax (421-32) 652 12 66 E-mail: kvstnkvsba@svssr.sk

Banská Bystrica Regional Veterinary and Food Administration (Krajská Veterinárna a Potravinová Správa Banská Bystrica) Rudlovska 6 975 90 Banská Bystrica Slovakia Tel. (421-48) 415 41 27 Fax (421-48) 412 56 01 E-mail: kvsbbkvsba@svssr.sk

Zilina Regional Veterinary and Food Administration (Krajská Veterinárna a Potravinová Správa Zilina) Jedlova 44 010 04 Zilina Slovakia Tel. (421-41) 763 12 28 Fax: (421-41) 763 12 27 E-mail: kvszakvsba@svssr.sk

Kosice Regional Veterinary and Food Administration (Krajská Veterinárna a Potravinová Správa Kosice) Masarykova 18 040 02 Kosice Slovakia Tel. (421-55) 625 20 47 Fax (421-55) 625 20 46 E-mail: kvskekvsba@svssr.sk

Presov Regional Veterinary and Food Administration (Krajská Veterinárna a Potravinová Správa Presov) Levocska 112 080 01 Presov Slovakia Tel. (421-51) 749 13 21 Fax (421-51) 771 98 87 E-mail: kvspvkvsba@svssr.sk

Bratislava-Mesto Local Veterinary and Food Administration (RVPS Bratislava-Mesto) Polianky 8 841 01 Bratislava Slovakia Tel. (421-2) 64 46 12 09 E-mail: rvsbaokvsba@svssr.sk

Senec Local Veterinary and Food Administration (RVPS Senec) Svätoplukova 50 903 01 Senec Slovakia Tel. (421-2) 45 92 62 13 E-mail: rvsscokvsba@svssr.sk

Dunajská Streda Local Veterinary and Food Administration (RVPS Dunajská Streda) Obchodná 789/3 909 01 Dunajská Streda Slovakia Tel. (421-31) 552 48 70 E-mail: rvsdsokvsba@svssr.sk

Galanta Local Veterinary and Food Administration (RVPS Galanta) Hodská 353/19 924 25 Galanta Slovakia Tel. (421-31) 780 71 09 E-mail: rvsgaokvsba@svssr.sk

Trnava Local Veterinary and Food Administration (RVPS Trnava) Zavarská 11 918 21 Trnava 1 Slovakia Tel. (421-33) 500 14 47 E-mail: rvsttokvsba@svssr.sk

Senica Local Veterinary and Food Administration (RVPS Senica) Cácovská 305 905 01 Senica nad Myjavou Slovakia Tel. (421-34) 651 28 81 E-mail: rvsseokvsba@svssr.sk

Komárno Local Veterinary and Food Administration (RVPS Komárno) Stúrova 5 945 01 Komárno Slovakia Tel. (421-35) 773 12 35 E-mail: rvsknokvsba@svssr.sk

Nové Zámky Local Veterinary and Food Administration (RVPS Nové Zámky) Komjatická 65 940 89 Nové Zámky Slovakia Tel. (421-35) 42 83 11 E-mail: rvsnzokvsba@svssr.sk

Levice Local Veterinary and Food Administration (RVPS Levice) M.R. Stefánika 24 924 03 Levice Slovakia Tel. (421-36) 631 23 52 E-mail: rvslvokvsba@svssr.sk

Nitra Local Veterinary and Food Administration (RVPS Nitra) Akademická 1 949 80 Nitra 1 Slovakia Tel. (421-37) 653 62 02 E-mail: rvsnrokvsba@svssr.sk

Topol'cany Local Veterinary and Food Administration (RVPS Topol'cany) ul. Dr. P. Adámiho 17 955 01 Topol'cany Slovakia Tel. (421-38) 532 60 68 E-mail: rvstookvsba@svssr.sk

Sal'a Local Veterinary and Food Administration (RVPS Sal'a) Skolská 5 927 00 Sal'a Slovakia Tel. (421-35) 42 83 11 E-mail: rvssaokvsba@svssr.sk

Nové Mesto/Váhom Local Veterinary and Food Administration (RVPS Nové Mesto/Váhom) Tajovského 235/7 915 01 Nové Mesto/Váhom Slovakia Tel. (421-32) 71 25 46 E-mail: rvsnmokvsba@svssr.sk

Trencin Local Veterinary and Food Administration (RVPS Trencin) Súdna 22 911 01 Trencin Slovakia Tel. (421-32) 652 20 45 E-mail: rvstnokvsba@svssr.sk

Prievidza Local Veterinary and Food Administration (RVPS Prievidza) Mariánska 6 971 01 Prievidza Slovakia Tel. (421-46) 542 30 09 E-mail: rvspdokvsba@svssr.sk

Puchov Local Veterinary and Food Administration (RVPS Puchov) Moravská 1343/29 020 01 Puchov Slovakia Tel. (421-42) 464 13 15 E-mail: rvspuoekvsba@svssr.sk

Ziar nad Hronom Local Veterinary and Food Administration (RVPS Ziar nad Hronom) ul. SNP 612/120 965 01 Ziar Nad Hronom Slovakia Tel. (421-45) 673 27 37 E-mail: rvszhokvsba@svssr.sk

Zvolen Local Veterinary and Food Administration (RVPS Zvolen) Nám. SNP 50 960 01 Zvolen Slovakia Tel. (421-45) 53 30 39 E-mail: rvszvokvsba@svssr.sk

Vel'ký Krtis Local Veterinary and Food Administration (RVPS Vel'ký Krtis) Osloboditel'ov 33 990 01 Velk'ý Krtis Slovakia Tel. (421-47) 483 07 41 E-mail: rvsvkokvsba@svssr.sk

Lucenec Local Veterinary and Food Administration (RVPS Lucenec) Mierova 2 984 01 Lucenec Slovakia Tel. (421-47) 432 24 31 E-mail: rvslcokvsba@svssr.sk

Rimavská Sobota Local Veterinary and Food Administration (RVPS Rimavská Sobota) Kirijevská 22 979 01 Rimavská Sobota Slovakia Tel. (421-47) 563 14 10 E-mail: rvsrsokvsba@svssr.sk

Banská Bystrica Local Veterinary and Food Administration (RVPS Banská Bystrica) Rudlovská cesta 6 975 90 Banská Bystrica Slovakia Tel. (421-48) 412 56 02 E-mail: rvsbbokvsba@svssr.sk

Martin Local Veterinary and Food Administration (RVPS Martin) Záturcianska 1 036 80 Martin Slovakia Tel. (421-43) 422 14 81 E-mail: rvsmtokvsba@svssr.sk

Liptovský Mikulás Local Veterinary and Food Administration (RVPS Liptovský Mikulás) Kollárova 2 031 01 Liptovský Mikulás Slovakia Tel. (421-47) 432 24 31 E-mail: rvslmokvsba@svssr.sk

Zilina Local Veterinary and Food Administration (RVPS Zilina) Jedl'ová 44 010 04 zilina 4 Slovakia Tel. (421-41) 763 12 35 E-mail: rvszaokvsba@svssr.sk

Cadca Local Veterinary and Food Administration (RVPS Cadca) Horná 2483, post. pr 45 022 01 Cadca Slovakia Tel. (421-41) 432 22 77 E-mail: rvscaokvsba@svssr.sk

Dolný Kubín Local Veterinary and Food Administration (RVPS Dolný Kubín) Jánoskova 1611/58 026 01 Dolný Kubín Slovakia Tel. (421-43) 586 49 35 E-mail: rvsdkokvsba@svssr.sk

Roznava Local Veterinary and Food Administration (RVPS Roznava) Juzná 43 048 01 Roznava Slovakia Tel. (421-58) 732 31 82 E-mail: rvsrvokvsba@svssr.sk

Spisská Nová Ves Local Veterinary and Food Administration (RVPS Spisská Nová Ves) Duklianska 46 048 01 Spisská Nová Ves Slovakia Tel. (421-52) 417 51 24 E-mail: rvssnokvsba@svssr.sk

Kosice-Mesto Local Veterinary and Food Administration (RVPS Kosice-Mesto) Hlinkova 1/c 040 01 Kosice-Mesto Slovakia Tel. (421-55) 632 56 23 E-mail: rvskeokvsba@svssr.sk

Kosice-Okolie Local Veterinary and Food Administration (RVPS Kosice-Okolie) Kukuèínova 24 040 01 Kosice-Okolie Slovakia Tel. (421-55) 622 35 07 E-mail: rvsksokvsba@svssr.sk

Trebisov Local Veterinary and Food Administration (RVPS Trebisov) Bottova 2 075 01 Trebisov Slovakia Tel. (421-56) 672 27 48 E-mail: rvstvokvsba@svssr.sk

Michalovce Local Veterinary and Food Administration (RVPS Michalovce) Sama Chalúpku 2 207 01 Michalovce Slovakia Tel. (421-56) 642 50 34 E-mail: rvsmiokvsba@svssr.sk

Poprad Local Veterinary and Food Administration (RVPS Poprad) Partizánska 83 058 01 Poprad Slovakia Tel. (421-52) 72 30 85 E-mail: rvsppokvsba@svssr.sk

Stará L'ubovná Local Veterinary and Food Administration (RVPS Stará L'ubovná) Levocská 4/338 064 01 Stará L'ubovná Slovakia Tel. (421-52) 432 11 82 E-mail: rvsslokvsba@svssr.sk

Presov Local Veterinary and Food Administration (RVPS Presov) Levocská 112 080 01 Presov 1 Slovakia Tel. (421-51) 771 11 26 E-mail: rvspvokvsba@svssr.sk

Vranov nad Topl'ou Local Veterinary and Food Administration (RVPS Vranov nad Topl'ou) Kalinciakova 879 093 01 Vranov Nad Topl'ou Slovakia Tel. (421-57) 230 64 E-mail: rvsksokvsba@svssr.sk

Bardejov Local Veterinary and Food Administration (RVPS Bardejov) Stöcklova 34 085 01 Bardejov Slovakia Tel. (421-54) 472 21 15 E-mail: rvsbjokvsba@svssr.sk

Svidník Local Veterinary and Food Administration (RVPS Svidník) ul. MUDr. Pribulu 2 089 01 Svidník Slovakia Tel. (421-54) 752 29 87 E-mail: rvsskokvsba@svssr.sk

Humenné Local Veterinary and Food Administration (RVPS Humenné) Gastanová 3 080 01 Humenné Slovakia Tel. (421-57) 775 29 63 E-mail: rvsheo@svssr.sk

ANNEX II

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