EN Official Journal of the European Union L 278/64

COMMISSION DECISION

of 26 July 2004

establishing the list of approved semen collection centres for imports of equine semen from third countries

(notified under document number C(2004) 2511)

(Text with EEA relevance)

(2004/616/EC)

THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,

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(3) thereof,

Whereas:

(1) Commission Decision 2000/284/EC of 31 March 2000 establishing the list of approved semen collection centres for imports of equine semen from third countries and amending Decisions 96/539/EC and 96/540/EC (2) has been amended several times.

(2) By adopting Decision 2004/211/EC of 6 January 2004 establishing the list of third countries and parts of territory thereof from which Member States authorise imports of live equidae and semen, ova and embryos of the equine species, and amending Decisions 93/195/EEC and 94/63/EC (3) the Commission has modified the legal base for the listing of third countries and their regionalisation for imports of both live equidae and their germinal products.

(3) Since Directive 2004/68/EC entered into force, the list of semen collection centres from which Member States authorise the importation of equine semen originating in third countries is amended in accordance with Article 17(3)(b), second to fourth subparagraphs, of Directive 92/65/EEC and is made available to the public on the Commission’s website.

(4) In addition, third countries notifying the Commisison of the approval of semen collection centres for exports of equine semen to the Community follow a new procedure and provide the information on the approval they carry out in a standardised format.

(5) The competent authorities of Canada and New Zealand officially informed the Commission of the approval in accordance with the provisions of Directive 92/65/EEC of, respectively, two and one additional equine semen collection centres.

(6) Furthermore, the competent authorities of the United States of America officially informed the Commission of the approval in accordance with the provisions of Directive 92/65/EEC of 12 additional equine semen collection centres, the withdrawal of the approval for the centres 02AZ001-EQS, 00TX003-EQS, 02TX018-EQS and 03TX001-EQS and of the modification of certain details of one approved centre.

(7) It is necessary to correct the ISO country code for Serbia and Montenegro and to adjust the place of this country in the list accordingly.

(8) It is necessary to take into account that the new Member States joined the Community on 1 May 2004.

(9) It is necessary to take account of relevant Community agreements with certain third countries.

(10) In the interest of clarity and rationality Decision 2000/284/EC should be repealed and replaced.

(11) 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

1. Member States shall authorise imports of semen of equidae collected in the centres included in the list in the Annex to this Decision, provided that the requirements set out in Article 4 of Decision 2004/211/EC are complied with.

2. The semen referred to in paragraph 1 must be collected after the date of approval of the centre by the competent national authorities of the third country concerned.

3. Updates to the list in the Annex, decided in accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 17(3)(b) of Directive 92/65/EEC, shall be published on the website of the Commission.

Article 2

Commission Decision 2000/284/EC is repealed.

References to the repealed Decision shall be construed as reference to this Decision.

Article 3

This Decision is addressed to the Member States.

Done at Brussels, 26 July 2004. For the Commission David BYRNE Member of the Commission

(1) OJ L 268, 14.9.1992, p. 54. Directive as last amended by Council Directive 2004/68/EC (OJ L 139, 30.4.2004, p. 321).

(2) OJ L 94, 14.4.2000, p. 35. Decision as last amended by Decision 2004/70/EC (OJ L 15, 22.1.2004, p. 34).

(3) OJ L 73, 11.3.2004, p. 1.