COMMISSION IMPLEMENTING DECISION (EU) 2019/606

of 11 April 2019

amending Annex I to Decision 2012/137/EU as regards the inclusion of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and certain of its Crown Dependencies in the lists of third countries or parts thereof authorised for the introduction into the Union of semen of domestic animals of the porcine species

(notified under document C(2019) 2841)

(Text with EEA relevance)

THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION,

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

Having regard to Council Directive 90/429/EEC of 26 June 1990 laying down the animal health requirements applicable to intra-Community trade in and imports of semen of domestic animals of the porcine species (1), and in particular Article 7(1), Article 9(2) and (3) and Article 10(2) 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 22 March 2019, the European Council adopted Decision (EU) 2019/476 (2) extending the period under Article 50(3) TEU in agreement with the United Kingdom. In accordance with that Decision, in the event that the Withdrawal Agreement is not approved by the House of Commons by 29 March 2019 at the latest, the period provided for in Article 50(3) TEU is extended until 12 April 2019. As the Withdrawal Agreement has not been approved by 29 March 2019, Union law will cease to apply to and in the United Kingdom from 13 April 2019 (‘the withdrawal date’).

(2) Commission Implementing Decision 2012/137/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 semen of domestic animals of the porcine species.

(3) The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland has provided the necessary guarantees for that country and certain of its Crown Dependencies to comply with the conditions laid down in Implementing Decision 2012/137/EU for the introduction into the Union of consignments of semen of domestic animals of the porcine 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 and certain of its Crown Dependencies should be included in the lists of third countries, territories and parts thereof set out in Annex I to Implementing Decision 2012/137/EU authorised for the introduction into the Union of consignments of semen of domestic animals of the porcine species.

(5) Annex I to Implementing Decision 2012/137/EU should therefore be amended accordingly.

(6) This Decision should apply from 13 April 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 Annex I to Implementing Decision 2012/137/EU is amended in accordance with the Annex to this Decision.

Article 2 This Decision shall apply from 13 April 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, 11 April 2019. For the Commission Jyrki KATAINEN Vice-President

(1) OJ L 224, 18.8.1990, p. 62.

(2) European Council Decision (EU) 2019/476 taken in agreement with the United Kingdom of 22 March 2019 extending the period under Article 50(3) TEU (OJ L 80 I, 22.3.2019, p. 1).

(3) Commission Implementing Decision 2012/137/EU of 1 March 2012 on imports into the Union of semen of domestic animals of the porcine species (OJ L 64, 3.3.2012, p. 29).