Commission Decision

of 16 August 2001

laying down special conditions governing imports of fishery products originating in Uganda

(notified under document number C(2001) 2524)

(Text with EEA relevance)

(2001/633/EC)

THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,

Having regard to Council Directive 91/493/EEC of 22 July 1991 laying down the health conditions for the production and the placing on the market of fishery products(1), as last amended by Directive 97/79/EC(2), and in particular Article 11 thereof,

Whereas:

(1) A Commission expert has conducted an inspection visit to Uganda to verify the conditions under which fishery products are produced, stored and dispatched to the Community.

(2) The provisions of legislation of Uganda on health inspection and monitoring of fishery products may be considered equivalent to those laid down in Directive 91/493/EEC.

(3) In particular the "Department of Fisheries Resources (DFR) of the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industries and Fisheries" is capable of effectively verifying the application of the laws in force.

(4) The modalities for obtaining the health certificate referred to in Article 11(4)(a) of Directive 91/493/EEC must include the definition of a model certificate, the minimum requirements regarding the language(s) in which it must be drafted and the status of the person empowered to sign it.

(5) Pursuant to Article 11(4)(b) of Directive 91/493/EEC, a mark should be affixed to packages of fishery products giving the name of the non-member country and the approval/registration number of the establishment, factory vessel, cold store or freezer vessel of origin, except for certain frozen products.

(6) Pursuant to Article 11(4)(c) of Directive 91/493/EEC, a list of approved establishments, factory vessels, or cold stores must be drawn up, and a list of freezer vessels equipped in accordance with points 1 to 7 of Annex II to Council Directive 92/48/EEC(3) must also be drawn up. These lists must be drawn up on the basis of a communication from the DFR to the Commission. It is therefore for the DFR to ensure compliance with the provisions laid down to that end in Article 11(4) of Directive 91/493/EEC.

(7) Special attention must be paid to the medical checks of workers handling fishery products intended for human consumption, as laid down in Chapter III, point II(B) of the Annex to Directive 91/493/EEC. It is, therefore, necessary to have a specific mention in the health certificate accompanying the imports of fishery products from Uganda.

(8) The DFR has provided official assurances regarding compliance with the rules set out in Chapter V of the Annex to Directive 91/493/EEC and regarding the fulfilment of hygienic requirements equivalent to those laid down by that Directive.

(9) The DFR has also provided guarantees that the fisheries products caught in Lake Victoria are subject to appropriate checking to detect, in particular, the presence of pesticides. The Uganda authorities guarantee the safety of the fishery products caught in Lake Victoria and intended to be imported into the European Community.

(10) The measures provided for in this Decision are in accordance with the opinion of the Standing Veterinary Committee,

HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:

Article 1

The "Department of Fisheries Resources (DFR) of the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industries and Fisheries" shall be the competent authority in Uganda for verifying and certifying compliance of fishery and aquaculture products with the requirements of Directive 91/493/EEC.

Article 2

Fishery and aquaculture products originating in Uganda must meet the following conditions:

1. Each consignment must be accompanied by a numbered original health certificate, duly completed, signed, dated and comprising a single sheet in accordance with the model in Annex A hereto.

2. The products must come from approved establishments, factory vessels or cold stores from registered freezer vessels listed in Annex B hereto.

3. Except in the case of frozen fishery products in bulk and intended for the manufacture of preserved foods, all packages must bear the word "UGANDA" and the approval/registration number of the establishment, factory vessel, cold store or freezer vessel of origin in indelible letters.

Article 3

1. Certificates as referred to in Article 2 point 1 must be drawn up in at least one official language of the Member State where the checks are carried out.

2. Certificates must bear the name, capacity and signature of the representative of the DFR and the latter's official stamp in a colour different from that of other endorsements.

Article 4

Commission Decision 2000/493/EC(4) is hereby repealed.

Article 5

This Decision shall come into effect 60 days after its publication in the Official Journal of the European Communities.

Article 6

This Decision is addressed to the Members States.

Done at Brussels, 16 August 2001.

For the Commission

David Byrne

Member of the Commission

(1) OJ L 268, 24.9.1991, p. 15.

(2) OJ L 24, 30.1.1998, p. 31.

(3) OJ L 187, 7.7.1992, p. 41.

(4) OJ L 199, 5.8.2000, p. 84.

ANNEX A

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ANNEX B

LIST OF ESTABLISHMENTS AND VESSELS

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PP: Processing plant

ZV: Freezer vessel.