2000/333/EC: Commission Decision of 25 April 2000 laying down special conditions for the import of bivalve molluscs, echinoderms, tunicates and marine gastropods originating in the Socialist Republic of Vietnam (notified under document number C(2000) 1054) (Text with EEA relevance)
Date: 2000-04-25
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: Viet Nam, health control, import, mollusc, originating product

L 114/42

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

13.5.2000

COMMISSION DECISION

of 25 April 2000

laying down special conditions for the import of bivalve molluscs, echinoderms, tunicates and
marine gastropods originating in the Socialist Republic of Vietnam

(notified under document number C(2000) 1054)

(Text with EEA relevance)

(2000/333/EC)

THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European
Community,

Having regard to Council Directive 91/492/EEC of 15 July
1991 laying down the health conditions for the production
and the placing on the market of bivalve molluscs (1), as last
amended by Directive 97/79/EC (2), and in particular Article
9(3)(b) thereof,

Whereas:

(1)

(2)

(3)

(4)

(5)

A Commission expert has conducted an inspection visit
to the Socialist Republic of Vietnam to verify the condi-
tions under which fishery products are produced, stored
and dispatched to the Community.

The provisions of legislation of the Socialist Republic of
Vietnam make the National Fisheries Inspection and
Quality Assurance Centre (Nafiqacen) responsible for
inspecting the health of bivalve molluscs, echinoderms,
tunicates and marine gastropods and for monitoring the
hygiene and sanitary conditions of production. The same
legislation empowers Nafiqacen to authorise or prohibit
the harvesting of bivalve molluscs, echinoderms, tuni-
cates and marine gastropods from certain zones.

Nafiqacen and its laboratories are capable of effectively
verifying the application of the laws in force in the
Socialist Republic of Vietnam.

The competent authorities of the Socialist Republic of
Vietnam have undertaken to communicate regularly and
quickly to the Commission data on the presence of
plankton containing toxins in the harvesting zones.

The competent authorities of the Socialist Republic of
Vietnam have provided official assurances regarding
compliance with the requirements specified in Chapter V
of the Annex to Directive 91/492/EEC and with require-
ments equivalent to those prescribed in that Directive
for the classification of production and relaying zones,

(1) OJ L 268, 24.9.1991, p. 1.
(2) OJ L 24, 30.1.1998, p. 31.

approval of dispatch and purification centres and public
health control and production monitoring.

The Socialist Republic of Vietnam is eligible for inclu-
sion in the list of third countries fulfilling the conditions
of equivalence referred to in Article 9(3)(a) of Directive
91/492/EEC.

The Socialist Republic of Vietnam wishes to export to
the Community frozen or processed bivalve molluscs,
echinoderms, tunicates and marine gastropods which
have been sterilised or heat-treated in accordance with
the requirements of Commission Decision 93/25/EEC (3),
as amended by Decision 97/275/EC (4). For this purpose,
the production areas from which bivalve molluscs, echi-
noderms,
tunicates and marine gastropods may be
harvested and exported to the Community should be
designated.

to decisions

import conditions should apply without
The special
prejudice
to Council
taken pursuant
Directive 91/67/EEC of 28 January 1991 concerning the
animal health conditions governing the placing on the
market of aquaculture animals and products (5), as last
amended by Directive 95/22/EC (6).

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

(6)

(7)

(8)

(9)

HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:

Article 1

The National Fisheries Inspection and Quality Assurance Centre
(Nafiqacen) of the Ministry of Fisheries shall be the competent
authority in the Socialist Republic of Vietnam for verifying and
certifying that bivalve molluscs, echinoderms, tunicates and
requirements of Directive
the
marine
91/492/EEC.

gastropods

fulfil

(3) OJ L 16, 25.1.1993, p. 22.
(4) OJ L 108, 25.4.1997, p. 52.
(5) OJ L 46, 19.2.1991, p. 1.
(6) OJ L 243, 11.10.1995, p. 1.

13.5.2000

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

L 114/43

Bivalve molluscs, echinoderms, tunicates and marine gastropods originating in the Socialist Republic of
Vietnam and intended for human consumption must originate in the authorised production areas listed in
the Annex hereto.

Article 2

This Decision is addressed to the Member States.

Article 3

Done at Brussels, 25 April 2000.

For the Commission

David BYRNE

Member of the Commission

ANNEX

Number

Name

01

02

03

04

05

TAN THANH

BINH DAI

BA MUM

AN THUY

CON TRAU