2002/62/EC: Commission Decision of 25 January 2002 concerning certain protective measures with regard to certain fishery and aquaculture products intended for human consumption and imported from Pakistan (Text with EEA relevance) (notified under document number C(2002) 377)
Date: 2002-01-25
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: Pakistan, aquaculture, fishery product, health control, human nutrition, originating product

26.1.2002

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

L 24/65

COMMISSION DECISION

of 25 January 2002

concerning certain protective measures with regard to certain fishery and aquaculture products
intended for human consumption and imported from Pakistan

(notified under document number C(2002) 377)

(Text with EEA relevance)

(2002/62/EC)

THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,

Article 2

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European
Community,

Having regard to Council Directive 97/78/EC of 18 December
1997 laying down the principles governing the organisation of
veterinary checks on products entering the Community from
third countries (1), and in particular Article 22(1) thereof,

Whereas:

(1)

(2)

(3)

(4)

(5)

(6)

In accordance with Directive 97/78/EC, the necessary
measures must be adopted as regards the import of
certain products from third countries where anything
likely to constitute a serious danger for animal or
human health appears or develops.

The presence of chloramphenicol has been detected in
shrimps intended for human consumption and imported
from Pakistan.

Since the presence of this substance presents a potential
risk for human health,
the
it
consignments of shrimps imported from Pakistan should
be sampled in order to demonstrate their wholesome-
ness.

is proposed that all

Council Directive 92/59/EEC of 29 June 1992 on
general product safety (2) has set up the Rapid Alert
System for Food, and recourse to it is appropriate for
implementing the mutual information requirement laid
down in Directive 97/78/EC.

This Decision will be reviewed in the light of the guaran-
tees offered by the competent authorities of Pakistan and
on the basis of the results of the tests carried out by the
Member States.

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

1. Member States shall, using appropriate sampling plans
and detection methods, subject each consignment of shrimps
originating or coming from Pakistan to a chemical test in order
to ensure that the products concerned do not present a danger
to human health. This test must be carried out, in particular,
with a view to detecting the presence of chloramphenicol.

2. Member States shall immediately inform the Commission
of the results of the test referred in paragraph 1, making use of
the Rapid Alert System for Food, set up by Council Directive
92/59/EEC.

Article 3

Member States shall not authorise the importation into their
territory or the consignment to another Member State of the
products referred to in Article 1 unless the results of the tests
referred to in Article 2 are favourable.

Article 4

All expenditure incurred in applying this Decision shall be
charged to the consignor, the consignee or their agent.

Article 5

Member States shall amend the measures they apply to imports
in order to bring them into line with this Decision. They shall
immediately inform the Commission thereof.

Article 6

This Decision shall be reviewed on the basis of the guarantees
provided by the competent Pakistani authorities and on the
basis of the results of the tests referred to in Article 2.

This Decision is addressed to the Member States.

Article 7

HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:

Done at Brussels, 25 January 2002.

Article 1

This Decision shall apply to shrimps coming from or origin-
ating in Pakistan.

For the Commission

David BYRNE

Member of the Commission

(1) OJ L 24, 30.1.1998, p. 9.
(2) OJ L 228, 11.8.1992, p. 24.