Regulation (EC) No 1128/2003 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 16 June 2003 amending Regulation (EC) No 999/2001 as regards the extension of the period for transitional measures
Date: 2003-06-16
Institutions: Council of the European Union, European Parliament
Subjects: animal disease, bovine spongiform encephalopathy, disease prevention, health control, public health

28.6.2003

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Official Journal of the European Union

L 160/1

I

(Acts whose publication is obligatory)

REGULATION (EC) No 1128/2003 OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL

of 16 June 2003

amending Regulation (EC) No 999/2001 as regards the extension of the period for transitional
measures

THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND THE COUNCIL OF THE
EUROPEAN UNION,

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Commu-
nity, and in particular Article 152(4)(b) thereof,

Having regard to the proposal from the Commission (1),

Having regard to the opinion of the European Economic and
Social Committee (2),

Following consultation of the Committee of the Regions,

Acting in accordance with the procedure laid down in Article
251 of the Treaty (3),

Whereas:

(3)

(4)

(5)

(6)

Commission Regulation (EC) No 1326/2001 of 29 June
2001 (5) provides for transitional measures which are to
apply for a maximum period of two years from 1 July
2001.

Certain problems have been encountered in using the
criteria laid down in Regulation (EC) No 999/2001 to
determine BSE status. The Commission has discussed
with Member States possible amendments to those
criteria in order to produce a better alignment of BSE
status and risk. The outcome of those discussions may
be significantly influenced by developments in the BSE
Chapter in the International Animal Health Code of the
International Office of Epizootics.

It is necessary to prolong the period of application of
the transitional measures to allow those discussions to
be concluded.

Regulation (EC) No 999/2001 should therefore be
amended accordingly,

(1)

(2)

Regulation (EC) No 999/2001 of the European Parlia-
ment and of the Council of 22 May 2001 laying down
rules for the prevention, control and eradication of
spongiform encephalopathies (4)
certain transmissible
provides a single legal basis for all legislation regarding
transmissible
the
Community.

spongiform encephalopathies

in

Regulation (EC) No 999/2001 establishes rules for the
determination of the bovine spongiform encephalopathy
(BSE) status of a Member State, third country or one of
their regions. That status, hereinafter referred to as ‘BSE
status’, determines certain measures concerning the
control of BSE and trade and the importation of certain
live animals and animal products. The Regulation
provides that, prior to determination of the BSE status,
transitional measures are to be adopted for a maximum
period of two years.

HAVE ADOPTED THIS REGULATION:

Article 1

In Article 23 of Regulation (EC) No 999/2001, the second
subparagraph shall be replaced by the following:

‘In accordance with that procedure, transitional measures
shall be adopted for a period ending on 1 July 2005 at the
latest, to permit the changeover from the current arrange-
ments to the arrangements established by this Regulation.’

Article 2

(1) Opinion of 5 March 2003 (not yet published in the Official

Journal).

(2) Opinion of 14 May 2003 (not yet published in the Official Journal).
(3) Opinion of
the European Parliament of 3 June 2003 (not yet
published in the Official Journal) and Council Decision of 11 June
2003.

(4) OJ L 147, 31.5.2001, p. 1. Regulation as last amended by Commis-
sion Regulation (EC) No 650/2003 (OJ L 95, 11.4.2003, p. 15).

This Regulation shall enter
into force on the 20th day
following that of its publication in the Official Journal of the
European Union.

(5) OJ L 177, 30.6.2001, p. 60. Regulation as amended by Commission

Regulation (EC) No 270/2002 (OJ L 45, 15.2.2002, p. 4).

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Official Journal of the European Union

28.6.2003

This Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States.

Done at Luxembourg, 16 June 2003.

For the European Parliament

The President

P. COX

For the Council

The President

G. PAPANDREOU