2003/759/EC: Commission Decision of 15 October 2003 laying down special conditions governing imports of fishery products from Belize (Text with EEA relevance) (notified under document number C(2003) 3645)
Date: 2003-10-15
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: Belize, fishery product, health certificate, health control, import, originating product

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II

(Acts whose publication is not obligatory)

COMMISSION

COMMISSION DECISION

of 15 October 2003

laying down special conditions governing imports of fishery products from Belize

(notified under document number C(2003) 3645)

(Text with EEA relevance)

(2003/759/EC)

THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,

(6)

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 Regulation (EC) No 806/2003 (2), and in particular
Article 11 thereof,

Whereas:

(1)

(2)

(3)

(4)

(5)

An inspection has been carried out on behalf of the
Commission in Belize to verify the conditions under
which fishery products
stored and
dispatched to the Community.

are produced,

The requirements in the legislation of Belize on health
inspection and monitoring of fishery products may be
considered equivalent to those laid down in Directive
91/493/EEC.

In particular, the Belize Agricultural Health Authority
(BAHA), is capable of effectively verifying the implemen-
tation of the legislation in force.

The BAHA has provided official assurances regarding
compliance with the standards for health controls and
monitoring of fishery products as 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.

is appropriate

to lay down detailed provisions
It
concerning fishery products imported into the Commu-
nity from Belize, in accordance with Directive 91/493/
EEC.

It is necessary also to draw up a list of approved estab-
lishments, factory vessels, or cold stores, and a list of
freezer vessels equipped in accordance with the require-
ments of Council Directive 92/48/EEC of 16 June 1992
laying down the minimum hygiene rules applicable to
fishery products caught on board certain vessels in
accordance with Article 3(1)(a)(i) of Directive 91/493/
EEC (3). These lists should be drawn up on the basis of a
communication from the BAHA to the Commission.

It is appropriate for the present decision to be applied
45 days after its publication to provide for the necessary
transitional period.

The measures provided for in this decision are in accor-
dance with the opinion of the Standing Committee on
the Food Chain and Animal Health,

(7)

(8)

HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:

Article 1

The Belize Agricultural Health Authority (BAHA), shall be the
competent authority in Belize identified for the purposes of
verifying and certifying compliance of fishery products with
the requirements of Directive 91/493/EEC.

Article 2

Fishery products imported into the Community from Belize
shall meet the requirements set out in Articles 3, 4 and 5.

(1) OJ L 268, 24.9.1991, p. 15.
(2) OJ L 122, 16.5.2003, p. 1.

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

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Article 3

Article 5

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

All packages shall bear the word ‘BELIZE’ and the approval/
registration number of the establishment, factory vessel, cold
store or freezer vessel of origin in indelible letters, except in the
case of frozen fishery products in bulk and intended for the
manufacture of preserved foods.

2.
The certificate shall be drawn up in at least one official
language of the Member State where the checks are carried out.

This Decision shall apply from 8 December 2003.

Article 6

3.
The certificate shall bear the name, position and signature
of the representative of the BAHA, and the latter's official
stamp in a colour different from that of the endorsements.

This Decision is addressed to the Member States.

Article 7

Article 4

Done at Brussels, 15 October 2003.

The fishery products shall come from approved establishments,
factory vessels or cold stores, or from registered freezer vessels
listed in Annex II.

For the Commission

David BYRNE

Member of the Commission

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ANNEX I

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ANNEX II

List of establishments and vessels

Approval No

Name

City/Region

Approval limit

Category

BZE-FP-NOV-001

Nova Companies (Belize)
Limited

Ladyville

PP

Legend:
PP: Processing plant.