2003/863/EC: Commission Decision of 2 December 2003 on health certificates for the importation of animal products from the United States of America (Text with EEA relevance) (notified under document number C(2003) 4444)
Date: 2003-12-02
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: United States, animal product, gelatine, health certificate, import, originating product

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COMMISSION

COMMISSION DECISION

of 2 December 2003

on health certificates for the importation of animal products from the United States of America

(notified under document number C(2003) 4444)

(Text with EEA relevance)

(2003/863/EC)

THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,

(2)

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European
Community,

Having regard to Council Decision 98/258/EC of 16 March
1998 on the conclusion of the Agreement between the Euro-
pean Community and the United States of America on sanitary
measures to protect public and animal health in trade in live
animals and animal products (1), and in particular Article 3
thereof,

Having regard to Council Directive 72/462/EEC of 12
December 1972 on health and veterinary inspection problems
upon importation of bovine animals and swine and fresh meat
from third countries (2), as last amended by Regulation (EC) No
807/2003 (3), and in particular Article 11(2) and Article 22(2)
thereof, and the corresponding provisions of the other direc-
tives establishing sanitary conditions and models of certificates
for the importation of live animals and animal products from
third countries,

Whereas:

(1)

Annex V to the Agreement between the European Com-
munity and the United States of America on sanitary
measures to protect public and animal health in trade in
live animals and animal products (the Agreement) estab-
lishes,
inter alia, the sanitary measures for fresh meat,
meat products and certain other animal products traded
with the United States for which equivalence has been
determined.

(3)

(4)

(5)

(6)

Council Directive 92/118/EEC of 17 December 1992
laying down animal health and public health require-
ments governing trade in and imports into the Com-
munity of products not subject to the said requirements
laid down in specific Community rules referred to in
Annex A(I)
to Directive 89/662/EEC and, as regards
pathogens, to Directive 90/425/EEC (4), as last amended
by Commission Decision 2003/721/EC (5), provides for
and
for
special
animals
products of animal origin to prevent
the spread of
animal and human diseases.

certification requirements

Article 10 of Directive 92/118/EEC requires that gelatine
and collagen for human consumption intended for
import into the EC must be accompanied by a health
certificate corresponding to the specimen drawn up in
Annex II, chapter 4.

By Commission Decision 2003/833/EC (6) approving on
behalf of the European Community amendments to the
Annexes to the Agreement between the European Com-
munity and the United States of America on sanitary
measures to protect public and animal health in trade in
live animals and animal products, the recommendations
made by the Joint Management Committee established
under the Agreement concerning the equivalence of the
United States standards for gelatine and collagen with
Community standards have been approved and should
be implemented; model certificates for the importation
of gelatine and collagen from the United States into the
Community providing the corresponding guarantees
should be established accordingly.

It is appropriate for the Community to implement the
recognition of equivalence so granted to the United
States on a provisional basis, pending confirmation by
the United States of their approval of the changes made
to the Agreement.

The measures provided for in this Decision are in
accordance with the opinion of the Standing Committee
on the Food Chain and Animal Health,

(1) OJ L 118, 21.4.1998, p. 1.
(2) OJ L 302, 31.12.1972, p. 28.
(3) OJ L 122, 16.5.2003, p. 36.

(4) OJ L 62, 15.3.1993, p. 49.
(5) OJ L 260, 11.10.2003, p. 21.
(6) OJ L 316, 29.11.2003, p. 20.

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HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:

Article 3

Article 1

This Decision is addressed to the Member States.

The Member States shall authorise the import from the United
States of gelatine and collagen for human consumption,
provided that they are accompanied by an official health certifi-
cate(s) in accordance with the models referred to respectively in
Annex A and Annex B.

This Decision shall apply from 15 December 2003.

Article 2

Done at Brussels, 2 December 2003.

For the Commission

David BYRNE

Member of the Commission

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ANNEX A

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ANNEX B

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