2003/895/EC: Commission Decision of 19 December 2003 amending Decision 2002/251/EC to revoke the protective measures with regard to certain consignments of poultrymeat imported from Thailand (Text with EEA relevance) (notified under document number C(2003) 4846)
Date: 2003-12-19
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: Thailand, crustacean, health control, import, originating product, poultrymeat, public health

L 333/92

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

20.12.2003

COMMISSION DECISION

of 19 December 2003

amending Decision 2002/251/EC to revoke the protective measures with regard to certain consign-
ments of poultrymeat imported from Thailand

(notified under document number C(2003) 4846)

(Text with EEA relevance)

(2003/895/EC)

THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European
Community,

Having regard to Regulation (EC) No 178/2002 of the Euro-
pean Parliament and of the Council of 28 January 2002 laying
down the general principles and requirements of food law,
establishing the European Food Safety Authority and laying
down procedures in matters of food safety (1), and in particular
Article 53(1) thereof,

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 (2), and in particular Article 22(1) thereof,

Whereas:

(1)

(2)

Commission Decision 2002/251/EC of 27 March 2002
concerning certain protective measures with regard to
aquaculture
poultrymeat
certain fishery
products
consumption and
imported from Thailand (3) was adopted because of the
presence of nitrofurans in poultrymeat and shrimps
imported from Thailand.

and
intended

human

and

for

Decision 2002/251/EC was amended by Decision 2003/
477/EC (4) to revoke the systematic checks imposed on
shrimp consignments certified after 21 September 2002
and by Decision 2003/559/EC to reduce the systematic
checks imposed on consignments of poultrymeat certi-
fied after 21 September 2002. Those amendments were
based on the results of the tests carried out by the
Member States and on the guarantees provided by the
competent authority in Thailand.

(3)

The results of
the reinforced checks carried out by
Member States in poultrymeat imported from Thailand
the reinforced
continue to be favourable. Therefore,

(1) OJ L 31, 1.2.2002, p. 1. Regulation as amended by Regulation (EC)

No 1642/2003 (OJ L 245, 29.9.2003, p. 4).

(2) OJ L 24, 30.1.1998, p. 9. Directive as amended by the Act of Acces-

sion of 2003.

(3) OJ L 84, 28.3.2002, p. 77. Decision as last amended by Decision

2003/559/EC (OJ L 189, 29.7.2003, p. 52).

(4) OJ L 158, 27.6.2003, p. 61.

checks imposed by Decision 2002/251/EC, as amended
by Decision 2003/559/EC, should no longer be applied
to those consignments certified by the Thai authority
after the date of 21 September 2002 as having been
systematic
submitted
check.
Systematic
should only be maintained for
consignments certified prior to that date.

to
a
checks

pre-shipment

(4)

(5)

Decision 2002/251/EC should therefore be amended
accordingly.

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

HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:

Article 1

Decision 2002/251/EC is amended as follows:

Article 2(1) is replaced by the following:

‘1. Member States shall, using appropriate sampling
plans and detection methods, subject each consignment of
shrimps and poultrymeat
imported from Thailand and
accompanied by a health certificate issued before the date
of 21 September 2002, to a chemical test in order to
ensure that the products concerned do not present a danger
to human health. The test must be carried out, in particu-
lar, with a view to detecting the presence of antimicrobial
substances and in particular nitrofurans and their meta-
bolites.’

Article 2

This Decision shall apply from 23 December 2003.

20.12.2003

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

L 333/93

This Decision is addressed to the Member States.

Article 3

Done at Brussels, 19 December 2003.

For the Commission

David BYRNE

Member of the Commission