Commission Regulation (EC) No 2268/2003 of 22 December 2003 extending the validity of Regulation (EC) No 812/2003 on transitional measures pursuant to Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council (EC) No 1774/2002 as regards the importation and transit of certain products from third countries
Date: 2003-12-22
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: animal product, health control, health legislation, import, third country, transit

L 336/24

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

23.12.2003

COMMISSION REGULATION (EC) No 2268/2003

of 22 December 2003

extending the validity of Regulation (EC) No 812/2003 on transitional measures pursuant to Regu-
lation of the European Parliament and of the Council (EC) No 1774/2002 as regards the importa-
tion and transit of certain products from third countries

THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European
Community,

Having regard to Regulation (EC) No 1774/2002 of the Euro-
pean Parliament and of the Council of 3 October 2002 laying
down health rules concerning animal by-products not intended
for human consumption (1), as amended by Regulation (EC) No
808/2003 (2), and in particular Article 32(1) thereof,

(4)

(5)

Whereas:

(EC) No 812/2003 in order for the adoption procedures
to be completed, and for allowing third countries to
adapt to the new model of health certificates subse-
quently.

Regulation (EC) No 812/2003 should therefore be
amended accordingly.

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

(1)

(2)

Regulation (EC) No 1774/2002 provides for a complete
revision of Community rules concerning animal by-
products not
for human consumption,
including the introduction of a number of strict importa-
tion and transit requirements.

intended

for

arrangements

third countries

Transitional
are
provided by Commission Regulation (EC) No 812/
2003 (3) until 31 December 2003, maintaining the
the former models of certificates for
acceptance of
harmonised products to allow time to adjust to the new
requirements and to avoid disruption of trade. The tran-
sitional arrangements were also necessary to provide for
the maintenance of national certificates provided for in
Article 29(7), pending implementation of Article 29(6)
of Regulation (EC) No 1774/2002, and the update of the
rules on trade and importation in Annexes VII and VIII
and also the update of the model of health certificates in
Annex X.

HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION:

Article 1

Amendment of date of application

1.
In Article 1 of Regulation (EC) No 812/2003, the words
‘31 December 2003’ appearing in the first paragraph after the
word ‘until’ are replaced by ‘30 April 2004’.

2.
In Article 2 of Regulation (EC) No 812/2003, the words
‘31 December 2003’ appearing in the second sentence are
replaced by ‘30 April 2004’.

Article 2

Entry into force

(3)

These updates and new model health certificates are in
the process of being adopted; however, it is necessary to
extend the transitional period provided by Regulation

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

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

Done at Brussels, 22 December 2003.

For the Commission

David BYRNE

Member of the Commission

(1) OJ L 273, 10.10.2002, p. 1.
(2) OJ L 117, 13.5.2003, p. 1.
(3) OJ L 117, 13.5.2003, p. 19.