2003/551/EC: Commission Decision of 22 July 2003 amending Decision 97/830/EC repealing Decision 97/613/EC and imposing special conditions on the import of pistachios and certain products derived from pistachios originating in or consigned from Iran (Text with EEA relevance) (notified under document number C(2003) 2603)

Commission Decision
of 22 July 2003
amending Decision 97/830/EC repealing Decision 97/613/EC and imposing special conditions on the import of pistachios and certain products derived from pistachios originating in or consigned from Iran
(notified under document number C(2003) 2603)
(Text with EEA relevance)
(2003/551/EC)
THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES
,
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,
Having regard to Council Directive 93/43/EEC of 14 June 1993 on the hygiene of foodstuffs(1), and in particular Article 10(1) thereof,
After consulting the Member States,
Whereas:
(1) Commission Decision 97/830/EC(2), as last amended by Decision 2000/238/EC(3), imposes special conditions on the import of pistachios and certain products derived from pistachios originating in or consigned from Iran.
(2) Decision 97/830/EC provides that the competent authority shall ensure that before release onto the market from the point of entry into the Community, each consignment of products covered by that Decision is subject to systematic sampling and analysis for aflatoxin B1 and total aflatoxin. The term "systematic sampling and analysis" set out in Decision 97/830/EC may be subject to different interpretations and it is appropriate to clarify the meaning of such terms.
(3) Regulation (EC) No 178/2002 of the European 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(4), established the rapid alert system for food and feed (RASFF).
(4) In the interests of public health, Member States should provide the Commission with periodical reports of all analytical results of official controls carried out in respect of consignments of pistachios and certain products derived from pistachios originating in or consigned from Iran. Such reports should be in addition to the notification obligations under the rapid alert system for food and feed.
(5) It is important to ensure that the sampling and analysis of consignments of pistachios and products derived from pistachios originating in or consigned from Iran are performed in a harmonised manner throughout the Community.
(6) At the request of some Member States it is appropriate to update the list of points of entry through which the products covered by Decision 97/830/EC may be imported into the Community. For the sake of clarity that list should be replaced.
(7) Decision 97/830/EC should therefore be amended accordingly,