2003/326/EC: Commission Decision of 12 May 2003 on transitional measures under Regulation (EC) No 1774/2002 of the European Parliament and of the Council as regards the separation of category 2 and category 3 oleochemical plants (Text with EEA relevance) (notified under document number C(2003) 1500)

Commission Decision
of 12 May 2003
on transitional measures under Regulation (EC) No 1774/2002 of the European Parliament and of the Council as regards the separation of category 2 and category 3 oleochemical plants
(notified under document number C(2003) 1500)
(Only the Spanish, German, English, French, Italian, Dutch and Swedish texts are authentic)
(Text with EEA relevance)
(2003/326/EC)
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 European Parliament and of the Council of 3 October 2002 laying down health rules concerning animal by-products not intended for human consumption(1), and in particular Article 32(1) thereof,
Whereas:
(1) Regulation (EC) No 1774/2002 provides for a complete revision of Community rules concerning animal by-products not intended for human consumption, including the introduction of a number of strict requirements. In addition, it provides that appropriate transitional measures may be adopted.
(2) In view of the strict nature of those requirements, it is necessary to provide for non-renewable transitional measures for Belgium, Germany, Spain, Italy, Netherlands, Sweden and the United Kingdom in order to allow industry sufficient time to adjust. In addition, alternative collection, transport, storage, handling, processing and uses for animal by-products need to be further developed, as well as disposal methods for those by-products.
(3) Accordingly, as a temporary measure a derogation should be granted to Belgium, Germany, Spain, Italy, Netherlands, Sweden and the United Kingdom to enable them to authorise operators to continue to apply national rules to the separation of category 2 and 3 oleochemical plants.
(4) In order to prevent a risk to animal and public health, appropriate control systems should be maintained in Belgium, Germany, Spain, Italy, Netherlands, Sweden and the United Kingdom for the period of the transitional measures.
(5) The measures provided for in this Decision are in accordance with the opinion of the Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health,