97/296/EC: Commission Decision of 22 April 1997 drawing up the list of third countries from which the import of fishery products is authorized for human consumption (Text with EEA relevance)

COMMISSION DECISION of 22 April 1997 drawing up the list of third countries from which the import of fishery products is authorized for human consumption (Text with EEA relevance) (97/296/EC)
THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES
,
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,
Having regard to Council Decision 95/408/EC of 22 June 1995 on the conditions for drawing up, for an interim period, provisional lists of third country establishments from which Member States are authorized to import certain products of animal origin, fishery products or live bivalve molluscs (1), as amended by Decision 97/34/EC (2), and in particular Article 2 (2) thereof,
Whereas the Commission has fixed the special conditions for the import of fishery products applying to certain specific third countries;
Whereas Commission Decision 95/328/EC (3) establishes a standardized health certificate for imports of fishery products from third countries not yet covered by that type of Decision;
Whereas Commission Decision 97/20/EC (4) draws up the list of third countries from which the import of bivalve molluscs, echinoderms, tunicates and marine gastropods in whatever form intended for human consumption is authorized;
Whereas it is now necessary to draw up a list of third countries which satisfy the equivalence conditions referred to in Article 2 (2) of Decision 95/408/EC and which are therefore able to guarantee that fishery products exported to the Community meet the health requirements laid down for the protection of consumer health by Council Directive 91/493/EEC laying down the health conditions for the production and the placing on the market of fishery products (5);
Whereas that list must comprise the third countries already covered by a specific Decision and the third countries meeting the conditions laid down in Article 2 (2) for which a provisional list of authorized establishments can be drawn up in accordance with the procedure laid down in Decision 95/408/EC;
Whereas in order to avoid any disruption of the traditional pattern of trade, Article 11 (7) of Directive 91/493/EEC may continue to apply for a limited period to fishery products imported from third countries not yet included in that list;
Whereas that list of third countries is established without prejudice to Community or national rules concerning the protection of animal health or of the environment;
Whereas the measures provided for in this Decision are in accordance with the opinion of the Standing Veterinary Committee,