Document ID: 32003D0279

Commission Decision
of 15 April 2003
amending Commission Decision 93/13/EEC in respect of the certificate of veterinary checks on products from third countries
(notified under document number C(2003) 1229)
(Text with EEA relevance)
(2003/279/EC)
THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Communities,
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(1) and in particular Articles 5(4), 7(6), 12(12) and 33 thereof,
Whereas:
(1) The original requirements for veterinary checks were set down in, or adopted on the basis of Council Directive 90/675/EEC(2), which has been repealed and replaced by Directive 97/78/EC.
(2) The model certificate of veterinary checks on products introduced into the Community from third countries, as referred to in Article 5(1) of Directive 97/78/EC, is set out in Annex B to Commission Decision 93/13/EEC of 22 December 1992 laying down the procedures for veterinary checks at Community border inspection posts on products from third countries(3), as last amended by Decision 96/32/EC(4). It should be amended to take account of changes to procedures for all consignments introduced into one of the territories listed in Annex I Directive 97/78/EC.
(3) Detailed rules in respect of the use of this certificate in case of transit by road, and concerning additional checks that must be carried out on products not meeting Community rules that transit across or move within the Community under customs control, are the subject of Commission Decisions 2000/208/EC(5) and 2000/571/EC(6) respectively.
(4) Pending the later revision of other rules laid down in Commission Decision 93/13/EEC, there is an urgent need to amend and update firstly the certificate in Annex B to that Decision.
(5) For the proper functioning of the system of veterinary checks in the internal market all the information pertaining to a product introduced into the Community should be included in a single simplified document with a uniform format in order to reduce as far as possible the problems associated with the use of different languages in different Member States.
(6) Decision 93/13/EEC should therefore be amended accordingly.
(7) 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
Annex B to Decision 93/13/EEC is replaced by the text in the Annex to this Decision.
Article 2
This Decision shall apply from 1 September 2003.
Article 3
This Decision is addressed to the Member States.
Done at Brussels, 15 April 2003.

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