(1)

Commission Decision 2000/572/EC (3) lays down the animal and public health veterinary certification conditions for the importation into the Union of consignments of certain meat preparations from third countries. It provides that such consignments are to be accompanied by an animal and public health certificate complying with the model set out in Annex II thereto (‘the health certificate for meat preparations’).

(2)

Commission Decision 2007/777/EC (4) lays down the animal and public health conditions for imports into the Union of consignments of meat products and treated stomachs, bladders and intestines. It provides that only consignments complying with the requirements of the model animal health and public health certificate set out in Annex III thereto (‘the health certificate for meat products and treated commodities’) and accompanied by such a certificate are to be imported into the Union.

(3)

Commission Regulation (EU) No 206/2010 (5) lays down the veterinary certification requirements for imports into the Union of consignments of fresh meat of equidae intended for human consumption. It provides that such consignments are only to be imported, if they are accompanied by a veterinary certificate drawn up in accordance with the model veterinary certificate ‘EQU’ for fresh meat, excluding minced meat, of domestic solipeds (Equus caballus, Equus asinus and their cross-breeds) set out in Part 2 of Annex II (‘the EQU certificate’) thereto.

(4)

Council Directive 96/22/EC (6) prohibits, amongst others, the importation from third countries of meat or products intended for human consumption obtained from animals which have been administered certain substances, including beta-agonists. This Directive allows imports of animals intended for breeding, breeding animals at the end of their reproductive life, or meat therefrom, from third countries, which can afford guarantees at least equivalent to those laid down in that Directive, which have been established for the purpose of giving effect to Chapter V of Council Directive 96/23/EC (7) describing the measures to be taken in the event of infringement.

(5)

Directive 96/23/EC lays down measures for monitoring the presence of certain substances and groups of residues in live animals and animal products. It provides that imports of animals for slaughter and of products of animal origin intended for human consumption are only to be authorised from third countries whose monitoring plan has been approved by the Commission.

(6)

Domestic solipeds are usually not raised solely for the production of meat and are only sent for slaughter at the end of their productive life. In the Union, animals of the equidae family are considered to be food-producing animals, unless they are irreversibly excluded from slaughter for human consumption in accordance with Directive 2001/82/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council (8).

(7)

Following audit missions in certain third countries, where deficiencies had been detected, and in order to ensure compliance with the provisions of Directive 96/22/EC, it is necessary to reinforce the guarantees on imports of fresh meat of equidae intended for human consumption, meat preparations as well as meat products and treated stomachs, bladders and intestines produced therefrom as regards the monitoring of substances and groups of residues and substances referred to in Annex I to Directive 96/23/EC.

(8)

Therefore, the health certificate for meat preparations, the health certificate for meat products and treated commodities and the EQU certificate should be amended so that they provide the necessary guarantees that the commodities covered by them, when they are produced from or contain meat of domestic solipeds, were produced from meat which meets the requirements set out for the imports of fresh meat of domestic solipeds.

(9)

Decisions 2000/572/EC and 2007/777/EC and Regulation (EU) No 206/2010 should therefore be amended accordingly.

(10)

To avoid any disruption of trade, imports into the Union of consignments of commodities accompanied by the health certificate for meat preparations, the health certificate for meat products and treated commodities and the EQU certificate issued in accordance with Decisions 2000/572/EC and 2007/777/EC and Regulation (EU) No 206/2010 before the amendments made by this Regulation should continue to be authorised for a transitional period.

(11)

The measures provided for in this Regulation are in accordance with the opinion of the Standing Committee on Plants, Animals, Food and Feed,