(1)

Article 29(1) of Directive 96/23/EC requires that third countries from which Member States are authorised to import animals and animal products covered by that Directive submit residue monitoring plans providing required guarantees (‘the plans’). These guarantees must have an effect at least equivalent to those provided for in that Directive and must, in particular, meet the requirements of Article 4 of that Directive and specify the particulars laid down in Article 7 of that Directive and meet the requirements of Article 11(2) of Directive 96/22/EC. The plans should cover at least the groups of residues and substances listed in Annex I to the Directive 96/23.

(2)

Commission Decision 2011/163/EU (2) approves the plans submitted by certain third countries concerning animals and animal products, which are listed in the Annex to that Decision.

(3)

Animal casings may contain residues of pharmacologically active substances. Such residues have been found in casings imported into the Union and reported in the Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed since 2015 from some third countries and have concerned prohibited substances with an antimicrobial activity. Those residues may be present in casings due to the administration of antimicrobials to prevent their bacterial spoilage. Therefore, the Commission should ensure the chemical safety of casings by requiring that animal casings enter into the Union only from third countries listed in the Annex to Decision 2011/163/EU, which have provided the required guarantees for this commodity in their approved residue monitoring plans. Article 2(1) of Decision 2011/163/EU should be amended accordingly.

(4)

Third countries authorised for the entry into the Union of certain meat products and treated stomachs, bladders and intestines for human consumption in accordance with Regulation (EU) 2017/625 (3) are listed in Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/404 (4). Third countries authorised for the entry into the Union of certain meat products in accordance with Regulation (EU) 2016/429 (5) are listed in Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/405 (6).

(5)

In order to minimise trade disruptions, all of the third countries currently authorised for entry into the Union of meat products in Implementing Regulations (EU) 2021/404 and (EU) 2021/405 and which are already listed in the Annex to Decision 2011/163/EU should also be listed for in that Annex for animal casings, as they have already provided sufficient guarantees related to the residues surveillance. In addition, with casings, the risk arises not from the treatment of the animal but from adulteration of the product to prevent bacterial spoilage.

(6)

In addition, those third countries, which have successfully completed the questionnaire related to animal and public health with a view to be included in Implementing Regulations (EU) 2021/404 and (EU) 2021/405, should also be listed for casings in the Annex to Decision 2011/163/EU, provided that they have submitted to the Commission a specific residues monitoring plan for animal casings and that plan has been approved by the Commission.

(7)

A definitive list of countries complying with the requirements of Directive 96/23/EC, related to the absence of prohibited substances with an antimicrobial activity in casings, will be established by the Commission after the full evaluation of the residue monitoring plans presented by all third countries exporting casings to the Union, and before the end of the transitional period expiring on 20 October 2021.

(8)

While Australia has no approved residues monitoring plan for eggs, it has provided guarantees to use only eggs, originating either from Member States or from third countries which are approved to export such products to the Union, to be included in composite products to be exported to the EU. An entry for Australia regarding eggs with the appropriate footnote should therefore be added to the list.

(9)

While India has no approved residues monitoring plan for poultry products and dairy products, it has provided guarantees to use only dairy products, originating either from Member States or from third countries, which are approved to export such products to the Union, to be included in composite products to be exported to the EU. An entry for India regarding dairy products with the appropriate footnote should therefore be added to the list.

(10)

While New Zealand has no approved residues monitoring plan for porcine species, poultry products, eggs and rabbit, it has provided guarantees to use only pork products, poultry products, eggs and rabbit, to be included in composite products to be exported to the EU, originating either from Member States or from third countries, which are approved to export such products to the Union. An entry for New Zealand regarding porcine species, poultry products, eggs and rabbit with the appropriate footnote should therefore be added to the list.

(11)

While Philippines has no approved residues monitoring plan for dairy products, and eggs, it has provided guarantees to use only dairy products and eggs, originating either from Member States or from third countries, which are approved to export such products to the Union, to be included in composite products to be exported to the EU. An entry for Philippines regarding dairy products, and eggs with the appropriate footnote should therefore be added to the list.

(12)

While Singapore has no approved residues monitoring plan for eggs, it has provided guarantees to use only eggs originating either from Member States or from third countries, which are approved to export such products to the Union, to be included in composite products to be exported to the EU. An entry for Singapore regarding eggs with the appropriate footnote should therefore be added to the list.

(13)

While Thailand has no approved residues monitoring plan for bovine species, porcine species, dairy products, and eggs, it has provided guarantees to use only bovine, dairy products, and eggs, originating either from Member States or from third countries, which are approved to export such products to the Union, to be included in composite products to be exported to the EU. An entry for Thailand regarding bovine species, dairy products, and eggs with the appropriate footnote should therefore be added to the list.

(14)

While South Korea has no approved residues monitoring plan for dairy products, eggs, and honey, it has provided guarantees to use only dairy products, eggs, and honey, originating either from Member States or from third countries, which are approved to export such products to the Union, to be included in composite products to be exported to the EU. An entry for South Korea regarding dairy products, eggs, and honey with the appropriate footnote should therefore be added to the list.

(15)

Decision 2011/163/EU should therefore be amended accordingly.

(16)

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