(1)

Directive 2002/99/EC lays down, inter alia, the animal health requirements for the introduction into the Union of products of animal origin for human consumption. In accordance with those requirements, the introduction of such products into the Union is only to be authorised from third countries that appear on a list drawn up by the Commission.

(2)

Commission Regulation (EU) No 206/2010 (2) lays down, inter alia, the conditions for the introduction into the Union of consignments of fresh meat of certain ungulates. Part 1 of Annex II to that Regulation sets out a list of third countries, territories and parts thereof from which such consignments may be introduced into the Union and the models of veterinary certificates to accompany those consignments, taking into account any specific conditions or supplementary guarantees required.

(3)

Botswana is regionalised for the purpose of inclusion into that list. Its regionalised territories are set out in Part 1 of Annex II to Regulation (EU) No 206/2010 as parts of that country authorised for the introduction into the Union of consignments of fresh meat of certain domestic and wild ungulates. Such parts consist of a number of veterinary disease control zones (VDZs) or part of such VDZs.

(4)

In March 2013, a Commission audit was carried out in Botswana in order to evaluate the animal health control system in place, in particular in relation to the controls concerning foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) (3). The Commission found that the risk for introduction of the FMD virus into the part of VDZ 6, authorised for the introduction into the Union of fresh meat of certain domestic and wild ungulates, could not be considered negligible. In view of the risk of introduction of the FMD virus through import of fresh meat originating from ungulates of species susceptible to that disease, the authorisation to export such fresh meat from VDZ 6 into the Union was suspended by Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) No 482/2013 (4).

(5)

In October 2015, an audit was carried out by the Commission to evaluate the efficacy of the surveillance and regionalisation measures imposed with regard to FMD (5). The Commission found that VDZ 6 was reshaped and divided into VDZ 6a and VDZ 6b, with inclusion of the former high surveillance area along the national border with Zimbabwe into VDZ 6b. Both those VDZs are recognised by the World Organisation for Animal Health as a zone free of FMD where vaccination is not practised (6).

(6)

The Commission concluded that the shortcomings which led to the suspension of the authorisation of imports from VDZ 6 have been completely solved by the competent authority of Botswana and that Botswana now offers satisfactory guarantees with regard to FMD for VDZ 6a and VDZ 6b, in compliance with or equivalent to the Union requirements for the introduction of fresh meat of domestic and wild ungulates of species susceptible to FMD.

(7)

Botswana has requested VDZ 6a and VDZ 6b to be authorised for the introduction into the Union of deboned and matured fresh meat of certain domestic and wild ungulates subjected to supplementary guarantees from those zones.

(8)

In light of the above considerations it is therefore appropriate to authorise the introduction into the Union of fresh meat of certain domestic and wild ungulates from the areas VDZ 6a and VDZ 6b of Botswana.

(9)

Part 1 of Annex II to Regulation (EU) No 206/2010 should therefore be amended accordingly.

(10)

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