(1)

Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2020/2235 (4) lays down rules regarding animal health certificates provided for in Regulation (EU) 2016/429, official certificates provided for in Regulation (EU) 2017/625, and animal health/official certificates based on those Regulations, required for the entry into the Union of certain consignments of animals and goods (hereinafter together referred to as ‘the certificates’). In particular, Annex III to Implementing Regulation (EU) 2020/2235 lays down, among others, model certificates for the entry into and transit through the Union of consignments of certain composite products.

(2)

Chapter 50 of Annex III to Implementing Regulation (EU) 2020/2235 sets out the model animal health/official certificate for the entry into the Union of non shelf-stable composite products and shelf-stable composite products, containing any quantity of meat products except gelatine, collagen and highly refined products, and intended for human consumption (model COMP). Chapter 52 of Annex III to Implementing Regulation (EU) 2020/2235 sets out the model animal health certificate for the transit through the Union to a third country, either by immediate transit or after storage in the Union, of non shelf-stable composite products and shelf-stable composite products, containing any quantity of meat products, and intended for human consumption (model TRANSIT-COMP). Both of those models include a specific animal health attestation for dairy products contained in the composite products. Heat treatments requirements in those attestations should be aligned with the treatments laid down in Annex XXVII to Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2020/692 (5). Additionally, the requirement to indicate the production dates of the dairy products and colostrum-based products contained in the composite products should be deleted as superfluous in light of the description provided in footnote (2) covering all the constituents of animal origin. Moreover, certain footnotes in the Notes to Part II to those models should be supplemented and clarified. It is therefore necessary to amend Chapters 50 and 52 of Annex III to Implementing Regulation (EU) 2020/2235 accordingly.

(3)

In addition, in Chapter 52 of Annex III to Implementing Regulation (EU) 2020/2235, the requirement to indicate the approval number of the establishment of origin of dairy products contained in the composite products transiting through the Union should be deleted as the Union is not a final destination of those composite products. It is therefore necessary to amend Chapter 52 of Annex III to Implementing Regulation (EU) 2020/2235 accordingly.

(4)

Annex III to Implementing Regulation (EU) 2020/2235 should therefore be amended accordingly.

(5)

In order to avoid any disruption to trade as regards the entry into and transit through the Union of consignments of certain composite products, the use of certificates issued in accordance with Implementing Regulation (EU) 2020/2235, as applicable prior to the amendments made by this Regulation, should continue to be authorised during a transitional period subject to certain conditions.

(6)

As Implementing Regulation (EU) 2020/2235 applies from 21 April 2021, in the interest of legal certainty and to facilitate trade, the amendments to be made to Implementing Regulation (EU) 2020/2235 by this Regulation should take effect as a matter of urgency.

(7)

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