(1)

Regulation (EU) 2017/625 establishes, inter alia, the framework for the performance of official controls and other official activities on consignments of animals and goods entering into the Union from third countries in order to verify compliance with Union agri-food chain rules. Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/1014 (2) was adopted within the framework of Regulation (EU) 2017/625, and it lays down, inter alia, common and specific minimum requirements for border control posts for certain consignments of animals and goods entering into the Union.

(2)

More specifically, Article 3(2) and (3) of Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/1014 provide that the rooms and areas of border control posts are to have adequate drainage. As there is some uncertainty about the role of the drainage, it is necessary to clarify its purpose. In addition, as the categories of animals and goods handled involve different risks and necessitate different cleaning and disinfection operations, it is necessary to clarify that the drainage should be adapted to these operations.

(3)

Article 3(4) of Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/1014 allows for non-containerised consignments of fishery products for human consumption to be unloaded in roofless areas. Fishery products not intended for human consumption and aquatic animals for all uses may also arrive at border control posts in non-containerised consignments. Since the unloading of such consignments in roofless areas does not pose any risks for human or animal health, it should also be permitted to unload fishery products not intended for human consumption and aquatic animals for all uses in roofless areas.

(4)

The unloading of used agricultural and forestry machinery subject to a phytosanitary inspection at a border control post is complex due to its large dimensions. As the unloading in roofless areas does not pose any risks to plant health in the case of used agricultural and forestry machinery, it is appropriate to allow the unloading of such machinery in roofless areas.

(5)

Article 3(5) of Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/1014 provides that, for the performance of official controls on bulk liquids of animal origin and non-animal origin, border control posts are not required to have areas or rooms for unloading and inspection rooms or inspection areas, as these goods are directly unloaded from the means of transport into tanks via special pipes. Such areas or rooms are also not necessary for high volume bulk goods of non-animal origin, as they can be directly unloaded from the means of transport to silos or warehouses via special equipment, such as conveyors. Therefore, areas or rooms for the unloading of goods and inspection rooms or inspection areas referred to in Article 3(1), points (a) and (b), of Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/1014, should not be required for high volume bulk goods of non-animal origin unloaded directly to silos or warehouses via special equipment. Article 3(5) of Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/1014 should, therefore, be amended accordingly.

(6)

Article 3(6) of Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/1014 provides for the exemption of border control posts that are designated for plants, plant products and other objects referred to in Article 47(1), point (c), of Regulation (EU) 2017/625 from the requirements to have a supply of hot and cold running water, facilities for washing and drying hands, and rooms with ceilings that are easy to disinfect. Border control posts designated for plants, plant products and other objects that are covered by measures and conditions referred to in Article 47(1), points (d) to (f), of Regulation (EU) 2017/625, should also be exempted from those requirements, as such an exemption does not pose any risks to plant health. Article 3(6) of Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/1014 should, therefore, be amended accordingly.

(7)

Article 3(11) of Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/1014 provides that commercial storage facilities may be used for the performance of identity checks and physical checks on products of non-animal origin if these facilities comply with the minimum requirements laid down in that Implementing Regulation, are within the close vicinity of the border control post and are under the competence of the same customs authority as the border control post. The competent authorities should be permitted to perform identity checks and physical checks on plants, plant products and other objects in commercial storage facilities, under the same conditions since the performance of such checks in commercial storage facilities does not create any risks to plant health. Therefore, Article 3(11) of Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/1014 should be amended to extend the categories of goods for which identity checks and physical checks may be performed in commercial storage facilities.

(8)

Article 5(1), point (e), of Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/1014 requires border control posts which have been designated for animals referred to in Article 47(1), point (a), of Regulation (EU) 2017/625 to have housing areas or housing rooms to separately detain ungulates other than registered equidae, registered equidae, and other animals other than ungulates (but including zoo ungulates). Where border control posts have been designated for animals, the housing areas or housing rooms are to be adapted to the categories of animals for which the posts have been designated. However, housing areas or housing rooms can be shared between certain categories of animals without compromising animal health and animal welfare requirements. Therefore, it is appropriate to amend Article 5(1), point (e), of Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/1014 to allow for flexibility regarding separation requirements between certain categories of animals.

(9)

Given that the inspection of consignments of hatching eggs at border control posts designated for animals does not pose any risks to public or animal health as regards the animals and goods handled in these border control posts, the competent authorities should be permitted to inspect consignments of hatching eggs at border control posts designated for animals. Article 5 of Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/1014 should, therefore, be amended accordingly.

(10)

Article 6(5) of Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/1014 permits consignments of live frogs, live fish and live invertebrates, which are intended for human consumption, and consignments of hatching eggs and fishing baits, to be inspected at border control posts which have been designated for the categories of goods referred to in Article 47(1), point (b), of Regulation (EU) 2017/625. The small size of these animal species, and the fact that they are transported in containers or boxes, minimise the risk of cross-contamination with other categories of goods. Live invertebrates not intended for human consumption are of similar size and are transported in the same way as those intended for human consumption. Since the risk of cross-contamination is the same for both types of live invertebrates, it is appropriate to amend Article 6(5) of Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/1014 to also allow the inspection of live invertebrates not intended for human consumption at border control posts which have been designated for the categories of goods referred to in Article 47(1), point (b), of Regulation (EU) 2017/625.

(11)

The definition of ‘germinal products’ laid down in Article 4, point (28), of Regulation (EU) 2016/429 of the European Parliament and of the Council (3) includes hatching eggs. Since consignments of germinal products are inspected at border control posts designated for the categories of goods referred to in Article 47(1), point (b), of Regulation (EU) 2017/625, there is no need to make reference to hatching eggs in Article 6(5) of Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/1014, and for reasons of legal certainty it is therefore appropriate to delete that reference from that provision.

(12)

Article 60(1) of Regulation (EU) 2017/625 provides that Member States are to make information public on the designation of their border control posts. Member States are required to use the abbreviations and specifications of Annex II to Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/1014 to make public the categories of animals and goods for which the border control posts are designated. For reasons of coherence, the introductory phrases of points (a), (c) and (d) of Annex II to Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/1014 should be extended to the goods referred to in Article 47(1), points (d), (e) or (f), of Regulation (EU) 2017/625 as applicable.

(13)

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

(1)

Article 3 is amended as follows:

(2)

Article 5 is amended as follows:

(3)

in Article 6, paragraph 5 is replaced by the following:

(4)

Annex II is amended as follows: