(1)

Regulation (EC) No 853/2004 lays down specific rules on the hygiene of food of animal origin for food business operators, with certain special guarantees for certain food of animal origin intended for the Finnish, Swedish and Norwegian markets. Accordingly, food business operators intending to place meat from specified animals and eggs on the market in those EEA States are to comply with certain rules in respect of Salmonella. Furthermore, consignments of such products are to be accompanied respectively by a trade document or certificate stating that a microbiological test has been carried out with negative results in accordance with EEA legislation.

(2)

In addition, Commission Regulation (EC) No 1688/2005 (2) specifies those special guarantees, laying down rules on the sampling of such products and microbiological methods for the examination of those samples. It also sets out a trade document and a certificate to accompany consignments of the products.

(3)

On 5 July 2018, the Icelandic Government submitted a request to the EFTA Surveillance Authority (‘the Authority’) for special guarantees concerning Salmonella to be extended to Iceland, in respect of poultry meat and eggs in accordance with Regulation (EC) No 853/2004. (3) The request includes the Icelandic Salmonella Control Programme for poultry farming and poultry products.

(4)

The Icelandic Salmonella Control Programme covers the whole of poultry production including domestic fowls, turkeys, ducks, geese and other poultry populations. However, the provisions of Regulation (EC) No 2160/2003 of the European Parliament and of the Council (4) concerning EEA targets for the reduction of the prevalence of Salmonella serotypes and national control programmes, and its implementing measures, in particular Commission Regulations (EU) No 200/2012 (5), (EU) No 200/2010 (6), (EU) No 517/2011 (7) and (EU) No 1190/2012 (8) establishing EEA targets for the reduction of the prevalence of certain Salmonella serotypes in certain poultry populations, only cover, as regards poultry, flocks of broilers, breeding flocks and laying hens of Gallus gallus, and flocks of turkeys.

(5)

During its meeting of 18 June 2008, the Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health agreed on a Commission staff working document entitled ‘Guidance document on the minimum requirements for Salmonella control programmes to be recognised equivalent to those approved for Sweden and Finland in respect of meat and eggs of Gallus gallus’ (‘the Guidance document’) (9).

(6)

The Authority, in cooperation with the European Commission, has examined the provisions of the Icelandic Salmonella Control Programme concerning meat and eggs of domestic fowl (Gallus gallus) and meat derived from turkeys. The programme was also presented by the Icelandic Government and discussed at the meeting of the Standing Committee on Plants, Animals, Food and Feed, Section Biological Safety of the Food Chain of 5 October 2018.

(7)

The provisions of the Icelandic Salmonella Control Programme concerning meat and eggs of domestic fowl (Gallus gallus) and meat derived from turkeys are considered equivalent to those approved for Finland, Sweden and Norway, and in line with the Guidance document and corresponding requirements applicable to turkeys.

(8)

The special guarantees should therefore be extended to consignments of meat and eggs of domestic fowl (Gallus gallus) and meat derived from turkeys intended for Iceland. In addition, the rules laid down in Regulation (EC) No 1688/2005 concerning the sampling of such meat and of the flocks of origin of the eggs, the microbiological methods for the examination of those samples and the trade document or certificate should apply to such consignments.

(9)

The measures provided for in this Decision are in accordance with the opinion of the EFTA Veterinary and Phytosanitary Committee.