(1)

Annex XIV, Chapter 5, Section B, paragraph (a) to the 2003 Act of Accession provides that the structural requirements laid down in Annex I to Council Directive 64/433/EEC of 26 June 1964 on health conditions for the production and marketing of fresh meat (2) and in Annexes A and B to Council Directive 77/99/EEC of 21 December 1976 on health problems affecting the production and marketing of meat products and certain other products of animal origin (3) are not to apply to establishments in Slovakia listed in the Appendix (4) to Annex XIV to the Act of Accession until 31 December 2006, subject to certain conditions.

(2)

The Appendix to Annex XIV to the 2003 Act of Accession has been amended by Commission Decision 2004/463/EC (5).

(3)

According to an official declaration from the Slovak competent authority, three meat establishments have completed their upgrading process and are now in full compliance with Community legislation. Furthermore, two meat establishments from that list have ceased their activities. Those establishments should therefore be deleted from the list of establishments in transition.

(4)

Three meat establishments on the list of establishments in transition have made considerable efforts to comply with structural requirements laid down by Community legislation. However, those establishments are not in position to finish their upgrading process by the prescribed deadline due to exceptional technical constraints. Therefore it is justified to allow them further time to complete the upgrading process.

(5)

The Appendix to Annex XIV to the 2003 Act of Accession should therefore be amended accordingly. For the sake of clarity, it should be replaced.

(6)

The Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health has been informed of the measures provided for in this Decision,