(1)

Regulation (EC) No 178/2002 lays down the general principles governing food and feed in general, and food and feed safety in particular, at Community and national level. It provides for emergency measures where it is evident that food or feed imported from a third country is likely to constitute a serious risk to human health, animal health or the environment, and that such risk cannot be contained satisfactorily by means of measures taken by the Member State(s) concerned.

(2)

Council Directive 96/23/EC of 29 April 1996 on measures to monitor certain substances and residues thereof in live animals and animal products (2) provides that the production process of animals and primary products of animal origin is to be monitored for the purpose of detecting the presence of certain residues and substances in live animals, their excrements and body fluids and in tissue, animal products, animal feed and drinking water.

(3)

Residues of veterinary medicinal products and unauthorised substances have been detected in crustaceous imported from Bangladesh and intended for human consumption. The presence of those products and substances in food presents a potential risk for human health.

(4)

The results of the latest Community inspection visit to Bangladesh have revealed serious shortcomings as regards the residue control system in live animals and animal products and a lack of appropriate laboratory capacity for the testing of certain residues of veterinary medicinal products in live animals and animal products.

(5)

Bangladesh has recently taken measures concerning those shortcomings as regards the handling and testing of fishery products.

(6)

Since those measures are not sufficient, it is appropriate to adopt, at Community level, certain emergency measures applicable to importations of crustaceous from Bangladesh in order to ensure the effective and uniform protection of human health in all Member States.

(7)

Accordingly, Member States should allow importations of crustaceous from Bangladesh only if it can be shown that they have been subjected to an analytical test at origin to verify that they do not contain any unauthorised substances and that the levels of certain residues of veterinary medicinal products do not exceed the maximum residue levels laid down in Community legislation.

(8)

However, it is appropriate to authorise, the importation of consignments that are not accompanied by the results of the analytical tests at origin, provided that the importing Member States ensures that those consignments undergo appropriate checks on arrival at the Community border.

(9)

This Decision should be reviewed in the light of the guarantees offered by Bangladesh and on the basis of the results of the analytical tests carried out by the Member States.

(10)

The measures provided for in this Decision are in accordance with the opinion of the Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health,