(1)

Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2019/625 (2) lays down the requirements for the entry into the Union consignments of, inter alia, prepared snails.

(2)

According to Article 1(2)(a)(i) and (iii) of Delegated Regulation (EU) 2019/625, third countries exporting consignments of prepared snails to the Union are to be listed, and each consignment of prepared snails is to be accompanied by an official certificate. Similar requirements should also apply to live snails intended for human consumption.

(3)

To clearly identify the snails subject to requirements for entry into the Union, a definition of snails should be introduced in Delegated Regulation (EU) 2019/625.

(4)

Delegated Regulation (EU) 2019/625 should not apply to samples of goods intended for human consumption, imported for the purpose of product analysis and quality testing without being placed on the market and therefore do not represent a risk to public health. Article 1(3) should be amended accordingly. Article 12 of Delegated Regulation (EU) 2019/625 provides for import requirements for consignments of composite products referred to by Harmonised System codes (‘HS codes’) under certain headings of Part Two of Annex I to Council Regulation (EEC) No 2658/87 (3). It is appropriate to refer to Combined Nomenclature (CN) codes in accordance with Regulation (EU) 2017/625. In addition, codes of certain composite products are missing in Article 12 of Delegated Regulation (EU) 2019/625. It is therefore appropriate to add these CN codes.

(5)

Consignments of live snails and of composite products placed on the market for human consumption should be subject to individual certification for entry into the Union to reduce the risk of non-compliance with Union requirements on food safety. Certification of compliance with Union requirements also contributes to reminding food business operators and the competent authorities of third countries or regions thereof of the applicable Union requirements.

(6)

Article 7 of Delegated Regulation (EU) 2019/625 provides for requirements on the manufacturing of raw materials for import of consignments of fresh meat, minced meat, meat preparations, meat products, mechanically separated meat and raw materials intended for the production of gelatine and collagen to avoid a possible public health risk. Bladders and intestines used for the production of casings, are subject to a treatment that eliminates any public health risk. It is therefore appropriate to allow that the raw materials for the production of casings come from slaughterhouses under the supervision of the national competent authorities and Article 7 should be amended accordingly.

(7)

Article 13 of Delegated Regulation (EU) 2019/625 establishes that each consignment of certain listed products may enter the Union only if the consignment is accompanied by an official certificate. Composite products are not included in the list of products that are to be accompanied by an official certificate.

(8)

The risk related to certain categories of composite products depends on the type of ingredients and on their storage conditions. Consignments of such products placed on the market for human consumption should therefore be subject to the individual certification of each consignment for entry into the Union for placing on the market. Certification of compliance with Union requirements may also contribute to reminding food business operators and the competent authorities of third countries or regions thereof of the applicable Union requirements.

(9)

Certain shelf-stable composite products that do not contain any other meat products than gelatine or collagen or highly refined products do not represent a public or animal health risk because of the nature of the treatment required for the manufacture of such meat products. Such composite products should be accompanied by a private attestation instead of an official certificate.

(10)

Delegated Regulation (EU) 2019/625 should therefore be amended accordingly.

(11)

As Articles 12 and 14 of Delegated Regulation (EU) 2019/625 applies from 21 April 2021, the amendments to Articles relevant for these Articles 12 and 14 should also apply from that date,