(1)

Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2022/2292 (2) supplements Regulation (EU) 2017/625 and aims to ensure that consignments of food-producing animals and certain goods intended for human consumption from third countries or regions thereof comply with certain Union food safety requirements or those recognised to be at least equivalent thereto. In particular, that Regulation identifies the animals and goods intended for human consumption that are subject to the requirement to come from a third country or region thereof which appears on the list referred to in Article 126(2)(a) of Regulation (EU) 2017/625.

(2)

Article 7 of Delegated Regulation (EU) 2022/2292 provides that certain consignments of food-producing animals, products of animal origin and composite products are to enter the Union only from a third country included in the list of third countries approved for the entry into the Union of such consignments for human consumption.

(3)

Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/405 (3) lays down a list of third countries or regions thereof authorised for the entry into the Union of consignments of certain highly refined products, intended for human consumption.

(4)

Since a recent amendment (4) of Regulation (EC) No 853/2004 of the European Parliament and of the Council (5), highly refined products also cover fat derivatives and food flavourings that are authorized in accordance with Regulation (EC) No 1334/2008 of the European Parliament and of the Council (6), subject to treatments excluding any public or animal health risk. Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/405 should be amended to be consistent with this change.

(5)

Azerbaijan has submitted a control plan, which covers roes and caviar. The plan provides sufficient guarantees and should therefore be approved.

(6)

Lebanon has submitted a control plan, which covers honey. The plan provides sufficient guarantees and should therefore be approved.

(7)

Isle of Man is listed in the table of Annex -I to Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/405 for its export to the Union of ovine and caprine meat. However, Isle of Man has informed the Commission that it is no longer interested in exporting caprine meat to the Union. The entry for Isle of Man for ovine and caprine meat in that table of Annex -I to Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/405 should therefore only cover ovine meat.

(8)

Japan is listed in the table of Annex -I to Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/405 for their export to the Union of pork meat. However, Japan has informed the Commission that it is no longer interested in submitting a control plan for pork meat but intends to use only pork meat originating either from Member States or third countries from which such products are authorised for entry into the Union. Consequently, the entry for Japan for pork meat should be adapted accordingly in Annex -I to Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/405.

(9)

The United Kingdom is listed in the table of Annex -I to Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/405 for their export to the Union of rabbit meat. However, the United Kingdom has informed the Commission that it is no longer interested to submit a control plan for rabbit meat but intends to use only rabbit meat originating either from Member States or third countries from which such products are authorised for entry into the Union. Consequently, the entry for United Kingdom for rabbit meat should be adapted accordingly in Annex -I to Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/405.

(10)

Thailand has not submitted to the Commission a control plan for milk. However, Thailand has provided guarantees to use only milk originating either from Member States or third countries from which milk is authorised for entry into the Union. It has also informed the Commission that such milk to be exported to the Union will not be limited to composite products containing processed milk products. Consequently, the entry for Thailand for milk should be adapted accordingly in Annex -I to Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/405.

(11)

The United States of America has submitted a control plan, which covers casings. The plan provides sufficient guarantees and should therefore be approved.

(12)

Rwanda is currently listed in the table of Annex -I to Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/405 for honey and Colombia and Syria are listed for casings. As those third countries have not submitted to the Commission plans for the respective products, those entries should be deleted from the table in that Annex.

(13)

Moldova submitted a Salmonella control programme in flocks of laying hens in order to be authorised for the entry into the Union of class A eggs in accordance with Article 7 of Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/405. That control programme was assessed with satisfaction by the Commission. The compliance related to the requirements on Salmonella control in accordance with Article 10(6) of Regulation (EC) No 2160/2003 of the European Parliament and of the Council (7) was double checked during the audit carried out by the Commission in April 2022 (8). Moldova should therefore be authorised for the entry into the Union of class A eggs.

(14)

Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/405 should therefore be amended accordingly.

(15)

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