(1)

The representative prices and additional duties applicable to imports of white sugar, raw sugar and certain syrups for the 2007/08 marketing year are fixed by Commission Regulation (EC) No 1109/2007 (3). These prices and duties have been last amended by Commission Regulation (EC) No 772/2008 (4).

(2)

The data currently available to the Commission indicate that the said amounts should be changed in accordance with the rules and procedures laid down in Regulation (EC) No 951/2006,

(1)

For the additive canthaxanthin the conditions for authorisation for certain categories of animals are provided for in Commission Directive 2003/7/EC of 24 January 2003 amending the conditions for authorisation of canthaxanthin in feedingstuffs in accordance with Council Directive 70/524/EEC (2). For the categories covered by Directive 2003/7/EC, that Directive replaced the conditions of authorisation provided for in Commission Regulation (EC) No 2316/98 (3). That additive was entered in the Community Register of Feed Additives as an existing product in accordance with Article 10 of Regulation (EC) No 1831/2003.

(2)

On a request by the Commission, the European Food Safety Authority (the Authority) adopted an opinion on 14 June 2007 on maximum residue limits (MRLs) for canthaxanthin in foodstuffs coming from animals (4). To respect the acceptable daily intake of canthaxanthin, the Authority proposed to set MRLs for that substance according to the values given in that opinion.

(3)

MRLs should therefore be established accordingly for the feed additive canthaxanthin in addition to the existing authorisation conditions of this additive.

(4)

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

(1)

In accordance with the first subparagraph of Article 6(2) and pursuant to Article 17(2) of Regulation (EC) No 510/2006, Italy’s application to register the name ‘Acciughe sotto sale del Mar Ligure’, Belgium’s application to register the name ‘Brussels grondwitloof’ and France’s application to register the name ‘Œufs de Loué’ have been published in the Official Journal of the European Union (2).

(2)

As no objection under Article 7 of Regulation (EC) No 510/2006 has been received by the Commission, these names should be entered in the Register,

(1)

Regulation (EC) No 1774/2002 lays down animal and public health rules for the collection, transport, storage, handling, processing and use or disposal of animal by-products and the placing on the market of such products.

(2)

Annex I to Regulation (EC) No 1774/2002 contains a definition of blood meal. In order to clarify that definition, it is appropriate to specify that it also covers products derived from the heat treatment of fractions of blood in accordance with Chapter II of Annex VII to that Regulation, and intended for animal consumption or organic fertilisers.

(3)

The specific requirements for mammalian processed animal protein are set out in Chapter II of Annex VII to Regulation (EC) No 1774/2002. The treatment requirements laid down in A(1) of that Chapter, for mammalian processed animal protein, should be amended to take account of the new definition of blood meal in Annex I to that Regulation.

(4)

Annex V to Regulation (EC) No 1774/2002 provides that animal by-products are to be processed on a different site from the site of collection, unless located in a completely separate building. It also provides that the processing of animal by-products originating on the same site in processing plants linked to a slaughterhouse by way of a conveyer system may be permitted under certain conditions.

(5)

In order to facilitate the practical application of the provisions in Annex V to Regulation (EC) No 1774/2002, to Category 3 processing plants, the competent authorities in the Member States should be permitted to derogate from these provisions and to allow the introduction of Category 3 material originating in other premises approved under Regulation (EC) No 853/2004 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 29 April 2004 laying down specific hygiene rules for food of animal origin (2), under conditions aimed at the control of risks to public and animal health.

(6)

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

(1)

Article 88(1) of Regulation (EC) No 1234/2007 sets the amount of aid to be paid to processors for dried fodder up to the maximum guaranteed quantity laid down in Article 89(1) of that Regulation.

(2)

In accordance with the second subparagraph of Article 33(1) of Commission Regulation (EC) No 382/2005 of 7 March 2005 laying down detailed rules for the application of Council Regulation (EC) No 1786/2003 on the common organisation of the market in dried fodder (2), the Member States have notified the Commission of the quantities of dried fodder in respect of which entitlements to aid have been recognised for the 2007/2008 marketing year. These notifications indicate that the maximum guaranteed quantity for dried fodder has not been exceeded.

(3)

Therefore, in accordance with Article 88(1) of Regulation (EC) No 1234/2007, the amount of the aid for dried fodder is EUR 33 per tonne.

(4)

The measures provided for in this Regulation are in accordance with the opinion of the Management Committee for the Common Organisation of Agricultural Markets,

(1)

Council Regulation (EC) No 40/2008 of 16 January 2008 fixing for 2008 the fishing opportunities and associated conditions for certain fish stocks and groups of fish stocks applicable in Community waters and for Community vessels, in waters where catch limitations are required (3), lays down quotas for 2008.

(2)

According to the information received by the Commission, catches of the stock referred to in the Annex to this Regulation by vessels flying the flag of or registered in the Member State referred to therein have exhausted the quota allocated for 2008.

(3)

It is therefore necessary to prohibit fishing for that stock and its retention on board, transhipment and landing,

(1)

Council Regulation (EC) No 40/2008 of 16 January 2008 fixing for 2008 the fishing opportunities and associated conditions for certain fish stocks and groups of fish stocks applicable in Community waters and for Community vessels, in waters where catch limitations are required (3), lays down quotas for 2008.

(2)

According to the information received by the Commission, catches of the stock referred to in the Annex to this Regulation by vessels flying the flag of or registered in the Member State referred to therein have exhausted the quota allocated for 2008.

(3)

It is therefore necessary to prohibit fishing for that stock and its retention on board, transhipment and landing,

(1)

In accordance with the provisions of Article 15 of the Euro-Mediterranean Agreement establishing an Association between the European Communities and their Member States, of the one part, and the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, of the other part (1) (hereinafter referred to as the Association Agreement), the Agreement in the form of an Exchange of Letters between the European Community and the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan concerning reciprocal liberalisation measures and amending the EC-Jordan Association Agreement as well as replacing Annexes I, II, III and IV and Protocols 1 and 2 to that Agreement (2) (hereinafter referred to as the Agreement in the form of an Exchange of Letters), approved by Council Decision 2006/67/EC (3), introduced further bilateral trade concessions in agricultural and processed agricultural products with effect from 1 January 2006.

(2)

After the adoption of Decision 2006/67/EC, the Jordanian authorities informed the Commission services of discrepancies relating to certain Jordanian customs nomenclature codes.

(3)

It should be clarified that the new reciprocal liberalisation measures introduced by the Agreement in the form of an Exchange of Letters only relate to agricultural and processed agricultural products, and not to fish and fisheries products covered by Chapter 3, headings 1604 and 1605, and sub-headings 0511 91, 2301 20 and ex 1902 20 (stuffed pasta containing more than 20 % by weight of fish, crustaceans, molluscs or other aquatic invertebrates).

(4)

Therefore, Articles 11a and 16, as well as Annex III and the Annex to Protocol 2 to the Association Agreement should be amended in order to correct these discrepancies.

(5)

For processed agricultural products, which are subject to a revision clause, a reference to the time schedule of the revision should be added,

(1)

Commission Decision 2007/777/EC of 29 November 2007 laying down the animal and public health conditions and model certificates for imports of certain meat products and treated stomachs, bladders and intestines for human consumption from third countries and repealing Decision 2005/432/EC (3) lays down rules on imports into the Community of consignments of certain meat products for human consumption, including the lists of third countries and parts of third countries from which imports of such products are to be authorised. That Decision also lays down model certificates and rules on treatments required for those products.

(2)

Under Decision 2007/777/EC, China is only authorised to export to the Community heat treated poultrymeat products treated in a hermetically sealed container to an Fo value of three or more in accordance with Part 4 of Annex II to that Decision.

(3)

The Chinese authorities have now asked the Commission to authorise the importation into the Community of poultrymeat products which have been subjected to a less severe treatment, namely heat treatment to a minimum temperature of 70 °C.

(4)

Several inspection missions carried out by the Commission's services in China have shown that the competent authorities in China, in particular in the Province of Shandong are sufficiently well structured to deal with the animal health status of poultry.

(5)

In addition, the authorities in the Province of Shandong have been able to demonstrate that the specific animal health requirements as laid down in Directive 2002/99/EC and Decision 2007/777/EC are complied with.

(6)

Following the last Annual General Session of the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) held in Paris in May 2007 at which China became a full member of that organisation, the Chinese authorities have regularly sent animal health information to the Commission. In addition, they have agreed to notify to the Commission, within 24 hours after confirmation, initial outbreaks of avian influenza and Newcastle disease in each previously disease free part of its territory.

(7)

China has recently sent avian influenza virus samples to the Community Reference Laboratory for Avian Influenza (CRL). The exchange of virus samples makes it possible to do more detailed studies on the evolution of the virus and assess the possible origin and means of virus spread.

(8)

It is therefore appropriate to authorise the importation into the Community of poultrymeat products from the Province of Shandong in China which have been heat treated to a minimum temperature of 70 °C in accordance with Part 4 of Annex II to Decision 2007/777/EC.

(9)

Decision 2007/777/EC should therefore be amended accordingly.

(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,

(1)

Commission Decision 2002/994/EC of 20 December 2002 concerning certain protective measures with regard to the products of animal origin imported from China (2) applies to all products of animal origin imported from China and intended for human consumption or for animal feed.

(2)

Under Article 2 of that Decision Member States are to authorise imports of products listed in Part II of the Annex to that Decision which are accompanied by a declaration of the Chinese competent authority stating that each consignment has been subjected before dispatch to a chemical test in order to ensure that the products concerned do not present a danger to human health. That test must be carried out, in particular, with a view to detecting the presence of chloramphenicol and nitrofuran and its metabolites.

(3)

The Chinese competent authority has provided the appropriate residue monitoring plan for poultry intended for export to the Community. That plan has been approved by Commission Decision 2004/432/EC of 29 April 2004 on the approval of residue monitoring plans submitted by third countries in accordance with Council Directive 96/23/EC (3).

(4)

In addition, the Commission has recently verified, on the spot, the monitoring measures applied to the control of residues of veterinary medicines in poultry and the outcome of that verification has been favourable.

(5)

By Commission Decision 2007/777/EC (4) the Province of Shandong in China has been authorised for the importation into the EU of heat treated poultrymeat products.

(6)

Poultrymeat products should therefore be included in the list of products set out in Part II of the Annex to Decision 2002/994/EC and that Decision should be amended accordingly.

(7)

The authorisation to import poultrymeat products from China into the Community is without prejudice to other sanitary measures adopted for public or animal health reasons.

(8)

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

‘—

poultrymeat products’

(1)

Following the outbreak of avian influenza, caused by a highly pathogenic H5N1 virus strain, in south-eastern Asia starting in December 2003, the Commission adopted several protection measures in relation to avian influenza. Those measures include in particular Commission Decision 2005/692/EC of 6 October 2005 concerning certain protection measures in relation to avian influenza in several third countries (3).

(2)

Commission Decision 2007/777/EC of 29 November 2007 laying down the animal and public health conditions and model certificates for imports of certain meat products and treated stomachs, bladders and intestines for human consumption from third countries and repealing Decision 2005/432/EC (4) authorised the importation into the Community of poultrymeat products from the Province of Shandong in China which have been heat treated to a minimum temperature of 70 °C.

(3)

Such heat treatment is sufficient to inactivate the avian influenza virus and the animal health risk posed by the heat treated products may therefore be regarded as negligible.

(4)

It is therefore appropriate to derogate from the suspension of importation of meat products consisting of, or containing poultrymeat laid down in Decision 2005/692/EC, to allow imports of such poultrymeat products provided that they have undergone heat treatment in accordance with Decision 2007/777/EC.

(5)

Decision 2005/692/EC should therefore be amended accordingly.

(6)

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

(1)

Council Directive 91/67/EEC of 28 January 1991 concerning the animal health conditions governing the placing on the market of aquaculture animals and products (2) lays down rules governing imports into the Community from third countries of aquaculture animals and products. It provides that imports of aquaculture animals and products must satisfy certain conditions laid down in that Directive and come from third countries or parts thereof appearing on a list drawn up in accordance with that Directive.

(2)

Commission Decision 2003/858/EC of 21 November 2003 laying down the animal health conditions and certification requirements for imports of live fish, their eggs and gametes intended for farming, and live fish of aquaculture origin and products thereof intended for human consumption (3) establishes harmonised animal health rules for the importation into the Community of certain live fish, their eggs and gametes and certain live fish of aquaculture origin and products thereof. In addition, it lists the territories from which imports into the Community of certain species of live fish, their eggs and gametes are authorised.

(3)

Commission Decision 2006/656/EC of 20 September 2006 laying down the animal health conditions and certification requirements for imports of fish for ornamental purpose (4) establishes harmonised animal health rules for imports of ornamental fish into the Community. In addition, that Decision lists the territories from which imports into the Community of certain ornamental fish are authorised.

(4)

Decision 2003/858/EC lists Malaysia as a third country from which imports into the Community of live fish belonging to the Cyprinidae family, their eggs and gametes intended for farming and of live fish of aquaculture origin of that family, their eggs and gametes intended for restocking of put and take fisheries are authorised.

(5)

Under Decision 2006/656/EC imports into the Community of certain ornamental fish from Malaysia are authorised. Fish of the Cyprinidae family is covered by that Decision.

(6)

The results of the latest Community inspection visit to Malaysia have revealed serious shortcomings as regards registration of aquaculture farms, notification of diseases and official controls of animal health throughout the production chain of aquaculture animals and ornamental fish. Such shortcomings are likely to lead to the spread of disease, thus presenting a serious threat to animal health in the Community. A lack of proper animal health checks by the competent authority of Malaysia, which is likely to increase that threat, was also revealed by that inspection.

(7)

It is therefore necessary to suspend imports from Malaysia of live fish belonging to the Cyprinidae family, their eggs and gametes intended for farming, of live fish belonging to the Cyprinidae family of aquaculture origin, their eggs and gametes for restocking of put and take fisheries, as well as of certain ornamental fish belonging to that family. As all the other tropical ornamental fish imported from Malaysia are not susceptible to the epizootic haematopoietic necrosis, infectious salmon anaemia, viral haemorrhagic septicaemia, infectious haematopoietic necrosis, spring viraemia of carp, bacterial kidney disease, infectious pancreatic necrosis, Koi herpes virus and infection with Gyrodactylus salaris there is no need to suspend imports of tropical ornamental fish.

(8)

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

(a)

consignments of live fish, intended for farming;

(b)

consignments of live fish, of aquaculture origin intended for restocking of put and take fisheries; and

(c)

in the case of consignments of ornamental fish, only the species Carassius auratus, Ctenopharyngodon idellus, Cyprinus carpio, Hypophthalmichthys molitrix, Aristichthys nobilis, Carassius carassius and Tinca tinca of the Cyprinidae family.

(1)

Part 1 of Annex II to Council Decision 79/542/EEC of 21 December 1976 drawing up a list of third countries or parts of third countries, and laying down animal and public health and veterinary certification conditions, for importation into the Community of certain live animals and their fresh meat (2) sets out a list of third countries and parts thereof from which Member States are authorised to import fresh meat of certain animals.

(2)

Argentina is listed in Part 1 of Annex II to Decision 79/542/EEC, and has been divided into different territories mainly according to their animal health status. The Argentinean territory of Patagonia south of the 42nd parallel is recognised as having a free of foot-and-mouth disease without vaccination status. Imports into the Community of bone-in fresh meat from certain animals are authorised from that territory. The other territories of Argentina are recognised as having a free of foot-and-mouth disease with vaccination status and only imports of de-boned and matured fresh meat from those territories into the Community are authorised.

(3)

In 2007, a territory in Argentina north of the 42nd parallel corresponding to parts of the provinces of Neuquén and Rio Negro was recognised as having a free of foot-and-mouth disease without vaccination status by the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE).

(4)

Following that recognition, Argentina requested that imports into the Community of bone-in fresh meat from that territory be authorised. In February 2008, a Community inspection was carried out in Argentina to verify the situation on the ground. As the outcome of that mission was favourable, it is appropriate to authorise imports into the Community of bone-in fresh meat from certain animals from that territory.

(5)

Several Community inspections have been recently carried out in Brazil, including in the states of Paraná and São Paulo. As a result of those inspections, Decision 79/542/EEC, as amended by Decision 2008/61/EC, lays down import measures strengthening the control and surveillance of holdings from which animals eligible for export to the Community are sourced, in order to authorise imports of fresh de-boned and matured bovine meat only from animals from specifically approved farms located in states which are recognised as having a free of foot-and-mouth disease status with or without vaccination.

(6)

In May 2008, the status of free of foot-and-mouth disease with vaccination was reinstated by the OIE for certain Brazilian States, including Paraná and São Paulo.

(7)

Considering the free of foot-and-mouth disease status of those states, and considering the results of the inspections carried out in Brazil, these states should be re-included in the list of territories from which imports into the Community of fresh de-boned and matured bovine meat are authorised under the uniform conditions applicable to the other Brazilian States free of foot-and-mouth disease with vaccination and currently authorised for such imports into the Community.

(8)

In 2007, Paraguay was recognised by the OIE as having a free of foot-and-mouth disease with vaccination status with the exception of a high surveillance area along its external borders. In April 2008, a Community inspection took place in Paraguay in order to verify the situation on the ground.

(9)

The favourable outcome of that inspection suggests that it is appropriate to authorise imports into the Community of de-boned and matured fresh bovine meat from the territory of Paraguay which is recognised by the OIE as having a free of foot-and-mouth disease with vaccination status.

(10)

Decision 79/542/EEC should therefore be amended accordingly.

(11)

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

(1)

On 30 May 2007, the Council adopted Joint Action 2007/369/CFSP (1) for a period of three years. The operational phase of EUPOL AFGHANISTAN began on 15 June 2007.

(2)

The financial reference amount laid down in Article 13(1) of Joint Action 2007/369/CFSP should cover the period up to 30 November 2008,