(1)

Council Decision 2007/124/EC, Euratom (1) establishes the Specific Programme ‘Prevention, Preparedness and Consequence Management of Terrorism and other Security related risks’ (‘the Programme’) covering the period from 1 January 2007 to 31 December 2013.

(2)

A new regulation providing for financial support for police cooperation, preventing and combating crime, and crisis management as part of the Internal Security Fund is to be established for the period from 1 January 2014 to 31 December 2020 by Regulation (EU) No 513/2014 of the European Parliament and of the Council (2).

(3)

Decision 2007/124/EC, Euratom should therefore be repealed with effect from 1 January 2014,

(1)

Regulation (EC) No 1165/98 establishes a common framework for the production of short-term European statistics on the business cycle.

(2)

Commission Regulation (EC) No 657/2007 (2) lays down rules and conditions applying to the transmission of data by Member States participating in European sample schemes for short-term statistics. These rules allow for the terms of the European sample schemes to be adapted to changes of the base year.

(3)

The weightings for producing the European aggregates of all short-term statistics indicators were updated in 2013. This base-year change gave rise to a review of the NACE activity and CPA product headings selected for the individual Member States participating in the European sample schemes. The selection of NACE activity and CPA product headings should be adapted in order to reflect changes in recent years in the relevance of individual NACE activity and CPA product headings.

(4)

Regulation (EC) No 657/2007 should therefore be amended accordingly.

(5)

The measures provided for in this Regulation are in accordance with the opinion of the European Statistical System Committee,

(1)

In order to monitor progress towards the common objectives set out in the Europe 2020 Strategy and the related ‘Youth on the Move’ flagship initiative (2), it is necessary to have a comprehensive set of data on young people and their transition towards the labour market that allows comparisons to be made between Member States.

(2)

In its Communication Rethinking Education: Investing in skills for better socioeconomic outcomes (3), the Commission encourages Member States to introduce reforms of their education systems, in order that young people are equipped with the right skills for employment.

(3)

In its Resolution of 27 November 2009 on a renewed framework for European cooperation in the youth field (2010-18) (4), the Council underlines the need for better knowledge and understanding of the living conditions, values and attitudes of young women and men.

(4)

In its Recommendation of 22 April 2013 on establishing a Youth Guarantee (5), the Council encourages Member States to implement Youth Guarantee schemes as soon as possible, preferably from the start of the 2014-20 multiannual financial framework. They are advised to make use of the EU's Common Strategic Framework Funds and the European Social Fund in particular for this purpose.

(5)

In its Communication Working together for Europe's young people: A call to action on youth unemployment (6), the Commission encourages Member States to implement the Youth Guarantee and to invest in young people. It promotes online services that allow young people to search job opportunities advertised by employers from their own and other Member States, while also helping SMEs to recruit young people from across Europe.

(6)

Commission Regulation (EU) No 318/2013 (7) establishes the 2016 ad hoc module on young people on the labour market.

(7)

Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) No 1397/2014 (8) specifies and gives a description of the areas of specialised information (‘ad hoc sub-modules’) to be included in the 2016 ad hoc module on young people on the labour market.

(8)

Regulation (EU) No 545/2014 of the European Parliament and of the Council (9) provides that the technical characteristics, the filters, the codes and the deadline for the transmission of data under each ad hoc sub-module referred to in recital 7 should be specified by the Commission.

(9)

The measures provided for in this Regulation are in accordance with the opinion of the European Statistical System Committee,

(1)

Insurance and reinsurance undertakings need to comply with Directive 2009/138/EC requirements for internal models. They may change their internal model in accordance with the approved policy for changing the model pursuant to Article 115 of Directive 2009/138/EC.

(2)

Major changes to the internal model, a combination of minor changes that is considered a major change, and changes to the policy for changing the model are subject to prior supervisory approval. Rules with regard to the procedure to be followed concerning the approval process for internal models should apply in a consistent manner to the approval of major changes to the internal model and to any changes to the policy for changing the model.

(3)

The inclusion of new elements in the internal model, such as the inclusion of additional risks not included in the scope of the internal model or business units, are subject to supervisory approval as laid down in Article 112 of Directive 2009/138/EC.

(4)

Due to interdependencies between different approval applications under Directive 2009/138/EC, when applying for approval of an internal model, the insurance or reinsurance undertaking should inform the supervisory authority of other applications for approval of the items listed in Article 308a(1) of Directive 2009/138/EC, which are currently ongoing or foreseen within the next 6 months. Such a requirement is necessary to ensure supervisory assessments are based on transparent and unbiased information.

(5)

The procedure to be followed for the approval of an internal model and major changes to the internal model should envisage ongoing communication between the supervisory authorities and the insurance or reinsurance undertaking. It is appropriate to begin the communication before the formal application is submitted to the supervisory authorities. That communication should continue after the internal model or major change is approved through the supervisory review process.

(6)

During the approval process supervisory authorities should be able to request adjustments to the internal model or for a transitional plan as set out in Article 113 of Directive 2009/138/EC.

(7)

The provisions set out in this Regulation on the procedures to be followed concerning the approval, the approval of changes to the internal model and the approval of the policy for changing the model for internal models used at individual level should apply in a consistent manner to the procedures for internal models for the calculation of the consolidated group Solvency Capital Requirement and for group internal models.

(8)

This Regulation is based on the draft implementing technical standards submitted by the European Insurance and Occupational Pensions Authority to the European Commission.

(9)

The European Insurance and Occupational Pensions Authority has conducted open public consultations on the draft implementing technical standards on which this Regulation is based, analysed the potential related costs and benefits and requested the opinion of the Stakeholder Group established in accordance with Article 37 of Regulation (EU) No 1094/2010 of the European Parliament and of the Council (2).

(10)

In order to enhance legal certainty about the supervisory regime during the phasing-in period provided for in Article 308a of Directive 2009/138/EC, which will start on 1 April 2015, it is important to ensure that this Regulation enters into force as soon as possible, on the day after that of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union,

(a)

the procedure referred to in Article 112 of Directive 2009/138/EC as regards the approval of applications submitted by insurance and reinsurance undertakings to use full and partial internal models for the calculation of the Solvency Capital Requirement;

(b)

the procedure as regards the approval of applications submitted by insurance and reinsurance undertakings for a major change to the internal model and of changes to the policy for changing the internal model according to Article 115 of Directive 2009/138/EC.

(1)

An efficient exchange of appropriate information between the national supervisory authorities concerned is essential for the provision of an effective process for the reaching of a joint decision on group internal models.

(2)

In order to ensure a consistent application of the process for reaching a joint decision, it is important that each step be well defined. A clear process also facilitates exchange of information, promotes mutual understanding, develops relationships between the supervisory authorities concerned and promotes effective supervision.

(3)

Timely and realistic planning for the joint decision process is essential. Every supervisory authority concerned should provide the group supervisor with relevant information on a timely basis.

(4)

Establishing and documenting clear processes for the content and implementation of the joint decision should ensure that it is fully reasoned.

(5)

The process to reach a joint decision on the application to use a group internal model should be consistent for the joint decision on major changes and for changes to the policy for changing the model for group internal models.

(6)

This Regulation is based on the draft implementing technical standards submitted by the European Insurance and Occupational Pensions Authority (EIOPA) to the Commission.

(7)

EIOPA has conducted open public consultations on the draft implementing technical standards on which this Regulation is based, analysed the potential related costs and benefits and requested the opinion of the Stakeholder Group established in accordance with Article 37 of Regulation (EU) No 1094/2010 of the European Parliament and of the Council (2),

(8)

In order to enhance legal certainty about the supervisory regime during the phasing-in period provided for in Article 308a of Directive 2009/138/EC, which will start on 1 April 2015, it is important to ensure that this Regulation enters into force as soon as possible, on the day after that of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.

(1)

Special purpose vehicles require supervisory approval to be established prior to assuming risks from insurance or reinsurance undertakings. The conditions and procedures to be followed for granting and withdrawing this approval, including documentation requirements, are regulated by Directive 2009/138/EC and should be complemented by this Regulation.

(2)

Where a special purpose vehicle assumes risks from more than one insurance or reinsurance undertaking, the special purpose vehicle should maintain assets equal to or exceeding its aggregate maximum risk exposure taking into account each individual contractual obligation. When granting supervisory approval, the supervisory authority should assess whether this obligation is being met and consider each individual contractual arrangement and risk transfer.

(3)

It is important to set procedures for the cooperation and exchange of information between supervisory authorities, where the special purpose vehicle is established in a Member State which is not the Member State where the insurance or reinsurance undertaking, from which it assumes risk, is established. The cooperation and exchange of information between those supervisory authorities is particularly important during the process of the supervisory approval of the special purpose vehicle. Also, if there are material changes that potentially affect the special purpose vehicle's compliance with the requirements of Article 211 of Directive 2009/138/EC and when the authorisation is withdrawn or lapses, the cooperation and exchange of information between those supervisory authorities is necessary to ensure effective and efficient supervision.

(4)

The supervisory reporting requirements, which are set out in Article 325 of Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2015/35 (2), should enable the supervisory authorities of the special purpose vehicles to assess continued compliance with the relevant requirements. Those requirements should be complemented by the templates and formats set out in this Regulation.

(5)

For a clearer understanding of the appropriate technical rules to be laid down, it is necessary to define the term multi-arrangement special purpose vehicle.

(6)

This Regulation is based on the draft implementing technical standards submitted by the European Insurance and Occupational Pensions Authority (EIOPA) to the Commission.

(7)

EIOPA has conducted open public consultations on the draft implementing technical standards on which this Regulation is based, analysed the potential related costs and benefits and requested the opinion of the Insurance and Reinsurance Stakeholder Group established in accordance with Article 37 of Regulation (EU) No 1094/2010 of the European Parliament and of the Council (3).

(8)

In order to enhance legal certainty about the supervisory regime during the phasing-in period provided for in Article 308a of Directive 2009/138/EC, which will start on 1 April 2015, it is important to ensure that this Regulation enters into force as soon as possible, on the day after that of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union,

(a)

the procedures to be followed for granting and withdrawing supervisory approval to establish special purpose vehicles;

(b)

the procedures to be followed for cooperation and exchange of information between the supervisory authority of the Member State in which the special purpose vehicle is established and the supervisory authority of the Member State in which the insurance or reinsurance undertaking transferring risk is established;

(c)

the formats and templates to be used for the annual reporting of information by the special purpose vehicle.

(a)

content of submission, as specified in template SPV.01.01 of Annex II, according to the instructions in Annex III under the reference SPV.01.01;

(b)

basic information on the special purpose vehicle, as specified in template SPV.01.02 of Annex II, according to the instructions in Annex III under the reference SPV.01.02;

(c)

balance sheet data of the special purpose vehicle, distinguishing the material classes of assets, liabilities and equity items, including debt or other financing mechanism issued, as specified in template SPV.02.01 of Annex II, according to the instructions in Annex III under the reference SPV.02.01;

(d)

off-balance sheet data of the special purpose vehicle, as specified in template SPV.02.02 of Annex II, according to the instructions in Annex III under the reference SPV.02.02;

(e)

risks assumed regarding each individual contractual arrangement relating to the transfer of risk from an insurance or reinsurance undertaking, as specified in template SPV.03.01 of Annex II, according to the instructions in Annex III under the reference SPV.03.01;

(f)

list of debt securities or other financing mechanism issued regarding each individual contractual arrangement relating to the transfer of risk from an insurance or reinsurance undertaking, as specified in template SPV.03.02 of Annex II, according to the instructions in Annex III under the reference SPV.03.02.

(a)

an adequate description of the basis, methods and assumptions used for the valuation of the assets;

(b)

an adequate description of the basis, methods and assumptions used for the determination of the aggregate maximum risk exposure;

(c)

details of any conflicts of interest between the special purpose vehicle, the insurance or reinsurance undertakings and the providers of debt or finance;

(d)

details of any significant transactions entered into by the special purpose vehicle during the last reporting period;

(e)

information to demonstrate that the special purpose vehicle continues to be fully funded, including:

(f)

if the special purpose vehicle has not continuously complied with the requirement to be fully funded during the reporting period, the special purpose vehicle shall report any relevant information on that non-compliance and its rectification according to Article 326 of Delegated Regulation (EU) 2015/35 during the reporting period;

(g)

qualitative information on any changes that could affect the special purpose vehicle's compliance with the requirements set out in Articles 318 to 324, 326 and 327 of Delegated Regulation (EU) 2015/35.

(a)

whether the risks assumed are mainly life or non-life type of risks;

(b)

what types of trigger events apply to those risks;

(c)

whether a trigger event occurred in the reporting period, triggering a claim against the special purpose vehicle's assets;

(d)

whether any amounts arising from a claim were paid out in the reporting period, and if that is the case, how much has been paid out to date and whether the trigger event has negatively affected the special purpose vehicle's liquidity;

(e)

whether the special purpose vehicle's risk profile has changed materially since the previous reporting period or from the original terms and conditions as communicated to its supervisory authority upon authorisation.

(a)

the proceeds of the debt issuance or other financing mechanism and whether they have been fully paid-in regarding each individual contractual arrangement relating to the transfer of risk from an insurance or reinsurance undertaking;

(b)

the types of tiers of the financing mechanism, specifying the tranches or tiers, including information on external ratings received or internal ratings used for issued debt instruments and which, if any, credit rating agencies were used;

(c)

the reasons why the financial arrangements are regarded as sufficiently robust to ensure continued protection of potential claims of the insurance or reinsurance undertaking transferring risk to the special purpose vehicle, to maintain its ability to meet amounts it is liable for as they fall due and to ensure the pay-out structure of debt or financing mechanisms;

(d)

any debt instruments that have been cancelled, bought back or redeemed, partially or in full, since those instruments were issued and separately for the current reporting period.

(1)

Commission Regulation (EU) No 231/2012 (3) lays down specifications for food additives listed in Annexes II and III to Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008.

(2)

Those specifications may be updated in accordance with the common procedure referred to in Article 3(1) of Regulation (EC) No 1331/2008, either on the initiative of the Commission or following an application.

(3)

On 7 September 2011, an application was submitted for the amendment of specifications concerning the food additive polyvinyl alcohol (E 1203). The application was made available to the Member States pursuant to Article 4 of Regulation (EC) No 1331/2008.

(4)

The current specification as regards the solubility of the food additive polyvinyl alcohol (E 1203) states ‘Soluble in water; sparingly soluble in ethanol’. The Institute for Health and Consumer Protection (IHCP) of the European Commission's Joint Research Centre carried out solubility studies (4) of polyvinyl alcohol to update the solubility data of the existing Union specifications vis-à-vis its solubility in ethanol.

(5)

The European Food Safety Authority (‘the Authority’) evaluated the results of the solubility test with polyvinyl alcohol carried out by the IHCP and the information provided by the applicant (5). The Authority considers that the modification of the specification on the solubility of polyvinyl alcohol in ethanol has no impact on the safety of polyvinyl alcohol as a food additive.

(6)

Taking into account the submitted application, the studies carried out by the IHCP and the evaluation made by the Authority, it is appropriate to amend the description of the solubility of the food additive polyvinyl alcohol (E 1203) in ethanol (≥ 99,8 %) to ‘practically insoluble or insoluble’.

(7)

Regulation (EU) No 231/2012 should therefore be amended accordingly.

(8)

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

(1)

Implementing Regulation (EU) No 543/2011 lays down, pursuant to the outcome of the Uruguay Round multilateral trade negotiations, the criteria whereby the Commission fixes the standard values for imports from third countries, in respect of the products and periods stipulated in Annex XVI, Part A thereto.

(2)

The standard import value is calculated each working day, in accordance with Article 136(1) of Implementing Regulation (EU) No 543/2011, taking into account variable daily data. Therefore this Regulation should enter into force on the day of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union,

(1)

Commission Regulation (EC) No 1385/2007 (2) opened annual tariff quotas for imports of poultrymeat products.

(2)

For some quotas, the quantities covered by the applications for import licences lodged from 1 to 7 March 2015 for the subperiod from 1 April to 30 June 2015 exceed those available. The extent to which import licences may be issued should therefore be determined by establishing the allocation coefficient to be applied to the quantities requested, calculated in accordance with Article 7(2) of Commission Regulation (EC) No 1301/2006 (3).

(3)

The quantities covered by the applications for import licences lodged from 1 to 7 March 2015 for the subperiod from 1 April to 30 June 2015 are, for some quotas, less than those available. The quantities for which applications have not been lodged should therefore be determined and these should be added to the quantity fixed for the following quota subperiod.

(4)

In order to ensure the efficient management of the measure, this Regulation should enter into force on the day of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union,

(1)

Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) No 413/2014 (2) opened annual tariff quotas for imports of poultrymeat products originating in Ukraine.

(2)

For the quota with order number 09.4273, the quantities covered by the applications for import licences lodged from 1 to 7 March 2015 for the subperiod from 1 April to 30 June 2015 exceed those available. The extent to which import rights may be allocated should therefore be determined and an allocation coefficient laid down to be applied to the quantities applied for, calculated in accordance with Article 6(3) in conjunction with Article 7(2) of Commission Regulation (EC) No 1301/2006 (3).

(3)

In order to ensure efficient management of the measure, this Regulation should enter into force on the day of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union,

(1)

Commission Regulation (EC) No 533/2007 (2) opened annual tariff quotas for imports of poultrymeat products.

(2)

The quantities covered by the applications for import licences lodged from 1 to 7 March 2015 for the subperiod from 1 April to 30 June 2015 exceed those available. The extent to which import licences may be issued should therefore be determined by establishing the allocation coefficient to be applied to the quantities requested, calculated in accordance with Article 7(2) of Commission Regulation (EC) No 1301/2006 (3).

(3)

In order to ensure the efficient management of the measure, this Regulation should enter into force on the day of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union,

(1)

The European Globalisation Adjustment Fund (EGF) was established to provide additional support for workers made redundant as a result of major structural changes in world trade patterns due to globalisation and to assist them with their reintegration into the labour market.

(2)

The EGF shall not exceed a maximum annual amount of EUR 150 million (2011 prices), as laid down in Article 12 of Council Regulation (EU, Euratom) No 1311/2013 of 2 December 2013 laying down the multiannual financial framework for the years 2014-2020 (3).

(3)

Belgium submitted an application to mobilise the EGF, in respect of redundancies in the enterprises Duferco Belgium SA and NLMK La Louvière SA, on 27 September 2013 and supplemented it by additional information up to 4 July 2014. This application complies with the requirements for determining the financial contributions as laid down in Article 10 of Regulation (EC) No 1927/2006.

(4)

The EGF should, therefore, be mobilised in order to provide a financial contribution of an amount of EUR 981 956 for the application submitted by Belgium,

(1)

The European Globalisation Adjustment Fund (EGF) was established to provide additional support for workers made redundant as a result of major structural changes in world trade patterns due to globalisation and to assist them with their reintegration into the labour market.

(2)

The EGF shall not exceed a maximum annual amount of EUR 150 million (2011 prices), as laid down in Article 12 of Council Regulation (EU, Euratom) No 1311/2013 (3).

(3)

Poland submitted an application to mobilise the EGF, in respect of redundancies in the enterprise Zachem and two suppliers and downstream producers, on 9 October 2013 and supplemented it by additional information up to 16 June 2014. This application complies with the requirements for determining the financial contributions as laid down in Article 10 of Regulation (EC) No 1927/2006. The Commission therefore proposes to mobilise an amount of EUR 115 205.

(4)

The EGF should therefore be mobilised in order to provide a financial contribution for the application submitted by Poland,

(1)

The European Globalisation Adjustment Fund (EGF) was established to provide additional support for workers made redundant as a result of major structural changes in world trade patterns due to globalisation and to assist them with their reintegration into the labour market.

(2)

The EGF shall not exceed a maximum annual amount of EUR 150 million (2011 prices), as laid down in Article 12 of Council Regulation (EU, Euratom) No 1311/2013 of 2 December 2013 laying down the multiannual financial framework for the years 2014-2020 (3).

(3)

Belgium submitted an application to mobilise the EGF, in respect of redundancies in the enterprise Saint-Gobain Sekurit Benelux SA, on 19 December 2013 and supplemented it by additional information up to 4 July 2014. This application complies with the requirements for determining the financial contributions as laid down in Article 10 of Regulation (EC) No 1927/2006. The Commission therefore proposes to mobilise an amount of EUR 1 339 928.

(4)

The EGF should therefore be mobilised in order to provide a financial contribution for the application submitted by Belgium,

(1)

The European Globalisation Adjustment Fund (EGF) was established to provide support for workers made redundant and self-employed persons whose activity has ceased as a result of major structural changes in world trade patterns due to globalisation, as a result of a continuation of the global financial and economic crisis addressed in Regulation (EC) No 546/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council (3), or as a result of a new global financial and economic crisis and to assist them with their reintegration into the labour market.

(2)

Article 12 of Council Regulation (EU, Euratom) No 1311/2013 (4) allows the mobilisation of the EGF within a maximum annual amount of EUR 150 million (2011 prices).

(3)

Belgium submitted an application to mobilise the EGF, in respect of redundancies in Caterpillar Belgium S.A. in Belgium on 22 July 2014 and supplemented it by additional information as provided by Article 8(3) of Regulation (EU) No 1309/2013. This application complies with the requirements for determining a financial contribution from the EGF as laid down in Article 13 of Regulation (EU) No 1309/2013.

(4)

The EGF should therefore be mobilised in order to provide a financial contribution of an amount of EUR 1 222 854 for the application submitted by Belgium,

(1)

The European Globalisation Adjustment Fund (EGF) was established to provide support for workers made redundant and self-employed persons whose activity has ceased as a result of major structural changes in world trade patterns due to globalisation, as a result of a continuation of the global financial and economic crisis addressed in Regulation (EC) No 546/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council (3), or as a result of a new global financial and economic crisis and to assist them with their reintegration into the labour market.

(2)

Article 12 of Council Regulation (EU, Euratom) No 1311/2013 (4) allows the mobilisation of the EGF within a maximum annual amount of EUR 150 million (2011 prices).

(3)

Belgium submitted an application to mobilise the EGF, in respect of redundancies in ArcelorMittal Liège S.A. in Belgium on 22 July 2014 and supplemented it by additional information as provided by Article 8(3) of Regulation (EU) No 1309/2013. This application complies with the requirements for determining a financial contribution from the EGF as laid down in Article 13 of Regulation (EU) No 1309/2013.

(4)

The EGF should therefore be mobilised in order to provide a financial contribution of an amount of EUR 1 591 486 for the application submitted by Belgium,

(1)

The European Globalisation Adjustment Fund (EGF) was established to provide support for workers made redundant and self-employed persons whose activity has ceased as a result of major structural changes in world trade patterns due to globalisation, as a result of a continuation of the global financial and economic crisis addressed in Regulation (EC) No 546/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council (3), or as a result of a new global financial and economic crisis and to assist them with their reintegration into the labour market.

(2)

Article 12 of Council Regulation (EU, Euratom) No 1311/2013 (4) allows the mobilisation of the EGF within a maximum annual amount of EUR 150 million (2011 prices).

(3)

Germany submitted an application to mobilise the EGF, in respect of redundancies in Aleo Solar AG and two of its subsidiaries in Germany, on 29 July 2014 and supplemented it by additional information as provided by Article 8(3) of Regulation (EU) No 1309/2013. This application complies with the requirements for determining a financial contribution from the EGF as laid down in Article 13 of Regulation (EU) No 1309/2013.

(4)

The EGF should therefore be mobilised in order to provide a financial contribution of an amount of EUR 1 094 760 for the application submitted by Germany,

(1)

Commission Implementing Decision 2013/92/EU (2) provides for the supervision, plant health checks and measures to be taken on wood packaging material actually in use in the transport of specified commodities originating in China.

(2)

Application of Implementing Decision 2013/92/EU has shown that the wood packaging material used in the transport of certain commodities originating in China continues to present a phytosanitary risk to the Union. Therefore that Decision should continue to apply until 31 March 2017.

(3)

Plant health checks by Member States have shown that wood packaging material used in the transport of commodities of slate, glazed ceramics and flat-rolled products of iron or non-alloy steel was also contaminated by harmful organisms, in particular Anoplophora glabripennis (Motschulsky). Implementing Decision 2013/92/EU should therefore also cover those commodities.

(4)

Commission Implementing Directive 2014/78/EU (3) deleted point (8) of Section I of Part A of Annex IV to Directive 2000/29/EC. Therefore references to that point (8) in Articles 3 and 4 of Implementing Decision 2013/92/EU should be deleted.

(5)

Experience shows that a plant health check at a minimum frequency of 15 % is adequate, taking account of the phytosanitary risk of each commodity covered by this Decision, and the need to ensure a more proportionate allocation of resources for the effective and efficient checking of all commodities in an equal manner. Therefore, for certain commodities the frequency of plant health checks should be reduced from 90 % to 15 %.

(6)

Experience shows that, in order to provide further detail on the interceptions recorded on wood packaging material to the Chinese national plant protection organisation, it is necessary that Member States report the information necessary to identify the sources of unreliable marking and the reasons why a mark is considered incorrect.

(7)

In order to allow consistency as regards the plant health checks carried out in the period from 1 October 2014 to 31 March 2015 and the notification thereof, it is appropriate to provide for a transitional arrangement for that period.

(8)

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

1.

The first paragraph of Article 3 is replaced by the following:

‘The wood packaging material of consignments of the specified commodities shall be subject to the plant health checks provided for in Article 13a(1)(b)(iii) of Directive 2000/29/EC at the minimum frequencies set out in Annex I to this Decision to confirm that the wood packaging material meets the requirements laid down in point (2) of Section I of Part A of Annex IV to Directive 2000/29/EC.’

2.

Article 4 is replaced by the following:

3.

Article 5 is replaced by the following:

(*1)  Commission Directive 94/3/EC of 21 January 1994 establishing a procedure for the notification of interception of a consignment or a harmful organism from third countries and presenting an imminent phytosanitary danger (OJ L 32, 5.2.1994, p. 37).’ "

4.

The second paragraph of Article 7 is replaced by the following:

‘Articles 1 to 4 shall apply until 31 March 2017.’

5.

Annexes I and II are amended in accordance with the Annex to this Decision.