32000D0300

Commission Decision

of 18 April 2000

amending Decision 2000/86/EC laying down special conditions governing imports of fishery products originating in China

(notified under document number C(2000) 831)

(Text with EEA relevance)

(2000/300/EC)

THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,

Having regard to Council Directive 91/493/EEC of 22 July 1991 laying down the health conditions for the production and the placing on the market of fishery products(1), as last amended by Directive 97/79/EC(2), and in particular Article 11 thereof,

Whereas:

(1) Pursuant to Commission Decision 2000/86/EC(3), the State Administration for Entry/Exit Inspection and Quarantine (CIQ SA) is the competent authority in China for verifying and certifying compliance of fishery and aquaculture products in accordance with the requirements of Directive 91/493/EEC.

(2) Before the entry into force of Decision 2000/86/EC, imports of fishery products from China were authorised, as a matter of principle, under the conditions provided for in Commission Decision 97/296/EC(4), as last amended by Decision 2000/170/EC(5), from establishments approved by each Member State.

(3) To facilitate the transition to the regime provided by Decision 2000/86/EC, and in order to avoid trade disruption, a limited transitional period should be granted for the import of fishery products certified by the competent Chinese authority no later than 2 February 2000 and arriving in the Community no later than 1 March 2000.

(4) The measures provided for in this Decision are in accordance with the opinion of the Standing Veterinary Committee,

HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:

Article 1

The following Article 4a is inserted in Decision 2000/86/EC:

"Article 4a

Member States may authorise the import of fishery products originating in China and coming from establishments not included in Annex B hereto, subject to the following conditions:

1. the establishments were approved by the importing Member State at 22 December 1999,

2. the health certificate was issued by the competent Chinese authority no later than 2 February 2000, and

3. such fishery products were presented at the Community border inspection post no later than 1 March 2000, and marketed only on the territory of the importing Member State, or other Member States that have approved the establishment of origin."

Article 2

This Decision is addressed to the Member States.

Done at Brussels, 18 April 2000.

For the Commission

David Byrne

Member of the Commission

(1) OJ L 268, 24.9.1991, p. 15.

(2) OJ L 24, 30.1.1998, p. 31.

(3) OJ L 26, 2.2.2000, p. 26.

(4) OJ L 122, 14.5.1997, p. 21.

(5) OJ L 55, 29.2.2000, p. 68.