(1)

Commission Regulation (EC) No 1251/2008 of 12 December 2008 implementing Council Directive 2006/88/EC as regards conditions and certification requirements for the placing on the market and the import into the Community of aquaculture animals and products thereof and laying down a list of vector species (2) lays down the animal health conditions and certification requirements for imports into the Union of ornamental aquatic animals intended for closed ornamental facilities.

(2)

Article 11 of Regulation (EC) No 1251/2008 provides that ornamental fish of species susceptible to one or more of the diseases listed in Part II of Annex IV to Directive 2006/88/EC and intended for closed ornamental facilities are only to be imported into the Union from third countries, territories, zones or compartments listed in Annex III to that Regulation. Epizootic ulcerative syndrome (EUS) is listed in Part II of Annex IV to Directive 2006/88/EC as an exotic disease of certain susceptible species of fish.

(3)

Article 20(5) of Regulation (EC) No 1251/2008 provides that for a transitional period until 31 December 2010, Member States may authorise the import of ornamental aquatic animals of species susceptible to EUS intended solely for closed ornamental facilities from third countries or territories that are members of the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE).

(4)

Part II.2 of the model animal health certificate applicable to ornamental aquatic animals intended for closed facilities set out in Part B of Annex IV to Regulation (EC) No 1251/2008 sets out certain import requirements related to EUS. The second sub-paragraph of Article 20(5) of that Regulation provides that these requirements shall not apply during the transitional period referred to above.

(5)

Further studies are needed at present to assess more precisely the risks associated with the import into the Union of such ornamental aquatic animals. In order not to disrupt trade in those animals, it is appropriate to prolong until 31 December 2012 the period of application of the transitional measures currently laid down in Article 20(5) of Regulation (EC) No 1251/2008.

(6)

In addition, certain other transitional provisions currently laid down in Article 20 of that Regulation are no longer applicable. In the interests of conciseness and clarity of Union legislation, it is appropriate to delete those provisions.

(7)

Regulation (EC) No 1251/2008 should therefore be amended accordingly.

(8)

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