(1)

Directive 96/23/EC lays down measures to monitor the substances and groups of residues listed in Annex I thereto. Pursuant to Directive 96/23/EC, the inclusion and retention on the lists of third countries from which Member States are authorised to import animals and animal products covered by that Directive are subject to the submission by the third countries concerned of a plan setting out the guarantees which they offer as regards the monitoring of the groups of residues and substances listed in that Annex. Those plans are to be updated at the request of the Commission, particularly when certain checks render it necessary.

(2)

Commission Decision 2011/163/EU (2) approves the plans provided for in Article 29 of Directive 96/23/EC (‘the plans’) submitted by certain third countries listed in the Annex thereto for the animals and animal products indicated in that list.

(3)

In the light of the recent plans submitted by certain third countries and additional information obtained by the Commission, it is necessary to update the list of third countries from which Member States are authorised to import certain animals and animal products, as provided for in Directive 96/23/EC and currently listed in the Annex to Decision 2011/163/EU (‘the list’).

(4)

Belize has submitted a plan for aquaculture to the Commission. That plan provides sufficient guarantees and should be approved. An entry for Belize for aquaculture should therefore be included in the list.

(5)

Chile is currently included in the list for ovine/caprine but with a reference to footnote 3 in the Annex to Decision 2011/163/EU. That footnote restricts such imports from Chile to ovine only. Chile has submitted a plan for caprine to the Commission. That plan provides sufficient guarantees and should be approved. The reference to footnote 3 should therefore be removed in the list for Chile.

(6)

Curaçao is currently included in the list for milk. However, Curaçao has not provided a plan as required by Article 29 of Directive 96/23/EC. The entry for Curaçao should therefore be removed from the list.

(7)

Hong Kong is currently included in the list for poultry and aquaculture. However, Hong Kong has not provided a plan as required by Article 29 of Directive 96/23/EC. Hong Kong should therefore be removed from the list.

(8)

Gambia has submitted a plan for aquaculture to the Commission. That plan provides sufficient guarantees and should be approved. An entry for Gambia for aquaculture should therefore be included in the list.

(9)

Decision of the EEA Joint Committee No 133/2007 of 26 October 2007 amending Annex I (Veterinary and phytosanitary matters) to the EEA Agreement (3) extends the provisions of that Annex to Iceland. The entries for Iceland should therefore be removed from the list.

(10)

Jamaica is currently included in the list for aquaculture and honey. However, Jamaica has not provided a plan as required by Article 29 of Directive 96/23/EC for aquaculture. The entry for Jamaica for aquaculture should therefore be removed from the list.

(11)

Kenya has submitted a plan for camel milk to the Commission. That plan provides sufficient guarantees and should be approved. An entry for Kenya for camel milk should therefore be included in the list.

(12)

Lebanon has submitted a plan for honey to the Commission. That plan provides sufficient guarantees and should be approved. An entry for Lebanon for honey should therefore be included in the list.

(13)

Namibia is currently included in the list for bovine, ovine/caprine, wild game and farmed game. However, Namibia has not provided a plan as required by Article 29 of Directive 96/23/EC for farmed game. The entry for Namibia for farmed game should therefore be removed from the list.

(14)

New Caledonia is currently included in the list for bovine, aquaculture, wild game, farmed game and honey. That third country has informed the Commission that it is no longer interested to export fresh bovine meat to the Union. However, New Caledonia provided the guarantees requested to maintain the entry for bovine in the list but with the footnote indicating that third countries using only raw material either from Member States or from other third countries approved for imports of such raw material to the Union. The appropriate footnote reference should therefore be added for the entry for New Caledonia for bovine.

(15)

Sint Maarten is currently included in the list for milk. However, Sint Maarten has not provided a plan as required by Article 29 of Directive 96/23/EC. Sint Maarten should therefore be removed from the list.

(16)

San Marino is currently included in the list for bovine, porcine and honey. That third country has informed the Commission that it is no longer interested to export pig meat to the Union. The entry for San Marino for porcine should therefore be removed from the list.

(17)

In order to avoid any disruption to trade, a transitional period should be laid down to cover the relevant consignments from Curaçao, Hong Kong, Jamaica, Namibia and Sint Maarten, which were certified and dispatched to the Union before the date of application of this Decision.

(18)

Decision 2011/163/EU should therefore be amended accordingly.

(19)

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