(1)

An inspection has been carried out on behalf of the Commission in Hong Kong to verify the conditions under which fishery products are produced, stored and dispatched to the Community.

(2)

The requirements in the legislation of Hong Kong on health inspection and monitoring of fishery products may be considered equivalent to those laid down in Directive 91/493/EEC.

(3)

In particular, the ‘Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD)’, is capable of effectively verifying the implementation of the rules in force.

(4)

The FEHD has provided official assurances on compliance with the standards for health controls and monitoring of fishery products as set out in Chapter V of the Annex to Directive 91/493/EEC and on the fulfilment of hygienic requirements equivalent to those laid down by that Directive.

(5)

It is appropriate to lay down detailed provisions concerning fishery products imported into the Community from Hong Kong, in accordance with Directive 91/493/EEC.

(6)

It is also necessary to draw up a list of approved establishments, factory vessels, or cold stores, and a list of freezer vessels equipped in accordance with the requirements of Council Directive 92/48/EEC of 16 June 1992 laying down the minimum hygiene rules applicable to fishery products caught on board certain vessels in accordance with Article 3(1)(a)(i) of Directive 91/493/EEC (2). Those lists should be drawn up on the basis of a communication from the FEHD to the Commission.

(7)

It is appropriate for this Decision to be applied 45 days after its publication providing for the necessary transitional period.

(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,