Commission Decision

of 20 June 2002

amending Decision 97/20/EC establishing the list of third countries fulfilling the equivalence conditions for the production and placing on the market of bivalve molluscs, echinoderms, tunicates and marine gastropods, to include Japan

(notified under document number C(2002) 2194)

(Text with EEA relevance)

(2002/469/EC)

THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,

Having regard to Council Directive 91/492/EEC of 15 July 1991 laying down the health conditions for the production and the placing on the market of live bivalve molluscs(1), as last amended by Directive 97/79/EC(2), and in particular Article 9 thereof,

Whereas:

(1) Commission Decision 97/20/EC(3), as last amended by Decision 2002/21/EC(4), establishes the list of third countries from which imports of bivalve molluscs, echinoderms, tunicates and marine gastropods in whatever form are authorised for human consumption. Part I of the Annex lists the names of the countries and territories covered by a specific decision under Directive 91/492/EEC and Part II names those qualifying under Article 2(2) of Council Decision 95/408/EC(5), as last amended by Decision 2001/4/EC(6).

(2) Commission Decision 2002/470/EC of 20 June 2002 lays down special conditions for the import of bivalve molluscs, echinoderms, tunicates and marine gastropods originating in Japan(7), therefore Decision 97/20/EC should be amended to include this country in part I of the list.

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

HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:

Article 1

The Annex to Decision 97/20/EC is replaced by the Annex to the present Decision.

Article 2

This Decision shall apply from 24 June 2002.

Article 3

This Decision is addressed to the Member States.

Done at Brussels, 20 June 2002.

For the Commission

David Byrne

Member of the Commission

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

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

(3) OJ L 6, 10.1.1997, p. 46.

(4) OJ L 10, 12.1.2002, p. 79.

(5) OJ L 243, 11.10.1995, p. 17.

(6) OJ L 2, 5.1.2001, p. 21.

(7) See page 19 of this Official Journal.

ANNEX

List of third countries from which imports of bivalve molluscs, echinoderms, tunicates and marine gastropods in whatever form for human consumption are authorised

I. Third countries which have been the subject of a specific decision based on Directive 91/492/EEC.

AU AUSTRALIA

CL CHILE

JM JAMAICA (only for marine gastropods)

JP JAPAN

KR SOUTH KOREA

MA MOROCCO

PE PERU

TH THAILAND

TN TUNISIA

TR TURKEY

UY URUGUAY

VN SOCIALIST REPUBLIC OF VIETNAM

II. Third countries, which may be the subject of a provisional decision, based on Decision 95/408/EC.

CA CANADA

GL GREENLAND

NZ NEW ZEALAND

US UNITED STATES OF AMERICA