Commission Decision

of 25 June 2007

amending Decision 2006/504/EC on special conditions governing certain foodstuffs imported from certain third countries due to contamination risks of these products by aflatoxins

(notified under document number C(2007) 3020)

(Text with EEA relevance)

(2007/459/EC)

THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,

Having regard to Regulation (EC) No 178/2002 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 28 January 2002 laying down the general principles and requirements of food law, establishing the European Food Safety Authority and laying down procedures in matters of food safety [1], and in particular Article 53(1)(b)(ii) thereof,

Whereas:

(1) Commission Decision 2006/504/EC [2] establishes special conditions governing certain foodstuffs imported from certain third countries due to contamination risks of these products by aflatoxins.

(2) The application of Decision 2006/504/EC has revealed that certain amendments are necessary. The list of designated points of import through which the products covered by that Decision may be imported into the Community should be updated, particularly in the framework of the accession of Bulgaria and Romania to the European Union.

(3) For the protection of public health it is important that compound foodstuffs containing to a significant amount the foodstuffs covered by this Decision are also within the scope of this Decision. A threshold of 10 % is established. Competent authorities may control at random for the presence of aflatoxins compound foodstuffs containing less than 10 % of foodstuffs covered by this Decision. In case monitoring data indicate that compound foodstuffs containing less than 10 % of foodstuffs covered by this Decision have been found in several cases to be non-compliant with the EU legislation on maximum levels for aflatoxins, this threshold should be reviewed.

(4) Decision 2006/504/EC provides that Member State may only permit imports of certain foodstuffs where the consignment is accompanied by, inter alia, a health certificate. That requirement applies from 1 October 2006. In order to avoid differences in the implementation of that Decision, it appears necessary to clarify that the requirement regarding the health certificate relates to the consignments which left the country of origin from 1 October 2006 onwards.

(5) Moreover, the model health certificate set out in that Decision should be amended by a separation of the health certificate to be completed by the competent authorities of the country of origin of the foodstuffs covered by Commission Decision 2006/504/EC from the information to be provided by the competent authorities of the Member States. Furthermore the common document containing the information on the checks performed has to be amended to provide also for the situation where the competent authority at the point of introduction into the Community is different from the competent authority at the designated point of import, or where a physical check is not mandatory.

(6) Commission Decision 2006/504/EC should therefore be amended accordingly.

(7) 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

Decision 2006/504/EC is amended as follows:

1. Article 1 is replaced by the following:

"Article 1

Scope

This Decision shall apply to the foodstuffs referred to in points (a) to (e) and to processed and compound foodstuffs derived from or containing a significant amount of the foodstuffs referred to in points (b) to (e). However, it shall not apply to consignments of foodstuffs with a gross weight not exceeding 5 kg.

Foodstuffs shall be considered as containing a significant amount of the foodstuffs referred to in points (b) to (e), where they are present therein in a quantity of at least 10 %.

(a) The following foodstuffs originating in or consigned from Brazil:

(i) Brazil nuts in shell falling within category CN code 08012100;

(ii) mixtures of nuts or dried fruits falling within CN code 081350 and containing Brazil nuts in shell;

(b) The following foodstuffs originating in or consigned from China:

(i) peanuts falling within CN code 12021090 or 12022000;

(ii) peanuts falling within CN code 20081194 (in immediate packings of a net content exceeding 1 kg) or 20081198 (in immediate packings of a net content not exceeding 1 kg);

(iii) roasted peanuts falling within CN codes 20081192 (in immediate packings of a net content exceeding 1 kg) or 20081196 (in immediate packings of a net content not exceeding 1 kg);

(c) The following foodstuffs originating in or consigned from Egypt:

(i) peanuts falling within CN code 12021090 or 12022000;

(ii) peanuts falling within CN code 20081194 (in immediate packings of a net content exceeding 1 kg) or 20081198 (in immediate packings of a net content not exceeding 1 kg);

(iii) roasted peanuts falling within CN codes 20081192 (in immediate packings of a net content exceeding 1 kg) or 20081196 (in immediate packings of a net content not exceeding 1 kg);

(d) The following foodstuffs originating in or consigned from Iran:

(i) pistachios falling within CN code 08025000;

(ii) roasted pistachios falling within CN codes 20081913 (in immediate packings of a net content exceeding 1 kg) and 20081993 (in immediate packings of a net content not exceeding 1 kg);

(e) The following foodstuffs originating in or consigned from Turkey:

(i) dried figs falling within CN code 08042090;

(ii) hazelnuts (Corylus spp.) in shell or shelled falling within CN code 08022100 or 08022200;

(iii) pistachios falling within CN code 08025000;

(iv) mixtures of nuts or dried fruits falling within CN code 081350 and containing figs, hazelnuts or pistachios;

(v) fig paste and hazelnut paste falling within CN code 20079998;

(vi) hazelnuts, figs and pistachios, prepared or preserved, including mixtures falling within CN code 200819;

(vii) flour, meal and powder of hazelnuts, figs and pistachios falling within CN code 11063090;

(viii) cut, sliced and broken hazelnuts.".

2. In Article 3:

(a) paragraph 3 is replaced by the following:

"3. The competent authorities in the Member State of introduction shall ensure that the foodstuffs intended for import into the Community are subject to documentary checks to ensure that the requirement for the results of sampling and analysis and the health certificate provided for in paragraph 1 are complied with.";

(b) the following paragraph 7 is added:

"7. The competent authorities at the points of introduction into the Community and at the designated point of import shall complete the common document for checks performed on foodstuffs covered by this Decision, as set out in Annex III, certifying the checks carried out on foodstuffs covered by this Decision.".

3. in Article 5:

(a) in paragraph 2, point (e) is replaced by the following:

"(e) approximately 5 % of the consignments for each category of hazelnuts and derived products referred to in point (e)(ii), (iv), (v), (vi), (vii) and (viii) of the second paragraph of Article 1 and derived products from such hazelnuts from Turkey and approximately 10 % of the consignments of other categories of foodstuffs from Turkey;";

(b) in paragraph 3, the second sentence is replaced by the following:

"The competent authorities at the designated point of import shall ensure that the completed common document for checks performed on foodstuffs covered by this Decision, as set out in Annex III, is accompanied by the results of their sampling and analysis.".

4. Article 8, paragraph 2 is replaced by the following:

"2. All costs related to official measures taken by the competent authorities as regards non-compliance of consignments of foodstuffs referred to in Article 1(a) to (e) and to processed and compound foodstuffs derived from or containing the foodstuffs referred to in these points shall be borne by the food business operator responsible for the consignment or its representative.".

5. The following Article 10a is inserted:

"Article 10a

Transitional provisions

By way of derogation from Article 3(1), Member States shall authorise the imports of consignments which left the country of origin prior to 1 October 2006, accompanied by a health certificate as provided for by Commission Decision 2000/49/EC [***] as regards foodstuffs from Egypt, Commission Decision 2002/79/EC [****] as regards foodstuffs from China, Commission Decision 2002/80/EC [*****] as regards foodstuffs from Turkey, Commission Decision 2003/493/EC [******] as regards foodstuffs from Brazil and Commission Decision 2005/85/EC [] as regards foodstuffs from Iran.

6. Annex I is replaced by the text in Annex I to this Decision.

7. Annex II is replaced by the text in Annex II to this Decision.

8. The text in Annex III to this Decision is added as Annex III.

Article 2

This Decision shall apply from 1 July 2007.

However, Article 1(5) shall apply from 1 October 2006 and Article 1(7) shall apply from 1 January 2007.

Article 3

This Decision is addressed to the Member States.

Done at Brussels, 25 June 2007.

For the Commission

Markos Kyprianou

Member of the Commission

[1] OJ L 31, 1.2.2002, p. 1. Regulation as last amended by Commission Regulation (EC) No 575/2006 (OJ L 100, 8.4.2006, p. 3).

[2] OJ L 199, 21.7.2006, p. 21.

[***] OJ L 19, 25.1.2000, p. 46.

[****] OJ L 34, 5.2.2002, p. 21.

[*****] OJ L 34, 5.2.2002, p. 26.

[******] OJ L 168, 5.7.2003, p. 33.

[] OJ L 30, 3.2.2005, p. 12.".

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ANNEX I

"ANNEX I

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ANNEX II

"ANNEX II

List of designated points of import through which foodstuffs covered by Article 1 may be imported into the Community

Member State | Designated points of import |

Belgium | Antwerpen/Anvers, Zeebrugge, Brussel/Bruxelles, Aalst/Alost |

Bulgaria | Burgas, Airport, Burgas "West-Fish port", Varna Airport, Varna Port — West Varna Port, Varna — ferry-boat port, Svilengrad — railway station, Kapitan Andreevo, Ruse — terminal east port, Sofia — Airport Customs House — Sofia Customs House — Plovdiv |

Czech Republic | Celní ú?ad Praha D5 |

Denmark | All Danish ports and airports |

Germany | HZA L?rrach — ZA Weil am Rhein-Autobahn, HZA Stuttgart — ZA Flughafen, HZA München — ZA München — Flughafen, HZA Berlin — ZA Dreilinden, HZA Frankfurt (Oder) — ZA Frankfurt (Oder) Autobahn, HZA Frankfurt (Oder) — ZA Forst-Autobahn, HZA Bremen — ZA Neust?dter Hafen, HZA Bremen — ZA Bremerhaven, HZA Hamburg — Hafen — ZA Waltershof, HZA Hamburg — Stadt, HZA Itzehoe — ZA Hamburg — Flughafen, HZA Frankfurt-am-Main-Flughafen, HZA Braunschweig — ZA Braunschweig-Broitzem, HZA Hannover — ZA Hannover-Nord, HZA Koblenz — ZA Hahn — Flughafen, HZA Oldenburg — ZA Wilhelmshaven, HZA Bielefeld — ZA Eckendorfer Stra?e Bielefeld, HZA Erfurt — ZA Eisenach, HZA Potsdam — ZA Ludwigsfelde, HZA Potsdam — ZA Berlin — Flughafen Sch?nefeld, HZA Potsdam — ZA Berlin — Flughafen Tegel, HZA Augsburg — ZA Memmingen, HZA Ulm — ZA Ulm (Donautal), HZA Karlsruhe — ZA Karlsruhe, HZA Gie?en — ZA Gie?en, HZA Gie?en — ZA Marburg, HZA Singen — ZA Bahnhof, HZA L?rrach — ZA Weil am Rhein — Schusterinsel, HZA Hamburg-Stadt — ZA Oberelbe, HZA Hamburg-Stadt — ZA Oberelbe — Abfertigungsstelle Billbrook, HZA Hamburg-Stadt — ZA Oberelbe — Abfertigungsstelle Gro?markt, HZA Düsseldorf — ZA Düsseldorf Nord, HZA K?ln — ZA K?ln Niehl, HZA Erfurt — ZA Jena |

Estonia | All Estonian Customs Offices |

Greece | Athina, Pireas, Athina International Airport, Thessaloniki, Volos, Nafplio, Patra, Egion, Iraklion Kritis, Larisa, Ioannina, Katerini, Komotini, Veria, Drama, Serres, Kavala, Xanthi, Alexadroupolis |

Spain | Algeciras (Puerto), Alicante (Puerto), Almería (Puerto), Barcelona (Puerto), Bilbao (Puerto), Cádiz (Puerto), Ceuta (Puerto), Las Palmas de Gran Canaria (Puerto), Málaga (Puerto), Melilla (Puerto), Sevilla (Puerto), Tarragona (Puerto), Valencia (Puerto), Juan Escoda S.A. — Tarragona (Puerto), Importaco — Valencia (Puerto) |

France | Marseille (Bouches-du-Rh?ne), Le Havre (Seine-Maritime), Rungis MIN (Val-de-Marne), Lyon Chassieu CRD (Rh?ne), Strasbourg CRD (Bas-Rhin), Lille CRD (Nord), Saint-Nazaire Montoir CRD (Loire-Atlantique), Agen (Lot-et-Garonne), port de la Pointe des Galets à La Réunion |

Ireland | Dublin — Port, Shannon — Airport |

Italy | Ufficio di Sanità, Marittima, Aerea e di Frontiera (USMAF) Bari, Unità Territoriale (UT) Bari USMAF Bologna, UT Ravenna, USMAF Brindisi, UT Brindisi USMAF Catania, UT Reggio Calabria USMAF Genova, UT Genova USMAF Genova, UT La Spezia USMAF Genova, UT Savona, USMAF Livorno, UT Livorno USMAF Napoli, UT Cagliari USMAF Napoli, UT Napoli, USMAF Napoli, UT Salerno, USMAF Pescara, UT Ancona, USMAF Venezia, UT Trieste, compresa dogana di Fernetti-interporto Monrupino USMAF Venezia, UT Venezia |

Cyprus | Limassol Port, Larnaca Airport |

Latvia | Grebneva – road with Russia Terehova – road with Russia Pātarnieki – road with Byelorussia Silene – road with Byelorussia Daugavpils – railway commodity station Rēzekne – railway commodity station Liepāja – seaport Ventspils – seaport Rīga – seaport Rīga – airport Rīga Rīga – Latvian Post |

Lithuania | Road: Kybartai, Lavori?k?s, Medininkai, Panemun?, ?al?ininkai Airport: Vilnius Seaport: Malk? ?lankos, Molo, Pilies Railway: Kena, Kybartai, Pag?giai |

Luxembourg | Centre Douanier, Croix de Gasperich, Luxembourg Administration des Douanes et Accises, Bureau Luxembourg — Aéroport, Niederanven |

Hungary | Ferihegy – Budapest – airport Záhony – Szabolcs–Szatmár–Bereg – road Eperjeske – Szabolcs–Szatmár–Bereg – railway R?szke – Csongrád – road Kelebia – Bács-Kiskun – railway Letenye – Zala – road Gyékényes – Somogy – railway Mohács – Baranya – port All Hungarian Chief Customs Offices |

Malta | Malta Freeport, the Malta International Airport and the Grand Harbour. |

Netherlands | All harbours and airports and all border stations |

Austria | All Customs Offices |

Poland | Bezledy – Warmińsko – Mazurskie – road border point Ku?nica Bia?ostocka – Podlaskie – road border point Bobrowniki – Podlaskie – road border point Koroszczyn – Lubelskie – road border point Dorohusk – Lubelskie – road and railway border point Gdynia – Pomorskie – seaport border point Gdańsk – Pomorskie – seaport border point Medyka – Przemy?l – Podkarpackie – railway border point Medyka – Podkarpackie – road border point Korczowa – Podkarpackie – road border point Jasionka – Podkarpackie – airport border point Szczecin – Zachodnio – Pomorskie – seaport border point ?winouj?cie – Zachodnio – Pomorskie – seaport border point Ko?obrzeg – Zachodnio – Pomorskie – seaport border point Mazowieckie – Warsaw Airport and custom warehouses – supervised by BSES in Warszawa Custom warehouse – supervised by PSES in Bytom Custom warehouse – supervised by PSES in Gliwice Custom warehouse – supervised by PSES in D?browa Górnicza Custom warehouse – supervised by PSES in Katowice Custom warehouse – supervised by PSES in Cieszyn 4 Custom warehouses – supervised by PSES in Poznań Custom warehouse – supervised by PSES in ?ód? Custom warehouse – supervised by PSES in ?owicz Custom warehouse – supervised by PSES in Skierniewice Custom warehouse – supervised by PSES in Bytów Custom warehouse – supervised by PSES in Kraków 2 Custom warehouses – supervised by PSES in Bia?a Podlaska Custom warehouse – supervised by PSES in Boles?awiec 2 Custom warehouses – supervised by PSES in Bydgoszcz |

Portugal | Lisboa, Leix?es Sines, Alverca, Riachos, Setúbal, Bodadela, Lisbon airport, Porto airport |

Romania | Constanta Nord harbour, Constanta Sud harbour, Otopeni International Airport, Sculeni – on the road, Halmeu – on the road Siret – on the road, Stamora Moravita – on the road Albita – on the road |

Slovenia | Obre?je – road border crossing Koper – port border crossing Dobova – railway border crossing Brnik – airport border crossing Jel?ane – road border crossing Ljubljana – railway and road border crossing Gru?kovje – road border crossing Se?ana – railway and road border crossing |

Slovakia | Customs Offices: Banská Bystrica, Bratislava, Ko?ice, ?ilina, Nitra, Pre?ov, Trnava, Tren?ín, ?ierna nad Tisou |

Finland | All Finnish Customs Offices |

Sweden | G?teborg, Stockholm, Helsingborg, Landvetter, Arlanda |

United Kingdom | Belfast, Dover, Felixstowe, Gatwick Airport, Goole, Harwich, Heathrow Airport, Hull, Ipswich, Liverpool, London (including Tilbury, Thamesport and Sheerness), Manchester Airport, Manchester Container Base, Manchester International Freight Terminal, Manchester (Ellesmere Port only), Southampton, Teesport" |

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ANNEX III

"ANNEX III

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