Commission Decision
of 15 October 2003
amending Decision 97/296/EC drawing up the list of third countries from which the import of fishery products is authorised for human consumption, with respect to Cape Verde, Belize, French Polynesia, the United Arab Emirates and the Netherlands Antilles
(notified under document number C(2003) 3666)
(Text with EEA relevance)
(2003/764/EC)
THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,
Having regard to Council Decision 95/408/EC of 22 June 1995 on the conditions for drawing up, for an interim period, provisional lists of third country establishments from which Member States are authorised to import certain products of animal origin, fishery products or live bivalve molluscs(1), as last amended by Regulation (EC) No 806/2003(2), and in particular Article 2(2) and (3) thereof,
Whereas:
(1) Commission Decision 97/296/EC(3), as last amended by Decision 2003/606/EC(4), lists the countries and territories from which importation of fishery products for human consumption is authorised. Part I of the Annex to Decision 97/296/EC lists the names of the countries and territories covered by a specific decision pursuant to Directive 91/493/EEC(5) and part II names those qualifying under Article 2(2) of Decision 95/408/EC.
(2) Commission Decisions 2003/763/EC(6), 2003/759/EC(7), 2003/760/EC(8), 2003/761/EC(9) and 2003/762/EC(10) set specific import conditions for fishery products originating in Cape Verde, Belize, French Polynesia, the United Arab Emirates and the Netherlands Antilles, respectively. These countries should therefore be added to the list in part I of the Annex to Decision 97/296/EC.
(3) Decision 97/296/EC should therefore be amended accordingly.
(4) This Decision should take effect on the same day as Decisions 2003/759/EC, 2003/760/EC, 2003/761/EC and 2003/762/EC as regard the import of fishery products from Belize, French Polynesia, United Arab Emirates and Netherlands Antilles.
(5) As regard the import of fishery products from Cape Verde this Decision should take effect on the same day as Decision 2003/763/EC, since there is no need for a transitional period.
(6) 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 97/296/EC is replaced by the text in the Annex to this Decision.
Article 2
This Decision shall apply from 8 December 2003 as regards the imports of fishery products from Belize, French Polynesia, the United Arab Emirates and the Netherlands Antilles.
This Decision shall apply from 27 October 2003 as regards the import of fishery products from Cape Verde.
Article 3
This Decision is addressed to the Member States.
Done at Brussels, 15 October 2003.