Commission Decision

of 22 October 2004

approving on behalf of the European Community amendments to Annex V to the Agreement between the European Community and New Zealand on sanitary measures applicable to trade in live animals and animal products

(notified under document number C(2004) 4022)

(Text with EEA relevance)

(2004/751/EC)

THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,

Having regard to Council Decision 97/132/EC of 17 December 1996 on the conclusion of the Agreement between the European Community and New Zealand on sanitary measures applicable to trade in live animals and animal products [1], and in particular the third paragraph of Article 3 thereof,

Whereas:

(1) Council Decision 2002/957/EC of 28 November 2002 on the conclusion of an Agreement in the form of an Exchange of Letters concerning the amendment to the Annexes to the Agreement between the European Community and New Zealand on sanitary measures applicable to trade in live animals and animal products [2], provided for the possibility of recognising the equivalence of the New Zealand certification systems for fresh meat and meat-based products and for other animal products.

(2) The Joint Management Committee for the Agreement established under Article 16 of the Agreement ("the Committee"), at its meeting on 1 and 2 June 2004, issued a recommendation concerning the determination of equivalence of sanitary requirements for bovine embryos, feathered game, live bivalve molluscs for human consumption, honey and wool. The Committee also recommended the determination of equivalence of certification systems for fishery products and issued recommendations concerning the general format of Annex V.

(3) As a result of those recommendations it is appropriate to amend Annex V to the Agreement.

(4) Those amendments should be approved on behalf of the Community.

(5) 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

Pursuant to the recommendations made by the Joint Management Committee established under Article 16 of the Agreement between the European Community and New Zealand on sanitary measures applicable to trade in live animals and animal products, the amendments to Annex V to that Agreement are hereby approved on behalf of the Community.

The text of an Exchange of Letters constituting an Arrangement with New Zealand, including the amendments to Annex V to the Agreement, is attached to this Decision.

Article 2

The Director-General for Health and Consumer Protection is hereby empowered to sign the Agreement in the form of an Exchange of Letters in order to bind the Community.

Article 3

This Decision shall apply from the first day of the month following the month in which New Zealand notifies the Commission in writing that its internal procedures for the approval of the amendments referred to in Article 1 have been completed.

The Commission shall inform the Council and the Member States of the notification referred to in the first paragraph without delay.

Article 4

This Decision is addressed to the Member States.

Done at Brussels, 22 October 2004.

For the Commission

David Byrne

Member of the Commission

--------------------------------------------------

[1] OJ L 57, 26.2.1997, p. 4. Decision as amended by Decision 1999/837/EC (OJ L 332, 23.12.1999, p. 1).

[2] OJ L 333, 10.12.2002, p. 13.