Commission Decision of 29 April 2004 amending Appendix A to Annex X to the 2003 Act of Accession to include certain establishments in the meat sector in Hungary in the list of establishments in transition (notified under document number C(2004) 1715) (Text with EEA relevance) (2004/462/EC)

THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,

Having regard to the Treaty of Accession of the Czech Republic, Estonia, Cyprus, Latvia, Lithuania, Hungary, Malta, Poland, Slovenia and Slovakia^f1, and in particular Article 2(3) thereof,

Having regard to the Act of Accession of the Czech Republic, Estonia, Cyprus, Latvia, Lithuania, Hungary, Malta, Poland, Slovenia and Slovakia^f2, and in particular Annex X, Chapter 5, Section B, point 1, paragraph (d) thereto,

Whereas:

Annex X, Chapter 5, Section B, point 1, paragraph (a) to the 2003 Act of Accession provides that the structural requirements laid down in Annex I to Council Directive 64/433/EEC of 26 June 1964 on health conditions for the production and marketing of fresh meat^f3 are not to apply to establishments in Hungary listed in Appendix A to Annex X to the Act of Accession until 31 December 2006, subject to certain conditions.

In Hungary, fifteen more high capacity meat establishments have difficulties in complying with the structural requirements laid down in Annex I to Directive 64/433/EEC, by 1 May 2004.

Accordingly those fifteen establishments need time to finalize their upgrading process in order to be in full compliance with the relevant structural requirements laid down in Directives 64/433/EEC.

The fifteen establishments, which are currently in an advanced state of upgrading, have given reliable guarantees that they have the necessary funds to correct their remaining shortcomings within a short time and have received a favourable opinion from the Hungarian Animal health and Food Control Department, as regards the finalisation of their upgrading process.

For Hungary, the detailed information regarding the shortcomings for each establishment is available.

In order to facilitate the transition from the existing regime in Hungary to that resulting from the application of the Community veterinary legislation, it is justified therefore upon the request of Hungary, to grant the fifteen establishments a transitional period.

Due to the advanced stage of upgrading of the fifteen establishments, the transitional period should be limited to a maximum of 12 months.

The Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health has been informed of the measures provided for in this Decision.

HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION: