Introductory text

THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,

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

Whereas:

Lithuania has been granted transitional periods for certain establishments listed in Appendix B to Annex IX to the 2003 Act of Accession.

Appendix B to Annex IX to the 2003 Act of Accession has been amended by Commission Decisions 2004/472/EC^f1, 2004/473/EC^f2 and 2005/421/EC^f3.

According to an official declaration from the Lithuanian competent authority certain establishments in the meat, milk and fish sectors have completed their upgrading process and are now in full compliance with Community legislation. Certain establishments have ceased their activities. Those establishments should therefore be deleted from the list of establishments in transition.

A limited number of establishments have made considerable efforts to comply with structural requirements laid down by Community legislation. However these establishments are not in position to finish their upgrading process by the prescribed deadline due to exceptional technical constraints. Therefore it is justified to allow them further time to complete the upgrading process.

Appendix B to Annex IX to the 2003 Act of Accession should therefore be amended accordingly. For the sake of clarity, it should be replaced.

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: