Introductory text

THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,

Having regard to the Treaty of Accession of Bulgaria and Romania, and in particular Article 4(3) thereof,

Having regard to the Act of Accession of Bulgaria and Romania, and in particular the first subparagraph of paragraph (f) of Chapter 4 of Section B of Annex VI thereto,

Whereas:

Bulgaria has been granted transitional periods by the Act of Accession of Bulgaria and Romania for compliance by certain milk processing establishments with the requirements of Regulation (EC) No 853/2004 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 29 April 2004 laying down specific hygiene rules for food of animal origin^f1. Certain establishments which are authorised to process non-compliant milk are listed in Chapter I, and certain establishments which are authorised to process both compliant and non-compliant milk, provided that such processing is carried out on separate production lines are listed in Chapter II, of the Appendix to Annex VI to that Act.

A number of the establishments currently listed in Chapter I of that Appendix have ceased the activities covered by the transitional periods. Those establishments should therefore be deleted from that list.

In view of the evolution of the quality of the raw milk and the present proportion of production of raw milk in Bulgaria that does not comply with the requirements of Regulation (EC) No 853/2004, certain establishments should be included in the list set out in Chapter I of that Appendix to Annex VI of the Act of Accession.

Furthermore, certain milk processing establishments in Bulgaria have the capacity and equipment to process compliant and non-compliant milk on separate production lines. Those establishments should be included on the list set out in Chapter II of that Appendix.

Therefore, the Appendix to Annex VI to the Act of Accession should be amended. For the sake of clarity, that Appendix should be replaced by the text in the Annex to this Decision.

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: