Introductory text

THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,

Having regard to Council Directive 89/556/EEC of 25 September 1989 on animal health conditions governing intra-Community trade in and importation from third countries of embryos of domestic animals of the bovine species^f1, and in particular Article 8(1) thereof,

Whereas:

Commission Decision 2008/155/EC of 14 February 2008 establishing a list of embryo collection and production teams in third countries approved for imports of bovine embryos into the Community^f2 provides that Member States are to import embryos from third countries only if they have been collected, processed and stored by embryo collection and production teams listed in the Annex to that Decision.

Canada and the United States have requested that amendments be made to the entries for those countries on that list as regards certain embryo collection teams.

Canada and the United States have provided guarantees regarding compliance with the appropriate rules set out in Directive 89/556/EEC and the embryo collection teams concerned have been officially approved for exports to the Community by the veterinary services of those countries.

Decision 2008/155/EC should therefore be amended accordingly.

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: