Introductory text

THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION,

Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,

Having regard to Council Directive 2002/99/EC of 16 December 2002 laying down the animal health rules governing the production, processing, distribution and introduction of products of animal origin for human consumption^f1 and in particular the introductory phrase of Article 8, the first paragraph of point 1 of Article 8, point 4 of Article 8 and Article 9(4)(c) thereof,

Whereas:

Directive 2002/99/EC lays down the general animal health rules governing the production, processing, distribution within the Union and the introduction from third countries of products of animal origin for human consumption and provides for establishing specific rules and certification for transit.

Commission Regulation (EC) No 798/2008 of 8 August 2008 laying down a list of third countries, territories, zones or compartments from which poultry and poultry products may be imported into and transit through the Community and the veterinary certification requirements^f2 lays down that certain commodities are only to be imported into and transit through the Union from third countries, territories, zones or compartments listed in the table in Part 1 of Annex I thereto. It also lays down the veterinary certification requirements for such commodities. Those requirements take also into account whether or not additional guarantees are requested due to the disease status of those third countries, territories, zones or compartments. The additional guarantees with which those commodities are to comply are set out in Part 2 of Annex I to Regulation (EC) No 798/2008.

Article 4(4) of Regulation (EC) No 798/2008 requires that specified pathogen-free eggs, meat, minced meat and mechanically separated meat of poultry, ratites and wild game-birds, eggs and egg products transiting through the Union shall be accompanied by a certificate drawn up in accordance with the model certificate set out in Annex XI and complying with the conditions set out in that certificate.

In view of the isolated geographic situation of the Russian territory of Kaliningrad, Article 18 of Regulation (EC) No 798/2008 derogates from the requirements of Article 4(4) of that Regulation and lays down specific conditions for transit of certain consignments from and bound for Russia through Latvia, Lithuania and Poland. Those conditions include additional controls and the sealing of the consignments.

Belarus requested the Commission to authorise the transit through the Union of poultry meat from Belarus through Lithuania to the Russian territory of Kaliningrad.

Owing to the geographical situation of Kaliningrad and the already existing procedural structures laid down in Article 18(2) of Regulation (EC) No 798/2008 with regard to transit of commodities from and bound to Russia, the transit of poultry meat from Belarus through Lithuania to the Russian territory of Kaliningrad by rail or road should be permitted, provided the conditions laid down in Article 18(2), (3) and (4) for other commodities are complied with.

Regulation (EC) No 798/2008 should be amended in order to include the commodity poultry meat in its Article 18(2) and to modify the entry for Belarus in Part 1 of Annex I to that Regulation.

Regulation (EC) No 798/2008 should therefore be amended accordingly.

The measures provided for in this Regulation are in accordance with the opinion of the Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health,

HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION: