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 third indent of Article 8(5), Article 9(2)(b) and Article 9(4) thereof,

Whereas:

Italy will host the universal exhibition named ‘EXPO Milano 2015’ which will take place in Milan from 1 May to 31 October 2015. The central theme of this exhibition is ‘Feeding the planet — Energy for life’.

The authorisation to export products of animal origin to the Union is granted to third countries based on a number of requirements laid down in the Union legislation, which take into account animal and public health concerns. However, not all the products of animal origin from countries taking part in EXPO Milano 2015 are authorised to be introduced into the Union.

Certain derogations to the Union import health requirements were therefore established by Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2015/329^f2 in order to authorise the introduction of certain products of animal origin exclusively for the purpose of their use in EXPO Milano 2015.

Japan is listed in Part 2 of Annex II to Commission Decision 2007/777/EC^f4 as a third country from which the introduction into the Union of certain meat products and treated stomachs, bladders and intestines obtained from domestic porcine animals is authorised, provided that they have undergone the specific treatment ‘B’, as defined in Part 4 of that Annex.

Japan has requested to be authorised to introduce into the Union, exclusively for the purpose of their use in EXPO Milano 2015, fresh meat of domestic porcine animals and certain meat products and treated stomachs, bladders and intestines obtained from domestic porcine animals which have undergone the non-specific treatment ‘A’, as defined in Part 4 of Annex II to Decision 2007/777/EC.

It is considered that those products of animal origin offer sufficient animal health guarantees in relation to their introduction in the Exhibition site of EXPO Milano 2015 as defined by Regulation (EU) 2015/329 for the following reasons. Japan duly reports outbreaks of diseases in animals to the World Organisation for Animal Health. African swine fever has never been reported in Japan, rinderpest has not been reported in Japan since 1922, swine vesicular disease not since 1975, classical swine fever not since 1992 and foot and mouth disease not since 2010. In addition, those products comply with the public health requirements of Japan and are fit for human consumption in Japan. Furthermore, EXPO Milano 2015 is a temporary event and Regulation (EU) 2015/329 provides for strict control measures for the products of animal origin which do not completely fulfil the health import requirements of the Union. That Regulation also ensures that those products are traceable in all stages of transport, storage, delivery and disposal of their remainder or waste and are to be used only for the purposes of the exhibition.

It is therefore appropriate to derogate from Regulation (EU) 2015/329 with respect to the transit and storage requirements provided therein. In this context, a specific animal health import certificate model should be established for the introduction of such products. However, the other requirements set out in that Regulation should apply.

The measures provided for in this Regulation are in accordance with the opinion of the Standing Committee on Plants, Animals, Food and Feed,

HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION: