16.4.2005

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

L 98/32

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COMMISSION DECISION

of 16 February 2005

approving on behalf of the European Community amendments to the Annexes to the Agreement between the European Community and the Government of Canada on sanitary measures applicable to trade in live animals and animal products

(notified under document number C(2005) 336)

(Text with EEA relevance)

(2005/306/EC)

THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,

Having regard to Council Decision 1999/201/EC of 14 December 1998 on the conclusion of the Agreement between the European Community and the Government of Canada on sanitary measures to protect public and animal health in respect of trade in live animals and animal products (1), and in particular Article 4, third paragraph thereof,

Whereas:

(1)

The Agreement between the European Community and the Government of Canada on sanitary measures to protect public and animal health applicable to trade in live animals and animal products (hereafter the Agreement) provides for the possibility of recognising equivalence for sanitary measures after the exporting Party has objectively demonstrated that its measures achieve the importing Party’s appropriate level of protection. The determination of equivalence was carried out and concluded with Canada on animal health measures concerning bovine semen, and on public health measures concerning pig meat. Equivalence has been concluded on a reciprocal basis.

(2)

As regards equivalence for Canadian exports of pig meat to the EU ante- and post-mortem provisions, the definition of market hogs and other hygiene requirements are to be reviewed when the new EU Food Hygiene Regulations will be applied. Similarly, as regards equivalence for EU exports of pig meat to Canada, some provisions are to be reviewed when the Canadian Meat Inspection Regulation will be amended.

(3)

The Joint Management Committee for the Agreement, at its meeting on 16 and 17 February 2004, issued a recommendation concerning the determination of equivalence for bovine semen and pig meat. At the same meeting, the Committee recommended to update the references to EU and Canadian legislation in the annexes to the Agreement. The Committee, at its meeting on 16 and 17 July 2003, based on recent amendments of the Canadian legislation, issued a recommendation to delete paragraph 2 of Chapter I of footnote B in Annex V to the Agreement as regards automatic temperature recorders in frozen fish storage areas and non-hand operated wash-basins in processing areas. At the same meeting, the Committee, based on the Community experience with imports of certain Canadian fish and fishery products from Canada and animal welfare considerations, issued a recommendation for reducing the frequency of the EC identity and physical import checks for such consignments.

(4)	As a result of these recommendations it is appropriate to modify the relevant parts in Annex V and Annex VIII to the Agreement.

(5)	Pursuant to Article 16(3) of the Agreement, amendments to the Annexes shall be agreed upon by an Exchange of Notes between the Parties.

(6)	Those modifications should be approved on behalf of the Community.

(7)	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:

Article 1

Pursuant to the recommendations made by the Joint Management Committee established under Article 16 of the Agreement between the European Community and the Government of Canada on sanitary measures applicable to trade in live animals and animal products the modifications to Annex V and Annex VIII to the said Agreement are hereby approved on behalf of the Community. The text of an Exchange of Letters constituting an agreement with the Government of Canada, including the modifications to the Annexes to the Agreement, is attached to this Decision.

Article 2

The Director-General for Health and Consumer Protection is hereby empowered to sign the agreement in the form of an Exchange of Letters in order to bind the Community.

Article 3

This Decision is addressed to the Member States.

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(1)  OJ L 71, 18.3.1999, p. 1.

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AGREEMENT IN THE FORM OF AN EXCHANGE OF LETTERS

with the Government of Canada on the modifications of Annex V and Annex VIII to the Agreement between the European Community and the Government of Canada on sanitary measures to protect public and animal health in respect of trade in live animals and animal products

Brussels, 7 March 2005

Sir,

With reference to Article 16(2) and (3) of the Agreement between the European Community and the Government of Canada on sanitary measures to protect public and animal health in respect of trade in live animals and animal products, done at Ottawa on 17 December 1998, hereafter called the Agreement, I have the honour to propose modifications to Annex V and Annex VIII to the Agreement in accordance with the recommendations of the Joint Management Committee established under Article 16(1) of the Agreement, as follows:

1.	The table at point 3 concerning Semen in Annex V to the Agreement is replaced by the table in Appendix I.

2.	The table at point 6 concerning Fresh meat in Annex V to the Agreement is replaced by the table in Appendix II.

3.	Footnote A in Annex V to the Agreement is replaced by the text in Appendix III.

4.	Paragraph 2 of Chapter I of footnote B in Annex V to the Agreement is deleted.

5.	Annex VIII to the Agreement is replaced by the text in Appendix IV.

I have the honour to propose that if this letter and the Appendices thereto are acceptable to your Government, this letter and your confirmation shall together constitute an agreement to amend the Agreement between the European Community and Canada, which shall enter into force on the date of your reply.

Please accept, Sir, the assurance of my highest consideration.

Brussels, 15 March 2005

Sir,

I have the honour to acknowledge receipt of your letter of 7 March 2005 which reads as follows:

‘Sir,

With reference to Article 16(2) and (3) of the Agreement between the European Community and the Government of Canada on sanitary measures to protect public and animal health in respect of trade in live animals and animal products, done at Ottawa on 17 December 1998, hereafter called the Agreement, I have the honour to propose modifications to Annex V and Annex VIII to the Agreement in accordance with the recommendations of the Joint Management Committee established under Article 16(1) of the Agreement, as follows:

1.	The table at point 3 concerning Semen in Annex V to the Agreement is replaced by the table in Appendix I.

2.	The table at point 6 concerning Fresh meat in Annex V to the Agreement is replaced by the table in Appendix II.

3.	Footnote A in Annex V to the Agreement is replaced by the text in Appendix III.

4.	Paragraph 2 of Chapter I of footnote B in Annex V to the Agreement is deleted.

5.	Annex VIII to the Agreement is replaced by the text in Appendix IV.

I have the honour to propose that if this letter and the Appendices thereto are acceptable to your Government, this letter and your confirmation shall together constitute an agreement to amend the Agreement between the European Community and Canada, which shall enter into force on the date of your reply.’

I have the honour to confirm that the above is acceptable to my Government and that your letter, and this reply and the attached Appendices, which are equally authentic in English and French, together shall constitute an agreement to amend the Agreement between Canada and the European Community, in accordance with your proposal, which shall come into force on the date of this letter.

Please accept, Sir, the assurances of my highest consideration.

APPENDIX I

APPENDIX II

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(1)  http://www.inspection.gc.ca/francais/anima/meavia/mmopmmhv/chap11/eu-uef.shtml for the French version and http://www.inspection.gc.ca/english/anima/meavia/mmopmmhv/chap11/eu-uee.shtml for the English version.

APPENDIX III

APPENDIX IV

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