1.2.2005

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

L 28/41

COMMISSION DECISION

of 25 January 2005

amending Decision 98/695/EC laying down special conditions governing imports of fishery and aquaculture products originating in Mexico, as regards the designation of the competent authority and the model of health certificate

(notified under document number C(2004) 4564)

(Text with EEA relevance)

(2005/70/EC)

THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,

Having regard to Council Directive 91/493/EEC of 22 July 1991 laying down the health conditions for the production and the placing on the market of fishery products (1), and in particular Article 11(1) thereof,

Whereas:

(1)

In Commission Decision 98/695/EC (2), the ‘Dirección General de Control Sanitario de Productos y Servicios (DGCSPS) de la Secretaría de Salud’ is identified as the competent authority in Mexico for verifying and certifying compliance of fishery and aquaculture products with the requirements of Directive 91/493/EEC.

(2)

Following a restructuring of the Mexican administration, the competent authority has changed to the ‘Comisión Federal para la Protección contra Riesgos Sanitarios (CFPRS)’. This new authority is capable of effectively verifying the application of the rules in force.

(3)

The CFPRS has provided official assurances on compliance with the standards for health controls and monitoring of fishery and aquaculture products as set out in Directive 91/493/EEC and on the fulfilment of hygienic requirements equivalent to those laid down in that Directive.

(4)

Decision 98/695/EC should therefore be amended accordingly.

(5)

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:

Decision 98/695/EC is amended as follows:

1.

Article 1 is replaced by the following:

‘Article 1

The “Comisión Federal para la Protección contra Riesgos Sanitarios (CFPRS)” shall be the competent authority in Mexico for verifying and certifying compliance of fishery and aquaculture products with the requirements of Directive 91/493/EEC.’

2.

In Article 3, paragraph 2 is replaced by the following:

‘2. Certificates must bear the name, capacity and signature of the representative of the CFPRS and the latter's official stamp in a colour different from that of other endorsements.’

3.

Annex A is replaced by the text in the Annex to this Decision.

Article 2

This Decision shall apply from 17 March 2005.

Article 3

This Decision is addressed to the Member States.

Done at Brussels, 25 January 2005.

For the Commission

Markos KYPRIANOU

Member of the Commission

(1) OJ L 268, 24.9.1991, p. 15. Directive as last amended by Regulation (EC) No 806/2003 (OJ L 122, 16.5.2003, p. 1).

(2) OJ L 332, 8.12.1998, p. 9. Decision as amended by Decision 2001/819/EC (OJ L 307, 24.11.2001, p. 22).

ANNEX

‘ANNEX A

HEALTH CERTIFICATE

for fishery products from Mexico and intended for export to the European Community, excluding bivalve molluscs, echinoderms, tunicates and marine gastropods in whatever form