Commission Decision of 26 January 2005 amending Decision 97/296/EC drawing up the list of third countries from which the import of fishery products is authorised for human consumption, with respect to Antigua and Barbuda, Hong Kong, El Salvador and Slovakia (notified under document number C(2004) 4608) (Text with EEA relevance) (2005/71/EC)

THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,

Having regard to Council Decision 95/408/EC of 22 of June 1995 on the conditions for drawing up, for an interim period, provisional lists of third country establishments from which Member States are authorised to import certain products of animal origin, fishery products or live bivalve molluscs⁽¹⁾, and in particular Article 2(2) thereof,

Whereas:

1. Commission Decision 97/296/EC of 22 April 1997 drawing up the list of third countries from which the import of fishery products is authorised for human consumption⁽²⁾, lists the countries and territories from which import of fishery products for human consumption is authorised. Part I of the Annex to that Decision lists the countries and territories covered by a specific decision under 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⁽³⁾, and part II of that Annex lists the countries and territories meeting the conditions set out in Article 2(2) of Decision 95/408/EC.

2. Commission Decisions 2005/72/EC⁽⁴⁾, 2005/73/EC⁽⁵⁾ and 2005/74/EC⁽⁶⁾ provide for specific import conditions for fishery products originating in Antigua and Barbuda, Hong Kong and El Salvador which should therefore be included in the list in Part I of the Annex to Decision 97/296/EC.

3. The list set out in Part I of the Annex to Decision 97/296/EC includes Slovakia. Since that country is now a Member State its name should be deleted from that list.

4. In the interests of clarity the lists concerned should be replaced in their entirety.

5. Decision 97/296/EC should therefore be amended accordingly.

6. This Decision should apply from the same day as Decisions 2005/72/EC, 2005/73/EC and 2005/74/EC as regards the import of fishery products from Antigua and Barbuda, Hong Kong and El Salvador.

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: