2008/120/EC: Commission Decision of 7 February 2008 amending Annex D to Council Directive 88/407/EEC and Commission Decision 2004/639/EC laying down the importation conditions of semen of domestic animals of the bovine species (notified under document number C(2008) 409) (Text with EEA relevance)

THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,

Having regard to Council Directive 88/407/EEC of 14 June 1988 laying down the animal health requirements applicable to intra-Community trade in and imports of semen of domestic animals of the bovine species⁽¹⁾, and in particular Article 8(1), the first subparagraph of Article 10(2), Article 11(2) and the second paragraph of Article 17 thereof,

Whereas:

1. Directive 88/407/EEC laid down the animal health requirements governing trade in and imports into the Community of semen of domestic animals of bovine species and established the model veterinary certificates for intra-Community trade of that commodity.

2. Directive 2003/43/EC⁽²⁾ amended Directive 88/407/EEC by introducing, inter alia, semen storage centres and conditions for the official approval and the official supervision of those centres.

3. Commission Decision 2004/639/EC of 6 September 2004 laying down the importation conditions of semen of domestic animals of the bovine species⁽³⁾ sets out the model veterinary certificates for imports into the Community of semen of domestic animals of the bovine species. That Decision should be adapted in line with Directive 88/407/EEC and the list of third countries from which Member States authorise imports of semen of domestic animals of the bovine species should be supplemented.

4. In addition, the model veterinary certificates for intra-Community trade in and imports into the Community of semen of domestic animals of the bovine species dispatched from approved semen storage centres should be introduced in order to ensure the full traceability of that semen in intra-Community trade.

5. It is appropriate for the certificates to be presented in accordance with the standardised layout of veterinary certificates as set out in Commission Decision 2004/292/EC of 30 March 2004 on the introduction of the Traces system and amending Decision 92/486/EEC⁽⁴⁾ and to align certain animal health requirements.

6. The models of certificates for intra-Community trade in semen of domestic animals of the bovine species laid down in Annex D to Directive 88/407/EEC should also be amended to take into account the standardised layout of veterinary certificates.

7. Directive 88/407/EEC and Decision 2004/639/EC should therefore be amended accordingly.

8. 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: