Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2016/24 of 8 January 2016 imposing special conditions governing the import of groundnuts from Brazil, Capsicum annuum and nutmeg from India and nutmeg from Indonesia and amending Regulations (EC) No 669/2009 and (EU) No 884/2014 (Text with EEA relevance)
Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2016/24of 8 January 2016imposing special conditions governing the import of groundnuts from Brazil, Capsicum annuum and nutmeg from India and nutmeg from Indonesia and amending Regulations (EC) No 669/2009 and (EU) No 884/2014(Text with EEA relevance)THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION,Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,Having regard to Regulation (EC) No 178/2002 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 28 January 2002 laying down the general principles and requirements of food law, establishing the European Food Safety Authority and laying down procedures in matters of food safetyOJ L 31, 1.2.2002, p. 1., and in particular Article 53(1)(b)(ii) thereof,Having regard to Regulation (EC) No 882/2004 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 29 April 2004 on official controls performed to ensure the verification of compliance with feed and food law, animal health and animal welfare rulesOJ L 165, 30.4.2004, p. 1., and in particular Article 15(5) thereof,Whereas:(1)Commission Regulation (EC) No 669/2009Commission Regulation (EC) No 669/2009 of 24 July 2009 implementing Regulation (EC) No 882/2004 of the European Parliament and of the Council as regards the increased level of official controls on imports of certain feed and food of non-animal origin and amending Decision 2006/504/EC (OJ L 194, 25.7.2009, p. 11). provides for an increased level of official controls on imports of certain feed and food of non-animal origin listed in Annex I to that Regulation. Groundnuts from Brazil and Capsicum annuum and nutmeg from India are already subject to such an increased level of official controls since January 2010 as regards the presence of aflatoxins. Since July 2012, nutmeg from Indonesia has also been subject to an increased level of official controls regarding aflatoxins.(2)The results of the official controls carried out by the Member States in pursuant to Regulation (EC) No 669/2009 on those commodities show a continuous high frequency of non-compliance with maximum levels of aflatoxins. Those results provide evidence that the import of those foods and feeds constitute a risk for animal and human health. No improvement of the situation could be observed after several years of increased frequency of controls at Union borders.(3)Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) No 884/2014Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) No 884/2014 of 13 August 2014 imposing special conditions governing the import of certain feed and food from certain third countries due to contamination risk by aflatoxins and repealing Regulation (EC) No 1152/2009 (OJ L 242, 14.8.2014, p. 4). imposes special conditions on the import of certain feed and food from certain third countries due to contamination risk by aflatoxins.(4)In order to protect human and animal health in the Union, it is necessary to provide for additional guarantees in relation to those food and feed from Brazil, India and Indonesia. All consignments of groundnuts from Brazil, Capsicum annuum from India and nutmeg from India and Indonesia should be accompanied by a health certificate stating that the products have been sampled and analysed for the presence of aflatoxins and have been found compliant with Union legislation. The results of the analytical tests should be attached to the health certificate.(5)Besides the exemption of consignments destined to a private person for personal consumption and use, it is also appropriate to exclude very small consignments of certain feed and food, namely not exceeding 20 kg, e.g. used for commercial exhibitions or sent as commercial samples. The requirement of a health certificate accompanied by the analytical result is for such consignments not proportionate to the low risk for public health of such consignments.(6)The Turkish and Iranian authorities have informed the Commission of a change of the competent authority whose authorised representative is entitled to sign the health certificate. The Brazilian authority is also competent for feed. Therefore, these changes have to be introduced accordingly.(7)In order to reduce unnecessary administrative burden, it is appropriate to provide that in case of a consignment in which packaging is combining several small packages/entities, it is not necessary that the identification number of the consignment is mentioned on every individual package in the consignment but sufficient on the package combining these small packages/entities.(8)Following problems experienced, it is appropriate to specify that the entries of the Common Entry Document related to the favourable completion of the documentary check have to be completed before authorising the transfer of the consignment to a DPI.(9)Regulation (EC) No 669/2009 and Implementing Regulation (EU) No 884/2014 should therefore be amended accordingly.(10)The measures provided for in this Regulation are in accordance with the opinion of the Standing Committee on the Plants, Animals, Food and Feed,HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION: