(1)

Regulation (EC) No 999/2001 lays down rules for the prevention, control and eradication of certain transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSEs) in animals. It applies to the production and placing on the market of live animals and products of animal origin.

(2)

Annex IX to Regulation (EC) No 999/2001 lays down the rules for the importation into the Community of live animals, embryos, ova and products of animal origin. The removal of specified risk material from products destined for food and feed is the single most important public health protection measure.

(3)

Article 5 of Regulation (EC) No 999/2001 provides for the bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) status of Member States or third countries or regions thereof to be determined by classification into three categories: negligible BSE risk, controlled BSE risk and undetermined BSE risk. That Article also provides for a reassessment of the Community categorisation of countries following the establishment by the World Organisation for Animal health (OIE) of a procedure for the classification of countries by category.

(4)

Pending the adoption of a decision on the BSE status of Member States and third countries, Regulation (EC) No 999/2001 provides for transitional measures to be applied for a period ending on 1 July 2007. Under the transitional measures regarding BSE the restrictions on imports into the Community from third countries with a BSE risk covered meat products as defined in Council Directive 77/99/EEC (2), which included treated intestines (animal casings). In addition the possibility of triangular trade was introduced where third countries with a BSE risk could export treated intestines, sourced from countries where BSE was considered highly unlikely.

(5)

On 25 June 2007 Regulation (EC) No 999/2001 was amended by Commission Regulation (EC) No 722/2007 (3). Regulation (EC) 999/2001, as thus amended, introduced a Community categorisation system of countries according their BSE risk, in line with that of the OIE. It entailed not only the listing of all countries under one of three categories: negligible BSE risk, controlled BSE risk and undetermined BSE risk, but also introduced trade rules according to each risk category.

(6)

The import rules relating to the new categorisation system referred to meat products as defined in Regulation (EC) No 853/2004 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 29 April 2004 laying down specific hygiene rules for food of animal origin (4), which excluded treated intestines. In line with the conditions applicable before 1 July 2007 and in order to ensure the same level of consumer protection, treated intestines should be included in the list of products covered by the TSE related import rules in Regulation (EC) No 999/2001. Annex IX to that Regulation should therefore be amended accordingly.

(7)

No TSE related import conditions apply for third countries with a negligible BSE risk status. It is necessary to clarify the import conditions in case intestines are sourced from a country or a region with a negligible BSE risk and treated in a third country with a different BSE risk status. For consistency reasons the possibility of triangular trade should be re-introduced under the new provisions.

(8)

Regulation (EC) No 999/2001 should therefore be amended accordingly.

(9)

The measures provided for in this Regulation are in accordance with the opinion of the Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health,