(1)

Pursuant to Article 50(2)(a) of Regulation (EU) No 1151/2012, Italy’s application to register the name ‘Pampepato di Terni’/‘Panpepato di Terni’ was published in the Official Journal of the European Union (2).

(2)

As no statement of opposition under Article 51 of Regulation (EU) No 1151/2012 has been received by the Commission, the name ‘Pampepato di Terni’/‘Panpepato di Terni’ should therefore be entered in the register,

(1)

Pursuant to the first subparagraph of Article 53(1) of Regulation (EU) No 1151/2012, the Commission has examined France’s application for the approval of amendments to the specification for the protected designation of origin ‘Sainte-Maure de Touraine’, registered under Commission Regulation (EC) No 1107/96 (2), as amended by Commission Regulation (EC) No 828/2003 (3).

(2)

Since the amendments in question are not minor within the meaning of Article 53(2) of Regulation (EU) No 1151/2012, the Commission published the amendment application in the Official Journal of the European Union (4) as required by Article 50(2)(a) of that Regulation.

(3)

As no statement of opposition under Article 51 of Regulation (EU) No 1151/2012 has been received by the Commission, the amendments to the specification should be approved,

(1)

Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/1793 (3) lays down rules concerning the temporary increase of official controls at the entry into the Union, imposed on certain food and feed of non-animal origin imported from certain third countries and special conditions governing the entry into the Union of certain food and feed from certain third countries due to the risk of contamination by mycotoxins, including aflatoxins, pesticide residues, pentachlorophenol and dioxins and microbiological contamination, listed in Annex II to that Implementing Regulation.

(2)

The recent occurrence of food safety incidents notified through the Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed (RASFF), as established by Regulation (EC) No 178/2002, and information regarding official controls performed by Member States on sesamum seeds originating from India require amending Annex II to Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/1793.

(3)

In September 2020, very high levels of ethylene oxide were notified through the RASFF as regards certain batches of sesamum seeds originating in or consigned from India and having entered the Union. Those levels are exceeding more than 1 000 times the maximum residue level of 0,05 mg/kg applicable for ethylene oxide in accordance with Regulation (EC) No 396/2005 of the European Parliament and of the Council (4).

(4)

Such contamination constitutes a serious risk to human health within the Union, as ethylene oxide is classified as a mutagen, category 1B, a carcinogen, category 1 B, and a reproductive toxicant, category 1B, in accordance with Regulation (EC) No 1272/2008 of the European Parliament and of the Council (5). Moreover, ethylene oxide is not approved as an active substance for use in plant protection products in the Union.

(5)

In order to protect human health in the Union, it is therefore necessary to provide for special conditions in relation to pesticide residues regarding sesamum seeds from India. In particular, the official certificate which, in accordance with Article 11(1) of Regulation (EU) 2019/1793 in conjunction with Annex II thereto, is to accompany all consignments of sesamum seeds from India should also state that the products have been sampled and analysed for residues of pesticides to be monitored in/on products of plant origin, and that all results of sampling and analysis show compliance with Union legislation on maximum residue levels of pesticides. The results of the sampling and analysis should be attached to that certificate.

(6)

In view of ongoing trade, consignments of sesamum seeds originating from India that left the country of origin or the country of dispatch, if that country is different from the country of origin, before the date of entry into force of this Regulation should continue to be subject to the requirements applicable before that date.

(7)

In addition and in order to protect human health in the Union, the frequency of physical and identity checks for the presence of pesticides residues to be performed on sesamum seeds originating from India at the Union borders should be set at 50 %.

(8)

Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/1793 should therefore be amended accordingly.

(9)

In view of the serious risk for human health arising from contaminated consignments of sesamum seeds originating from India and in view of the need to take swift action, this Regulation should enter into force on the third day following that of its publication.

(10)

The measures provided for in this Regulation are in accordance with the opinion of the Standing Committee on Plants, Animals, Food and Feed,

(1)

Pursuant to Article 9(1) of Decision 2013/354/CFSP, the Political and Security Committee (PSC) is authorised, in accordance with the third paragraph of Article 38 of the Treaty, to take the relevant decisions for the purpose of exercising the political control and strategic direction of the European Union Police Mission for the Palestinian Territories (EUPOL COPPS), including the decision to appoint a Head of Mission.

(2)

On 28 September 2017 the PSC adopted Political and Security Committee Decision (CFSP) 2017/1802 (2), appointing Mr Kauko AALTOMAA as Head of Mission of EUPOL COPPS from 1 October 2017 to 30 June 2018.

(3)

The mandate of Mr Kauko AALTOMAA as Head of Mission of EUPOL COPPS has been regularly extended, most recently until 30 September 2020 by means of Council Decision (CFSP) 2020/902 (3), which also amended Decision 2013/354/CFSP and extended the duration of EUPOL COPPS until 30 June 2021.

(4)

On 7 October 2020 the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy proposed the appointment of Ms Nataliya APOSTOLOVA as Head of Mission of EUPOL COPPS,