Date: 2015-07-24Category: Not ApplicableState: Union GovernmentCountry: Europe
Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2015/1205 of 23 July 2015 amending Implementing Regulation (EU) No 743/2013 introducing protective measures on imports of bivalve molluscs from Turkey intended for human consumption, as regards its period of application (Text with EEA relevance)
## Policy Summary: Implementing Regulation (EU) 2015/1205 Regarding Protective Measures on Bivalve Molluscs Imports from Turkey
This regulation, Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2015/1205 of 23 July 2015, amends Implementing Regulation (EU) No 743/2013, which introduced protective measures on imports of bivalve molluscs from Turkey intended for human consumption. The amendment extends the period of application of these protective measures until December 31, 2016.
The original Implementing Regulation (EU) No 743/2013 was enacted due to identified deficiencies in Turkey's official controls on the production of bivalve molluscs intended for export to the Union, as discovered by audits from the Food and Veterinary Office (FVO) and reports of non-compliant consignments from Member States failing to meet Union microbiological standards.
While Turkish authorities presented information on corrective measures, the Commission deemed a follow-up FVO audit necessary due to the seriousness of the initial shortcomings. Continued instances of microbiological non-compliance reported at Union border inspection posts further substantiated the need for continued protective measures.
This regulation was adopted in accordance with the opinion of the Standing Committee on Plants, Animals, Food and Feed. It entered into force on the third day following its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union. The legal basis for this regulation is the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union and Council Directive 97/78/EC, specifically Article 22(6) thereof.
Key Entities Referenced
European Union: A political and economic union of member states located primarily in Europe.
Commission Implementing Regulation EU 2015/1205: A European Union regulation amending Implementing Regulation EU No 743/2013 regarding protective measures on imports of bivalve molluscs from Turkey.
Turkey: Country from which imports of bivalve molluscs are being regulated by the European Union.
Council Directive 97/78/EC: Council Directive laying down the principles governing the organisation of veterinary checks on products entering the Community from third countries.
Food and Veterinary Office (FVO): The Commission's audit service responsible for identifying deficiencies in Turkey's official controls of bivalve mollusc production.
Commission Implementing Regulation EU No 743/2013: A European Union regulation introducing protective measures on imports of bivalve molluscs from Turkey intended for human consumption.
Standing Committee on Plants, Animals, Food and Feed: A committee that provided an opinion in accordance with which the measures in the regulation were adopted.
Brussels: The city where the regulation was adopted.
L 196/2 EN Official Journal of the European Union 24.7.2015
REGULATIONS
COMMISSION IMPLEMENTING REGULATION (EU) 2015/1205
of 23 July 2015
amending Implementing Regulation (EU) No 743/2013 introducing protective measures on imports
of bivalve molluscs from Turkey intended for human consumption, as regards its period of
application
(Text with EEA relevance)
THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION,
Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,
Having regard to Council Directive 97/78/EC of 18 December 1997 laying down the principles governing the
organisation of veterinary checks on products entering the Community from third countries (1), and in particular
Article 22(6) thereof,
Whereas:
(1) Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) No 743/2013 (2) was adopted as audits of the Commission's audit
service, the Food and Veterinary Office (‘FVO’), identified deficiencies in Turkey in the implementation of official
controls of the production of bivalve molluscs intended for export to the Union, and as Member States reported
non-compliant consignments of bivalve molluscs originating in Turkey which were not fulfilling Union microbio
logical standards.
(2) The Turkish competent authorities presented information regarding the corrective measures that have been
initiated to address the deficiencies detected in the control system for bivalve molluscs intended for export to the
Union. However, due to the seriousness of the shortcomings identified in the FVO audits, before any lifting of
measures can be considered, a follow-up FVO audit is necessary. Moreover, Member States have reported certain
cases of microbiological non-compliance of bivalve molluscs presented for inspection at a Union border
inspection post of entry.
(3) The limit of application of Implementing Regulation (EU) No 743/2013 should therefore be amended
accordingly.
(4) The measures provided for in this Regulation are in accordance with the opinion of the Standing Committee on
Plants, Animals, Food and Feed,
HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION:
Article 1
In the second paragraph of Article 5 of Implementing Regulation (EU) No 743/2013, the date ‘4 August 2015’ is
replaced by the date ‘31 December 2016’.
(1) OJ L 24, 30.1.1998, p. 9.
(2) Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) No 743/2013 of 31 July 2013 on introducing protective measures on imports of bivalve
molluscs from Turkey intended for human consumption (OJ L 205, 1.8.2013, p. 1).24.7.2015 EN Official Journal of the European Union L 196/3
Article 2
This Regulation shall enter into force on the third day following that of its publication in the Official Journal of the
European Union.
This Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States.
Done at Brussels, 23 July 2015.
For the Commission
The President
Jean-Claude JUNCKER