Date: 2023-09-28Category: Not ApplicableState: Union GovernmentCountry: Europe
Decision of the EEA Joint Committee No 237/2020 of 30 December 2020 amending Annex I (Veterinary and phytosanitary matters) to the EEA Agreement [2023/2039]
Executive Summary:
This EEA Joint Committee Decision No. 237/2020 amends Annex I to the EEA Agreement to incorporate Commission Implementing Decisions EU 2020/2109 and EU 2020/2112. These decisions relate to veterinary and phytosanitary matters, specifically the listing of Member States free of certain animal diseases and the approval of contingency plans for animal disease control. The decision entered into force on December 30, 2020, following notifications under the EEA Agreement.
Key Points / Main Content:
* **Amendments to Annex I, Chapter I of the EEA Agreement:**
* Commission Implementing Decision EU 2020/2112 is added to points 8 and 40 concerning Commission Decisions 93/455/EEC, 1999/246/EC and 2007/24/EC in Part 3.2.
* Commission Implementing Decision EU 2020/2109 is added to points 14, 70, 80 and 84 concerning Commission Decisions 93/52/EEC, 2003/467/EC, 2004/558/EC and 2008/185/EC in Part 4.2.
* **Language Authenticity:**
* The Norwegian language texts of Implementing Decisions EU 2020/2109 and EU 2020/2112 are authentic and will be published in the EEA Supplement to the Official Journal.
* **Iceland Exclusion:**
* The Decision does not apply to Iceland, regarding legislation on live animals other than fish and aquaculture animals.
* **Liechtenstein Exclusion:**
* The Decision does not apply to Liechtenstein as long as the Agreement between the European Community and Switzerland on trade in agricultural products is extended to Liechtenstein.
* **Entry Into Force:**
* The Decision entered into force on December 30, 2020, after all notifications under Article 103(1) of the EEA Agreement were made.
* **Publication:**
* The Decision will be published in the EEA Section and EEA Supplement to the Official Journal of the European Union.
Impact Analysis:
* **EEA EFTA States (excluding Iceland and Liechtenstein under specific conditions):**
* Impact: Must take due account of Commission Implementing Decisions EU 2020/2109 and EU 2020/2112 concerning veterinary and phytosanitary matters.
* Action Required: Incorporate the changes into their national legislation and ensure compliance with the updated regulations.
* **EFTA Surveillance Authority:**
* Impact: Must take due account of Commission Implementing Decisions EU 2020/2109 and EU 2020/2112.
* Action Required: Monitor and enforce the implementation of the updated regulations in the EEA EFTA States (excluding Iceland and Liechtenstein under specific conditions).
* **Norway:**
* Impact: The Norwegian language texts of the incorporated decisions are authentic.
* Action Required: Implement the decisions based on the authentic Norwegian language texts.
Key Entities Referenced
EEA Joint Committee: The decision-making body responsible for amending the EEA Agreement.
EEA Agreement: Agreement on the European Economic Area
Commission Implementing Decision EU 2020/2109: A European Commission Implementing Decision amending decisions related to officially disease-free status of Member States and regions regarding terrestrial animal diseases.
Commission Implementing Decision EU 2020/2112: A European Commission Implementing Decision amending annexes to decisions regarding the approval of contingency plans of the United Kingdom in respect of Northern Ireland for the control of foot-and-mouth disease, classical swine fever, avian influenza, and Newcastle disease.
United Kingdom: Country whose contingency plans in respect of Northern Ireland are mentioned in the document.
Northern Ireland: Region of the United Kingdom whose contingency plans are mentioned with respect to control of animal diseases.
Iceland: Country to which the legislation regarding live animals other than fish and aquaculture animals does not apply as specified in the EEA Agreement.
Liechtenstein: Country to which the legislation regarding veterinary matters does not apply, according to the agreement with the Swiss Confederation.
28.9.2023 EN Official Journal of the European Union L 240/117
DECISION OF THE EEA JOINT COMMITTEE No 237/2020
of 30 December 2020
amending Annex I (Veterinary and phytosanitary matters) to the EEA Agreement [2023/2039]
THE EEA JOINT COMMITTEE,
Having regard to the Agreement on the European Economic Area (“the EEA Agreement”), and in particular Article 98
thereof,
Whereas:
(1) Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2020/2109 of 16 December 2020 amending Decisions 93/52/EEC,
2003/467/EC, 2004/558/EC and 2008/185/EC as regards the listing of Member States and regions thereof
recognised as officially free of several terrestrial animal diseases(1)is to be incorporated into the EEA Agreement.
(2) Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2020/2112 of 16 December 2020 amending the Annexes to
Decisions 93/455/EEC, 1999/246/EC and 2007/24/EC as regards the approval of the contingency plans of the
United Kingdom in respect of Northern Ireland for the control of foot-and-mouth disease, classical swine fever,
avian influenza and Newcastle disease(2)is to be incorporated into the EEA Agreement.
(3) This Decision concerns legislation regarding live animals other than fish and aquaculture animals. Legislation
concerning these matters shall not apply to Iceland, as specified in paragraph 2 of the Introductory Part of Chapter I
of Annex I to the EEA Agreement. This Decision is therefore not to apply to Iceland.
(4) This Decision concerns legislation regarding veterinary matters. Legislation regarding veterinary matters shall not
apply to Liechtenstein as long as the application of the Agreement between the European Community and the Swiss
Confederation on trade in agricultural products is extended to Liechtenstein, as specified in the sectoral adaptations
to Annex I to the EEA Agreement. This Decision is therefore not to apply to Liechtenstein.
(5) Annex I to the EEA Agreement should therefore be amended accordingly,
HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:
Article 1
Chapter I of Annex I to the EEA Agreement shall be amended as follows:
1. The following indent is added in points 8 (Commission Decision 93/455/EEC) in Part 3.2 and 9 (Commission
Decision 1999/246/EC) in Part 3.2 ‘ACTS OF WHICH THE EFTA STATES AND THE EFTA SURVEILLANCE
AUTHORITY SHALL TAKE DUE ACCOUNT’:
‘— 32020 D 2112: Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2020/2112 of 16 December 2020 (OJ L 427,
17.12.2020, p. 17).’
2. The following is added in point 40 (Commission Decision 2007/24/EC) in Part 3.2 ‘ACTS OF WHICH THE EFTA
STATES AND THE EFTA SURVEILLANCE AUTHORITY SHALL TAKE DUE ACCOUNT’:
(1) OJ L 427, 17.12.2020, p. 4.
(2) OJ L 427, 17.12.2020, p. 17.L 240/118 EN Official Journal of the European Union 28.9.2023
‘, as amended by:
— 32020 D 2112: Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2020/2112 of 16 December 2020 (OJ L 427,
17.12.2020, p. 17).’
3. The following indent is added in points 14 (Commission Decision 93/52/EEC), 70 (Commission
Decision 2003/467/EC), 80 (Commission Decision 2004/558/EC) and 84 (Commission Decision 2008/185/EC) in
Part 4.2:
‘— 32020 D 2109: Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2020/2109 of 16 December 2020 (OJ L 427,
17.12.2020, p. 4).’
Article 2
The texts of Implementing Decisions (EU) 2020/2109 and (EU) 2020/2112 in the Norwegian language, to be published in
the EEA Supplement to the Official Journal of the European Union, shall be authentic.
Article 3
This Decision shall enter into force on 30 December 2020, provided that all the notifications under Article 103(1) of the
EEA Agreement have been made*.
Article 4
This Decision shall be published in the EEA Section of, and in the EEA Supplement to, the Official Journal of the European
Union.
Done at Brussels, 30 December 2020.
For the EEA Joint Committee
The President
Sabine MONAUNI
* No constitutional requirements indicated.