Date: 2023-09-28Category: Not ApplicableState: Union GovernmentCountry: Europe
Decision of the EEA Joint Committee No 239/2020 of 30 December 2020 amending Annex I (Veterinary and phytosanitary matters) and Annex II (Technical regulations, standards, testing and certification) to the EEA Agreement [2023/2041]
Executive Summary:
EEA Joint Committee Decision No. 239/2020 amends Annex I (Veterinary and phytosanitary matters) and Annex II (Technical regulations, standards, testing and certification) to the EEA Agreement. The decision incorporates several Commission Implementing Regulations and Decisions related to trade and health standards, particularly concerning Northern Ireland and organic products. It entered into force on December 30, 2020, pending notification under Article 103(1) of the EEA Agreement.
Key Points / Main Content:
* **Amendment of Annex I:**
* Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2020/2108 amending Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/627 is added to points 11bk and 31qk.
* Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2020/2110 amending Decision 2009/177/EC is added to point 89.
* Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2020/2111 amending Decision 2010/221/EU is added to point 94.
* **Amendment of Annex II:**
* Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2020/2196 amending Regulation (EC) No 1235/2008 is added to point 54bb.
* Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2020/2108 amending Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/627 is added to point 164k.
* **Liechtenstein Exception:**
* The Decision does not apply to Liechtenstein, provided the agreement between the European Community and Switzerland on trade in agricultural products is extended to Liechtenstein.
* **Authentic Texts:**
* The Icelandic and Norwegian language texts of Regulations (EU) 2020/2108 and (EU) 2020/2196 and Decisions (EU) 2020/2110 and (EU) 2020/2111 are authentic.
Impact Analysis:
* **EEA Member States (excluding Liechtenstein under specific conditions):**
* Impact: Must incorporate the changes to veterinary, phytosanitary, and technical regulations into their national laws.
* Action Required: Update national legislation and ensure compliance with the incorporated EU regulations and decisions.
* **Businesses involved in trade between EEA countries and the UK (Northern Ireland) and third countries (organic products):**
* Impact: Need to comply with the updated health mark requirements for meat and the revised rules for importing organic products.
* Action Required: Adapt their practices to meet the new regulatory standards for trade, certification, and health marks.
* **Authorities responsible for aquatic animal health:**
* Impact: Must recognize the disease-free status of Northern Ireland for certain aquatic animal diseases and the approved national measures for limiting the impact of certain diseases in aquaculture.
* Action Required: Implement the updated decisions in their monitoring and control programs for aquatic animal diseases.
Key Entities Referenced
EEA Joint Committee: The decision-making body responsible for adopting decisions related to the Agreement on the European Economic Area (EEA).
EEA Agreement: The Agreement on the European Economic Area, which extends the European Union's single market to Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway.
Commission Implementing Regulation EU 2020/2108: A regulation amending Annex II to Implementing Regulation EU 2019/627 regarding the health mark for certain meat intended for human consumption in the United Kingdom in respect of Northern Ireland.
Commission Implementing Regulation EU 2020/2196: A regulation amending Regulation EC No 1235/2008 regarding arrangements for imports of organic products from third countries.
Commission Implementing Decision EU 2020/2110: A decision amending Part C of Annex I to Decision 2009/177/EC regarding the disease-free status of the United Kingdom in respect of Northern Ireland for certain aquatic animal diseases.
Commission Implementing Decision EU 2020/2111: A decision amending Annex I to Decision 2010/221/EU regarding the reference to the United Kingdom in respect of Northern Ireland for the approval of national measures for limiting the impact of certain diseases in aquaculture animals and wild aquatic animals.
United Kingdom: A country in Europe that was formerly part of the European Union. References are specifically made to Northern Ireland.
Liechtenstein: A country in Europe to which the legislation regarding veterinary matters, feedingstuffs and foodstuffs shall not apply as long as the application of the Agreement between the European Community and the Swiss Confederation on trade in agricultural products is extended to it.
28.9.2023 EN Official Journal of the European Union L 240/121
DECISION OF THE EEA JOINT COMMITTEE No 239/2020
of 30 December 2020
amending Annex I (Veterinary and phytosanitary matters) and Annex II (Technical regulations,
standards, testing and certification) to the EEA Agreement [2023/2041]
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 Regulation (EU) 2020/2108 of 16 December 2020amending Annex II to Implementing
Regulation (EU) 2019/627 as regards the health mark to be used for certain meat intended for human consumption
in the United Kingdom in respect of Northern Ireland(1)is to be incorporated into the EEA Agreement.
(2) Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2020/2196 of 17 December 2020 amending Regulation (EC)
No 1235/2008 laying down detailed rules for implementation of Council Regulation (EC) No 834/2007 as regards
the arrangements for imports of organic products from third countries(2) is to be incorporated into the EEA
Agreement.
(3) Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2020/2110 of 16 December 2020 amending Part C of Annex I to
Decision 2009/177/EC as regards the disease-free status of the United Kingdom in respect of Northern Ireland for
certain aquatic animal diseases(3)is to be incorporated into the EEA Agreement.
(4) Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2020/2111 of 16 December 2020 amending Annex I to
Decision 2010/221/EU as regards the reference to the United Kingdom in respect of Northern Ireland for the
approval of national measures for limiting the impact of certain diseases in aquaculture animals and wild aquatic
animals in accordance with Article 43 of Council Directive 2006/88/EC(4) is to be incorporated into the EEA
Agreement.
(5) This Decision concerns legislation regarding veterinary matters, feedingstuffs and foodstuffs. Legislation regarding
veterinary matters, feedingstuffs and foodstuffs 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 and the introduction to Chapter XII of
Annex II to the EEA Agreement. This Decision is therefore not to apply to Liechtenstein.
(6) Annexes I and II to the EEA Agreement should therefore be amended accordingly,
HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:
Article 1
Annex I to the EEA Agreement shall be amended as follows:
1. The following is added in points 11bk (Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/627) in Part 1.1 of Chapter I
and 31qk (Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/627) in Chapter II:
‘, as amended by:
— 32020 R 2108: Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2020/2108 of 16 December 2020 (OJ L 427,
17.12.2020, p. 1).’
(1) OJ L 427, 17.12.2020, p. 1.
(2) OJ L 434, 23.12.2020, p. 31.
(3) OJ L 427, 17.12.2020, p. 10.
(4) OJ L 427, 17.12.2020, p. 14.L 240/122 EN Official Journal of the European Union 28.9.2023
2. The following indent is added in point 89 (Commission Decision 2009/177/EC) in Part 4.2 of Chapter I:
‘— 32020 D 2110: Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2020/2110 of 16 December 2020 (OJ L 427,
17.12.2020, p. 10).’
3. The following indent is added in point 94 (Commission Decision 2010/221/EU) in Part 4.2 of Chapter I:
‘— 32020 D 2111: Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2020/2111 of 16 December 2020 (OJ L 427,
17.12.2020, p. 14).’
Article 2
Chapter XII of Annex II to the EEA Agreement shall be amended as follows:
1. The following indent is added in point 54bb (Commission Regulation (EC) No 1235/2008):
‘— 32020 R 2196: Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2020/2196 of 17 December 2020 (OJ L 434,
23.12.2020, p. 31).’
2. The following is added in point 164k (Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/627):
‘, as amended by:
— 32020 R 2108: Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2020/2108 of 16 December 2020 (OJ L 427,
17.12.2020, p. 1).’
Article 3
The texts of Implementing Regulations (EU) 2020/2108 and (EU) 2020/2196 and Implementing Decisions
(EU) 2020/2110 and (EU) 2020/2111 in the Icelandic and Norwegian languages, to be published in the EEA Supplement
to the Official Journal of the European Union, shall be authentic.
Article 4
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 5
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.