Date: 13-Jun-2024Category: Not ApplicableState: Union GovernmentCountry: Europe
Decision of the EEA Joint Committee No 298/2023 of 8 December 2023 amending Annex I (Veterinary and phytosanitary matters) to the EEA Agreement [2024/1367]
The EEA Joint Committee Decision No 298/2023 amends Annex I (Veterinary and phytosanitary matters) to the EEA Agreement to incorporate two Commission Regulations related to livestock vessels and animal welfare.
Specifically, it incorporates Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2023/372 and Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2023/842 into the EEA Agreement.
The decision does not apply to Iceland regarding live animals other than fish and aquaculture animals, and it does not apply to Liechtenstein as long as the agreement between the EU and Switzerland on trade in agricultural products is extended to Liechtenstein.
Key Changes
Incorporation of Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2023/842 of 17 February 2023 supplementing Regulation (EU) 2017/625 regarding official controls to verify compliance with animal welfare requirements for the transport of animals by livestock vessels.
Incorporation of Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2023/372 of 17 February 2023 laying down rules on recording, storing, and sharing written records of official controls on livestock vessels, contingency plans for livestock vessels, approval of livestock vessels, and minimum requirements for exit points.
The decision explicitly states that Implementing Regulation (EU) 2023/372 shall not apply to Iceland.
The decision entered into force on 9 December 2023, provided that all notifications under Article 103(1) of the EEA Agreement have been made.
Impact Analysis
Animal Welfare Organizations
Animal welfare organizations may see increased scrutiny of livestock vessel operations due to the enhanced official control mechanisms.
Livestock Vessel Operators
Action Item: Review and update operational procedures to ensure compliance with the new regulations. Implement systems for recording and storing data related to official controls and contingency plans.
EEA Member States (excluding Iceland and Liechtenstein under specific conditions)
Action Item: Update national legislation and enforcement mechanisms to reflect the incorporated regulations. Provide training to relevant personnel on the new requirements.
Key Entities Referenced
EEA Joint Committee: The decision-making body responsible for amending the EEA Agreement.
European Commission: The executive branch of the European Union, responsible for proposing and implementing legislation, including the regulations incorporated into the EEA Agreement.
Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2023/372: Regulation laying down rules on the recording, storing and sharing of written records of official controls performed on livestock vessels, on contingency plans for livestock vessels in the event of emergencies, on the approval of livestock vessels and on minimum requirements applicable to exit points.
Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2023/842: Regulation supplementing Regulation (EU) 2017/625 of the European Parliament and of the Council as regards rules for the performance of official controls to verify compliance with animal welfare requirements for the transport of animals by livestock vessels.
Regulation (EU) 2017/625: Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council referenced by Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2023/842.
EEA Agreement: The Agreement on the European Economic Area, which extends the EU's single market to Iceland, Liechtenstein, and Norway.
Official Journal EN
of the European Union L series
2024/1367 13.6.2024
DECISION OF THE EEA JOINT COMMITTEE No 298/2023
of 8 December 2023
amending Annex I (Veterinary and phytosanitary matters) to the EEA Agreement [2024/1367]
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) 2023/372 of 17 February 2023 laying down rules on the recording,
storing and sharing of written records of official controls performed on livestock vessels, on contingency plans for
livestock vessels in the event of emergencies, on the approval of livestock vessels and on minimum requirements
applicable to exit points(1)is to be incorporated into the EEA Agreement.
(2) Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2023/842 of 17 February 2023supplementing Regulation (EU) 2017/625
of the European Parliament and of the Council as regards rules for the performance of official controls to verify
compliance with animal welfare requirements for the transport of animals by livestock vessels(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
Annex I to the EEA Agreement shall be amended as follows:
1. The following point is inserted after point 11bzb (Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2022/2292) in Part 1.1 of
Chapter I:
‘11bzc. 32023 R 0842: Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2023/842 of 17 February 2023 supplementing
Regulation (EU) 2017/625 of the European Parliament and of the Council as regards rules for the
performance of official controls to verify compliance with animal welfare requirements for the transport of
animals by livestock vessels (OJ L 109, 24.4.2023, p. 1).’
(1) OJ L 51, 20.2.2023, p. 32.
(2) OJ L 109, 24.4.2023, p. 1.
ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/dec/2024/1367/oj 1/2EN
OJ L, 13.6.2024
2. The following is inserted after point 17 (Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2021/755) in Part 9.1 of Chapter
I:
‘18. 32023 R 0372: Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2023/372 of 17 February 2023laying down rules
on the recording, storing and sharing of written records of official controls performed on livestock vessels, on
contingency plans for livestock vessels in the event of emergencies, on the approval of livestock vessels and on
minimum requirements applicable to exit points (OJ L 51, 20.2.2023, p. 32).
This act shall not apply to Iceland.’
Article 2
The texts of Implementing Regulation (EU) 2023/372 and Delegated Regulation (EU) 2023/842 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 9 December 2023, 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, 8 December 2023.
For the EEA Joint Committee
The President
Pascal SCHAFHAUSER
(*) No constitutional requirements indicated.
2/2 ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/dec/2024/1367/oj