Date: 2022-06-30Category: Not ApplicableState: Union GovernmentCountry: Europe
Decision of the EEA Joint Committee No 4/2022 of 4 February 2022 amending Annex I (Veterinary and phytosanitary matters) and Annex II (Technical regulations, standards, testing and certification) to the EEA Agreement [2022/1052]
Executive Summary:
EEA Joint Committee Decision No. 42/2022 amends Annex I and II to the EEA Agreement to incorporate Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2021/573 regarding import conditions for live snails, composite products, and casings. The decision entered into force on February 5, 2022, following notification per Article 103(1) of the EEA Agreement. The act does not apply to Liechtenstein or Iceland in certain sectors.
Key Points / Main Content:
* **Amendment of Annex I:**
* Point 11bi in Part 1.1 of Chapter I is updated to include Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2021/573, applicable to areas in Iceland as defined in the Introductory Part, paragraph 2.
* Point 31qi is updated to include Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2021/573.
* **Amendment of Annex II:**
* Point 164i of Chapter XII is updated to include Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2021/573.
* **Authentic Language:**
* The Icelandic and Norwegian language texts of Delegated Regulation (EU) 2021/573 will be published in the EEA Supplement to the Official Journal of the European Union and are considered authentic.
* **Entry into Force and Publication:**
* The Decision came into force on February 5, 2022, after all notifications under Article 103(1) of the EEA Agreement were made.
* The Decision is to be published in the EEA Section of, and in the EEA Supplement to, the Official Journal of the European Union.
Impact Analysis:
* **EEA Member States (excluding Iceland and Liechtenstein in certain sectors):**
* *Impact:* Must incorporate and comply with the updated regulations regarding import conditions for live snails, composite products, and casings.
* *Action Required:* Update national legislation and procedures to reflect the changes introduced by Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2021/573.
* **European Commission:**
* *Impact:* Responsible for overseeing the implementation of the updated regulations within the EEA.
* *Action Required:* Ensure that the necessary publications are made in the Official Journal of the European Union.
* **Importers and Businesses dealing with live snails, composite products, and casings:**
* *Impact:* Subject to new import conditions and requirements for placing these products on the market.
* *Action Required:* Familiarize themselves with the specific requirements of Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2021/573 and ensure compliance.
Key Entities Referenced
EEA Joint Committee: The governing body responsible for 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.
European Union: A political and economic union of member states located primarily in Europe.
Commission Delegated Regulation EU 2021/573: A specific EU regulation amending Delegated Regulation EU 2019/625 regarding import conditions for certain products.
Commission Delegated Regulation EU 2019/625: A European Union regulation regarding the import of certain products.
Iceland: A Nordic island country in the North Atlantic. Has specific exemptions within the EEA Agreement related to live animals.
Liechtenstein: A German-speaking microstate in Central Europe. Has specific exemptions within the EEA Agreement related to veterinary matters and foodstuffs, tied to its agreement with Switzerland.
Swiss Confederation: Also known as Switzerland, is a landlocked country located at the confluence of Western, Central and Southern Europe.
30.6.2022 EN Official Journal of the European Union L 175/7
DECISION OF THE EEA JOINT COMMITTEE No 4/2022
of 4 February 2022
amending Annex I (Veterinary and phytosanitary matters) and Annex II (Technical regulations,
standards, testing and certification) to the EEA Agreement [2022/1052]
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 Delegated Regulation (EU) 2021/573 of 1 February 2021 amending Delegated Regulation (EU)
2019/625 as regards import conditions for live snails, for composite products and for casings placed on the market
for human consumption(1)is to be incorporated into the EEA Agreement.
(2) This Decision concerns legislation regarding, inter alia, live animals other than fish and aquaculture animals.
Provisions 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.
(3) 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.
(4) 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 point 11bi (Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2019/625) in Part 1.1 of Chapter I:
‘, as amended by:
— 32021 R 0573: Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2021/573 of 1 February 2021(OJ L 120, 8.4.2021, p. 6).
This act applies to Iceland for the areas referred to in paragraph 2 of the Introductory Part.’
2. The following is added in point 31qi (Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2019/625):
‘, as amended by:
— 32021 R 0573: Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2021/573 of 1 February 2021(OJ L 120, 8.4.2021, p. 6).’
(1) OJ L 120, 8.4.2021, p. 6.L 175/8 EN Official Journal of the European Union 30.6.2022
Article 2
The following is added in point 164i (Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2019/625) of Chapter XII of Annex II to the
EEA Agreement:
‘, as amended by:
— 32021 R 0573: Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2021/573 of 1 February 2021(OJ L 120, 8.4.2021, p. 6).’
Article 3
The text of Delegated Regulation (EU) 2021/573 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 5 February 2022, 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, 4 February 2022.
For the EEA Joint Committee
The President
Nicolas VON LINGEN
(*) No constitutional requirements indicated.