Brussels, 29/11/2006 (Agence Europe) - On 28 November, the EU decided to grant Romania and Bulgaria transition periods to come into line with Community legislation on the safety of agricultural products and the health of farmed animals. This is the second package of similar decisions to ensure appropriate conditions when these two countries join the EU on 1st January 2007 (see EUROPE 9303 for decisions taken on 9 November 2006). The proposals were put forward by the European Commission and backed by the EU Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health.
Combating epizootics: EU veterinary experts approved the Romanian and Bulgarian plans for combating avian influenza, foot-and-mouth disease, classical swine fever and Newcastle disease. Both these countries have plans devoted to individual epizootics to ensure that all necessary control measures provided for in Community legislation are rapidly and effectively applied.
Products imported before enlargement: the Standing Committee endorsed transitional measures for products of animal origin which were imported into Romania or Bulgaria before 1st January 2007, the date of their accession to the EU. As these products were imported before the date of enlargement, they may not comply with all EU veterinary rules. These imported products will only be allowed to be sold on the domestic market, and will have to meet labelling and traceability conditions. However, Romanian and Bulgarian companies will be able to export these products to third countries under strict conditions (authorisation of the importing third country, no transit through an EU Member State). By the end of 2007, all stocks of these products imported before 1st January 2007 must be used up or removed from the market. Those still under Customs supervision on 1st January 2008 must be destroyed.
Bulgarian milk: Bulgarian milk will be subject to the same rules as Romanian milk (see EUROPE 9303). Some Bulgarian dairies have been approved to take part in the intra-Community milk trade from 1st January 2007, but most of the raw milk delivered by the country's dairy farmers does not comply with Community rules. To remedy this problem the EU has decided to authorise dairies to continue to receive non-compliant (with EU rules) raw milk until 31 December 2009, on condition that their products are only sold on the domestic market and are clearly labelled. Only dairies able to use solely compliant raw milk will be able to sell their products in other EU Member States. (lc)