EXPORT CERTIFICATES IN RESPECT OF PRODUCTS OF ANIMAL ORIGIN

The European Commission Directorate-General for Health & Consumer Protection, would like to inform the Nigerian Authorities of the Regulation (EC) No. 1664/2006, amending Regulation (EC) No. 2074/2005, which introduced series of new model health certificates for the following commodities intended for human consumption: frog legs, snails, gelatine, raw materials for the production of collagen, fishery products, live bivalve molluses and honey and other apiculture products.

Regulation (EC) No. 1664/2006 entered into application on November 25, 2006, but a transitional period to allow the chageover from the previous certification regime to the new certification regime was provided for until May 01, 2007. The use of new certificates will therefore become compulsory from May 01, 2007.

However, in order to avoid any disruption to trade and any administrative difficulties at points of entry into the Community, the above-mentioned products for which a certificate has been issued in accordance with the previous certification regime, duly completed and signed prior to May 01, 2007, may be imported into the Community until June 30, 2007. In addition, Regulation (EC) No. 1662/2006, amending Regulation (EC) No. 853/2004, laid down specific rules for the manufacture of fish oil intended for human consumption. These requirements entered into application from November 25, 2006. However, a transitional period allowing establishments in third countries manufacturing fish oil for human consumption to adapt to these new requirements was provided for until October 31, 2007.

Therefore, from November 01, 2007, imports into the Community of fish oil intended for human consumption will only be authorised if accompanied by the new model health certificate provided for fishery products in Regulation (EC) No. 2074/2005, as modified by Regulation (EC) 1664/2006.

However, in order to avoid any disruption to trade and any administrative difficulties at points of entry into the community, fish oil intended for human consumption for which a certificate has been issued in accordance with the previous certification regime duly completed and signed prior to October 31, 2007, may be imported into the Community until December 31, 2007.

These provisions will be published before May 01, 2007, in the official journal of the European Union.

Yours sincerely

Robert van der Meulen
Ambassador