2004/280/EC: Commission Decision of 19 March 2004 laying down transitional measures for the marketing of certain products of animal origin obtained in the Czech Republic, Estonia, Cyprus, Latvia, Lithuania, Hungary, Malta, Poland, Slovenia and Slovakia (Text with EEA relevance) (notified under document number C(2004) 845)

This Decision shall apply to products of animal origin which are covered by Directives 64/433/EEC, 71/118/EEC, 77/99/EEC, 89/437/EEC, 91/493/EEC, 91/495/EEC, 92/45/EEC, 92/46/EEC, 92/118/EEC and 94/65/EC and obtained before 1 May 2004 in establishments in the Czech Republic, Estonia, Cyprus, Latvia, Lithuania, Hungary, Malta, Poland, Slovenia and Slovakia (the new Member States).

1 Products referred to in Article 1 may from 1 May to 31 December 2004 be placed on the market in the new Member State of origin provided that they bear the national mark prescribed in that new Member State before 1 May 2004 for products of animal origin fit for human consumption.

2 Member States shall ensure, in accordance with Council Directive 89/662/EEC and in particular Article 3 thereof, that products referred to in paragraph 1 are not traded between Member States.

By way of derogation from Article 2(1), Member States shall from 1 May to 31 August 2004 authorise the trade in products referred to in Article 1 which are obtained in establishments authorised to export to the Community provided that the products: (a) bear the Community export health mark of the establishments concerned; (b) are accompanied by a document as set out in the Directives referred to in Article 1 in which the competent authority of the new Member States of origin certifies the following: ‘Produced before 1 May 2004, in conformity with Commission Decision 2004/280/EC.’

Stocks of preprinted wrapping and packaging material and labels bearing the mark prescribed in the new Member State of origin before 1 May 2004 for products of animal origin fit for human consumption, may be used until 31 December 2004, for the placing on the domestic market as provided for in Article 2.

The Decision shall apply subject to and as from the date of entry into force of the 2003 Treaty of Accession.

This Decision is addressed to the Member States.