2006/199/EC: Commission Decision of 22 February 2006 laying down specific conditions for imports of fishery products from the United States of America (notified under document number C(2006) 495) (Text with EEA relevance)

The ‘Food and Drug Administration (FDA)’ and ‘the National Marine Fisheries Service — National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration (NMFS-NOAA)’ shall be the competent authorities in the United States of America (USA) responsible for the purposes of verifying and certifying compliance of fishery products with the relevant United States public health standards requirements of the Code of Federal Regulation which have been recognised for this purpose as equivalent to the European Community standards as prescribed in Council Decision 98/258/EC.

Fishery products imported into the Community from the USA shall meet the requirements set out in Articles 3, 4 and 5.

1 Each consignment shall be accompanied by a numbered original health certificate in accordance with the model set out in Annex I and comprising a single sheet, duly completed, signed and dated.

2 The health certificate shall be drawn up in at least one official language of the Member State where the checks are carried out.

3 The health certificate shall bear the name, capacity and signature of the representative of the FDA or of the NMFS-NOAA, and the latter’s official stamp in a colour different from that of the endorsements.

The fishery products shall come from approved establishments, factory vessels, cold stores or from registered freezer vessels listed in Annex II.

All packages shall bear the word ‘USA’ and the approval/registration number of the establishment, factory vessel, cold store or freezer vessel of origin in indelible letters, except in the case of frozen fishery products in bulk and intended for the manufacture of preserved foods.

This Decision shall apply from 24 April 2006.

This Decision is addressed to the Member States.