[:uk]The Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2024/2598 of 4 October 2024 establishes a list of third countries or regions authorized for the entry into the European Union (EU) of certain animals and products of animal origin intended for human consumption. This regulation aligns with Regulation (EU) 2017/625 and focuses on enforcing the prohibition of certain antimicrobial medicinal products as stipulated in Article 118(1) of Regulation (EU) 2019/6.
**Article 1 – Subject Matter and Scope**
This regulation defines its purpose as establishing the list referred to in Article 4(1)(a) of Delegated Regulation (EU) 2023/905. The list includes third countries or regions thereof from which the entry of consignments of certain animals and products of animal origin intended for human consumption is permitted, particularly concerning the prohibition on the use of specific antimicrobial medicinal products.
**Article 2 – List of Authorized Third Countries or Regions**
1. **Authorization Criteria**: The third countries or regions included in the list have complied with the requirements laid down in Article 3 of Delegated Regulation (EU) 2023/905. These requirements ensure that animals and products of animal origin intended for export to the EU do not use:
– Antimicrobial medicinal products for growth promotion or yield increase.
– Antimicrobial medicinal products containing antimicrobials reserved for the treatment of certain infections in humans, as listed in Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2022/1255.
2. **Designation in Annex**: Authorized countries or regions are marked with an ‘X’ in the Annex for the relevant species or commodities, indicating full compliance and authorization.
3. **Processing Conditions**: Countries or regions that intend to process only animals or products originating either from EU Member States or other authorized third countries (as listed with an ‘X’) are marked with a ‘Δ’ in the Annex for the relevant species or commodities. This signifies that they may process and export these products under specified conditions.
**Article 3 – Entry into Force and Application**
The regulation enters into force on the twentieth day following its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union. It applies from 3 September 2026, aligning with the application date of related regulations ensuring a coordinated enforcement of the prohibitions on certain antimicrobial uses.
**Annex – List of Third Countries or Regions Authorized**
– **Structure of the Annex**: The Annex provides a detailed table listing third countries or regions authorized for the entry into the EU of specific animals and products of animal origin intended for human consumption. The table includes:
– **Country ISO Codes**: International standard codes identifying each country.
– **Third Countries or Regions**: Names of the countries or specific regions.
– **Categories of Animals and Products**: Columns indicating various animal species and products, such as bovine, ovine/caprine, porcine, equine, poultry, aquaculture products, milk, eggs, rabbit, farmed game, honey, and casings.
– **Authorization Markings**:
– **’X’ Mark**: Denotes that the country or region is authorized for the export of the specified animal or product category to the EU, complying fully with the antimicrobial prohibition requirements.
– **’Δ’ Mark**: Indicates that the country or region is authorized under the condition that they process only animals or products originating from EU Member States or other authorized third countries.
– **’M’ Annotation**: Refers to specific conditions related to aquaculture products, as detailed in footnotes.
– **Footnotes and Specific Conditions**: The Annex includes footnotes providing clarifications, exceptions, and specific conditions for certain countries or products. Examples include:
– Limitations on species (e.g., ovine species only).
– Special processing conditions.
– Territorial considerations (e.g., exclusions of certain territories under administration).
– Annotations regarding aquaculture products and their compliance with other regulations.
**Key Provisions**:
– **Compliance with Antimicrobial Prohibitions**: Only consignments from listed countries or regions that have provided appropriate evidence and guarantees of compliance with the EU prohibitions on certain antimicrobial uses are permitted entry.
– **Traceability and Origin Guarantees**: Countries must have procedures in place to guarantee the traceability and origin of animals and products, ensuring adherence to the prohibitions.
– **Alignment with Other Regulations**: This regulation works in conjunction with Delegated Regulation (EU) 2023/905 and Implementing Regulation (EU) 2024/399, ensuring a cohesive regulatory framework governing the entry of animals and products of animal origin into the EU.
– **Exclusions**: Wild animals, products derived from them, and composite products are excluded from the scope of this regulation, as specified in the footnotes.
**Application and Enforcement**:
– The regulation ensures that imported animals and products of animal origin meet EU standards regarding the non-use of certain antimicrobial agents.
– It facilitates official controls by providing a clear and detailed list of authorized countries and conditions, aiding in the verification processes at entry points into the EU.
– By setting a future application date (3 September 2026), the regulation allows third countries time to comply with the requirements or adjust their export practices accordingly.[:]
