Approval of pre-export controls performed by third countries

1.   The Commission may, by means of implementing acts, approve, upon request of a third country, specific pre-export controls that that third country carries out on consignments of animals and goods prior to export to the Union with a view to verifying that the exported consignments satisfy the requirements of the rules referred to in Article 1(2). Such approval shall only apply to consignments originating in the third country concerned and may be granted for one or more categories of animals or goods. Those implementing acts shall be adopted in accordance with the examination procedure referred to in Article 145(2).
2.   The approval provided for in paragraph 1 shall specify:
(a)
the maximum frequency of official controls to be performed by the competent authorities of Member States at the entry of the consignments into the Union, where there is no reason to suspect non-compliance with the rules referred to in Article 1(2) or fraudulent or deceptive practices;
(b)
the official certificates that must accompany consignments entering the Union;
(c)
a model for the certificates referred to in point (b);
(d)
the competent authorities of the third country under the responsibility of which pre-export controls must be performed; and
(e)
where appropriate, any delegated body to which those competent authorities may delegate certain tasks. Such delegation may only be approved if it meets the criteria set out in Articles 28 to 33 or equivalent conditions.
3.   The approval provided for in paragraph 1 of this Article may only be granted to a third country if the evidence available and, where appropriate, a Commission control performed in accordance with Article 120, demonstrate that the system of official controls in that third country is able to ensure that:
(a)
the consignments of the animals or goods exported to the Union meet the requirements of the rules referred to in Article 1(2), or equivalent requirements; and
(b)
the controls performed in the third country prior to dispatch to the Union are sufficiently effective to replace or reduce the frequency of the documentary, identity checks and physical checks laid down in the rules referred to in Article 1(2).
4.   The competent authorities or a delegated body specified in the approval shall:
(a)
be responsible for contacts with the Union; and
(b)
ensure that the official certificates referred to in point (b) of paragraph 2 accompany each consignment that is controlled.
5.   The Commission shall, by means of implementing acts, lay down detailed rules and criteria for approving pre-export controls performed by third countries in accordance with paragraph 1 of this Article and for official controls performed by the competent authorities of the Member States on animals and goods subject to the approval referred in that paragraph. Those implementing acts shall be adopted in accordance with the examination procedure referred to in Article 145(2).