Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2015/1850 of 13 October 2015 laying down detailed rules for the implementation of Regulation (EC) No 1007/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council on trade in seal products (Text with EEA relevance)

Subject matter

Article 1

This Regulation lays down detailed rules for the placing on the market of seal products and for the importing of seal products for the personal use of travellers or their families pursuant to Article 3 of Regulation (EC) No 1007/2009.

Personal use of travellers or their families

Article 2

1.   Seal products for the personal use of travellers or their families may only be imported where any of the following requirements is fulfilled: (a) the seal products are either worn by the travellers, or carried or contained in their personal luggage; (b) the seal products are contained in the personal property of a natural person transferring his normal place of residence from a third country to the Union; (c) the seal products are acquired on site in a third country by travellers and imported by those travellers at a later date, provided that, upon arrival in the Union territory, those travellers present to the customs authorities of the Member State concerned the following documents: (i) a written notification of import; (ii) a supporting document giving evidence that the products were acquired in the third country concerned. 2.   For the purposes of paragraph 1(c), the written notification and the supporting document shall be endorsed by the customs authorities and returned to the travellers. On import, the notification and the supporting document shall be presented to the customs authorities together with the customs declaration for the products concerned.

Recognised bodies

Article 3

1.   An entity shall be included in a list of recognised bodies where it demonstrates that it fulfils the following requirements: (a) it has legal personality; (b) it has the capacity to ascertain that the requirements of Article 3(1) of Regulation (EC) No 1007/2009 are met; (c) it has the capacity to issue and manage attesting documents referred to in Article 4(1), as well as to process and archive records; (d) it has the ability to carry out its functions in a manner that avoids conflict of interest; (e) it has the ability to monitor compliance with the requirements set out in Article 3(1) of Regulation (EC) No 1007/2009; (f) it has the capacity to withdraw attesting documents referred to in Article 4(1) or suspend their validity in case of non-compliance with the requirements of this Regulation, and to take measures to inform competent authorities and customs authorities of Member States thereof; (g) it is subject to independent third party audits; (h) it operates at national or regional level. 2.   In order to be included in the list referred to in paragraph 1, an entity shall submit to the Commission a request accompanied by documentary evidence that it fulfils the requirements set out in paragraph 1. 3.   The recognised body shall submit audit reports produced by the independent third party referred to in paragraph 1(g) to the Commission at the end of each reporting cycle.

Attesting documents

Article 4

1.   Upon request, where the requirements for placing on the market set out in Article 3(1) of Regulation (EC) No 1007/2009 are met, a recognised body shall issue attesting documents conforming to the models set out in the Annex to this Regulation. 2.   The recognised body shall deliver the attesting document to the applicant and shall keep a copy for three years for record-keeping purposes. 3.   Subject to Article 5(2), when a seal product is placed on the market, the original attesting document shall be delivered with the seal product. The applicant may keep a copy of the attesting document. 4.   A reference to the attesting document number shall be included in any further invoice. 5.   A seal product accompanied by an attesting document issued in accordance with paragraph 1 shall be deemed to comply with Article 3(1) of Regulation (EC) No 1007/2009. 6.   Acceptance of a customs declaration for release for free circulation of a seal product pursuant to Article 79 of Council Regulation (EEC) No 2913/92  ( 7 ) shall be subject to the presentation of an attesting document issued in accordance with paragraph 1 of this Article. Without prejudice to Article 77(2) of Regulation (EEC) No 2913/92, the customs authorities shall keep a copy of the attesting document in their records. 7.   In case of doubts relating to the authenticity or correctness of an attesting document issued in accordance with paragraph 1 as well as when further advice is required, the customs authorities and other enforcement officers shall contact a competent authority designated by the Member State concerned in accordance with Article 6. The competent authority contacted shall decide on the measures to be taken.

Format of the attesting documents

Article 5

1.   The attesting document referred to in Article 4(1) shall be paper-based or in electronic form. 2.   In case of an electronic attesting document, a printed copy of that attesting document shall accompany the seal product at the time the product is placed on the market. 3.   The use of the attesting document shall be without prejudice to any other formalities relating to the placing on the market. 4.   A competent authority designated in accordance with Article 6 may require that the attesting document be translated into the official language of the Member State where the product is to be placed on the market.

Competent authorities

Article 6

1.   Each Member State shall designate one or several competent authorities responsible for the following tasks: (a) verification, upon request of the customs authorities pursuant to Article 4(7), of attesting documents for imported seal products; (b) control of the issuing of attesting documents by recognised bodies established and active in that Member State; (c) preservation of a copy of attesting documents issued for seal products originating from seal hunts in that Member State. 2.   Member States shall notify the Commission of the competent authorities designated in accordance with paragraph 1. 3.   The Commission shall make the list of competent authorities designated in accordance with paragraph 1 available on its website. The list shall be regularly updated.

Electronic systems for the exchange and recording of data

Article 7

1.   Competent authorities may use electronic systems for the exchange and recording of data contained in attesting documents. 2.   Member States shall take into account the complementarity, compatibility and interoperability of the electronic systems referred to in paragraph 1.

Protection with regard to the processing of personal data

Article 8

This Regulation is without prejudice to the level of protection of individuals with regard to the processing of personal data under Union law and national law, and in particular does not alter the obligations and rights set out in Directive 95/46/EC and Regulation (EC) No 45/2001. The protection of individuals with regard to the processing of personal data shall be ensured in particular with regard to any disclosure or communication of personal data in an attesting document.

Transitional provision

Article 9

The attesting documents issued by a recognised body in accordance with Regulation (EU) No 737/2010 prior to 18 October 2015 shall remain valid after that date.

Entry into force and application

Article 10

This Regulation shall enter into force on the day of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union . It shall apply from 18 October 2015.

ANNEXSupplementary provisions

ANNEX Text of image EUROPEAN UNION — ATTESTING DOCUMENT FOR SEAL PRODUCTS RESULTING FROM HUNT BY INUIT OR OTHER INDIGENOUS COMMUNITIES FOR PLACING ON THE UNION’S MARKET IN ACCORDANCE WITH ARTICLE 3(1) OF REGULATION (EC) No 1007/2009 ON TRADE IN SEAL PRODUCTS 1 1 Issuing body Name Address 2 For the purposes of the issuing country ORIGINAL 3 Attesting document number 4 Country of placing on the market 5 ISO code 6 Commercial description of the seal product 1 7 Scientific name 8 HS heading 9 Country of taking 10 ISO code 11 Net weight (kg) 12 Number of units 13 Distinguishing marks 14 Unique identifier 15 Signature and stamp of issuing body 16 Endorsement by customs Number of customs declaration Signature and stamp Ρlace and date Ρlace and date Text of image EUROPEAN UNION — ATTESTING DOCUMENT FOR SEAL PRODUCTS RESULTING FROM HUNT BY INUIT OR OTHER INDIGENOUS COMMUNITIES FOR PLACING ON THE UNION’S MARKET IN ACCORDANCE WITH ARTICLE 3(1) OF REGULATION (EC) No 1007/2009 ON TRADE IN SEAL PRODUCTS 2 1 Issuing body Name Address 2 For the purposes of the issuing country COPY FOR THE ISSUING BODY 3 Attesting document number 4 Country of placing on the market 5 ISO code 6 Commercial description of the seal product 2 7 Scientific name 8 HS heading 9 Country of taking 10 ISO code 11 Net weight (kg) 12 Number of units 13 Distinguishing marks 14 Unique identifier 15 Signature and stamp of issuing body 16 Endorsement by customs Number of customs declaration Signature and stamp Ρlace and date Ρlace and date Text of image EUROPEAN UNION — ATTESTING DOCUMENT FOR SEAL PRODUCTS RESULTING FROM HUNT BY INUIT OR OTHER INDIGENOUS COMMUNITIES FOR PLACING ON THE UNION’S MARKET IN ACCORDANCE WITH ARTICLE 3(1) OF REGULATION (EC) No 1007/2009 ON TRADE IN SEAL PRODUCTS 3 1 Issuing body Name Address 2 For the purposes of the issuing country COPY FOR CUSTOMS 3 Attesting document number 4 Country of placing on the market 5 ISO code 6 Commercial description of the seal product 3 7 Scientific name 8 HS heading 9 Country of taking 10 ISO code 11 Net weight (kg) 12 Number of units 13 Distinguishing marks 14 Unique identifier 15 Signature and stamp of issuing body 16 Endorsement by customs Number of customs declaration Signature and stamp Ρlace and date Ρlace and date Text of image EUROPEAN UNION — ATTESTING DOCUMENT FOR SEAL PRODUCTS RESULTING FROM HUNT BY INUIT OR OTHER INDIGENOUS COMMUNITIES FOR PLACING ON THE UNION’S MARKET IN ACCORDANCE WITH ARTICLE 3(1) OF REGULATION (EC) No 1007/2009 ON TRADE IN SEAL PRODUCTS 4 1 Issuing body Name Address 2 For the purposes of the issuing country COPY FOR COMPETENT AUTHORITY 3 Attesting document number 4 Country of placing on the market 5 ISO code 6 Commercial description of the seal product 4 7 Scientific name 8 HS heading 9 Country of taking 10 ISO code 11 Net weight (kg) 12 Number of units 13 Distinguishing marks 14 Unique identifier 15 Signature and stamp of issuing body 16 Endorsement by customs Number of customs declaration Signature and stamp Ρlace and date Ρlace and date Text of image EUROPEAN UNION — ATTESTING DOCUMENT FOR SEAL PRODUCTS RESULTING FROM HUNT BY INUIT OR OTHER INDIGENOUS COMMUNITIES FOR PLACING ON THE UNION’S MARKET IN ACCORDANCE WITH ARTICLE 3(1) OF REGULATION (EC) No 1007/2009 ON TRADE IN SEAL PRODUCTS 5 1 Issuing body Name Address 2 For the purposes of the issuing country RESERVE 3 Attesting document number 4 Country of placing on the market 5 ISO code 6 Commercial description of the seal product 5 7 Scientific name 8 HS heading 9 Country of taking 10 ISO code 11 Net weight (kg) 12 Number of units 13 Distinguishing marks 14 Unique identifier 15 Signature and stamp of issuing body 16 Endorsement by customs Number of customs declaration Signature and stamp Ρlace and date Ρlace and date Notes for guidance General: Complete in capitals Box 1. Issuing body Indicate the name and address of the recognised body that issues the attesting document. Box 2. For the purposes of the issuing country Space for the purposes of the issuing country. Box 3. Attesting document number Indicate the issuing number of the attesting document. Box 4. Country of placing on the market Indicate the country where the seal product is intended to be placed on the European Union market for the first time Box 5. ISO code Indicate the two-letter code for the country declared in box 4. Box 6. Commercial description of the seal product Indicate the commercial description of the seal product(s). The description shall be consistent with the entry in box 7. Box 7. Scientific name Indicate the scientific name(s)of the species of the seal(s)used in the product. Where more than one species is included in a composite product, indicate each species on a separate line. Box 8. HS heading Give the four-digit or the six-digit commodity code established pursuant to the Harmonised Commodity Description and Coding System. Box 9. Country of taking Indicate the country where the sealsused in the product were taken from the wild. Box 10. ISO code Indicate the two-letter code for the country declared in Box 9. Box 11. Net weight Give the overall weight in kg. This is defined as the net mass of the seal products without immediate containers or any packaging, other than bearers, spacers, stickers, etc. Box 12. Number of units Indicate the number of units, if applicable. Box 13. Distinguishing marks Where applicable, indicate any distinguishing marks, such as the lot number or bill of lading number. Box 14. Unique identifier Indicate any traceability identifiers present on the product. Box 15. Signature and stamp of issuing recognised body The box is to be signed by the authorised official, stating the place and date, and stamped with the official stamp of the issuing recognised body. Box 16. Endorsement by customs The customs authority is to indicate the number of the customs declaration and add its signature and stamp.