In Delegated Regulation (EU) 2021/1698, the following Article is inserted:
‘Article 30a
Derogation for pending certification of operators and groups of operators in third countries
1. By way of derogation from Article 16 of this Regulation, where the certification in accordance with Article 9(10) and Article 10 of this Regulation and with Article 1 of Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/1378 ( *1 ) by the relevant control authority or control body of operators and groups of operators in third countries is pending on 31 December 2024, the verification by that control authority or control body of consignments intended for import into the Union of those operators and groups of operators shall be done with regard to the compliance with the rules referred to in Article 33(1) of Council Regulation (EC) No 834/2007 ( *2 ) until 15 October 2025.
2. Following a verification pursuant to paragraph 1, the relevant control authority or control body shall issue a certificate of inspection pursuant to Article 4 of Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2021/2306 ( *3 ) .
3. The documentary evidence issued before 31 December 2024 by control authorities and control bodies recognised in accordance with Article 33(3) of Regulation (EC) No 834/2007 to the operators and groups of operators whose certification referred to in paragraph 1 is pending on 31 December 2024, shall remain valid until the end of their validity period but not beyond 15 October 2025.
4. With regard to controls on the operators and groups of operators referred to in paragraph 1, references in Article 9(1) and (2), Article 11(1), point (c), Article 14(1), Article 22(1), Article 23(3) and Part B of Annex IV to this Regulation to compliance with Regulation (EU) 2018/848 shall be understood as references to the rules referred to in Article 33(1) of Regulation (EC) No 834/2007, and references in Article 16(3), Article 19(3) and Article 23(4) of this Regulation to the certificate referred to in Article 45(1), point (b)(i), of Regulation (EU) 2018/848 shall be understood as references to the documentary evidence issued before 31 December 2024 by control authorities and control bodies recognised in accordance with Article 33(3) of Regulation (EC) No 834/2007 to the operators and groups of operators referred to in paragraph 1.