
Article 1 
From 1 January 2005, consignments of products falling within the scope of Decisions 79/542/EEC, 94/984/EC, 97/221/EC, 2000/572/EC, 2000/585/EC, 2000/609/EC, 2003/779/EC and 2004/438/EC shall be accompanied by the appropriate animal health certificate laid down in those acts, when presented for introduction into free zones, free warehouses or premises of operators supplying cross-border means of sea transport, approved in accordance with Article 12(4)(b) and Article 13(1) of Directive 97/78/EC, thereby ensuring that the Community animal health requirements are met.
Article 2 
Until 31 December 2005, consignments of products referred to in Article 1 which were introduced into free zones, free warehouses or premises of operators supplying cross-border means of sea transport before 1 January 2005, shall be allowed to leave those zones, warehouses or premises where they are stored, to be delivered either in whole or in part to their destinations, as provided for in Article 12(8) or Article 13(2)(a) of Directive 97/78/EC, without being accompanied by the appropriate animal health certificate as provided for in the relevant Community acts.
Article 2a 
Member States shall ensure that any consignment of products referred to in Article 1, not accompanied by the appropriate animal health certificate, and currently stored in a free zone, free warehouse or premises of an operator supplying cross-border means of sea transport in a Member State, are not released from storage for movement to a border inspection post of exit for further transport to a destination, unless the person responsible for any such consignment submits written authorisation confirming that the introduction of such products will be accepted through or onto its territory or onto the vessel from:

((i)) the competent authority of the third country of destination and of any third country of transit; or
((ii)) the responsible officer on the vessel being supplied.
Article 3 
From 1 January 2006, any consignments of products referred to in Article 2 remaining in storage shall be destroyed under the control of the competent authority.
All costs of such destruction shall be chargeable to the person responsible for the consignment.
Article 4 
This Decision shall apply from the date of notification.
Article 5 
This Decision is addressed to the Member States.