5.12.2006 Official Journal of the European Union L 338/45 COMMISSION DECISION of 24 August 2006 amending Decision 2003/56/EC on health certificates for the importation of live animals and animal products from New Zealand (notified under document number C(2006) 3708) (Text with EEA relevance) (2006/855/EC) THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES, Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, Having regard to Council Decision 97/132/EC of 17 Decem- ber 1996 on the conclusion of the Agreement between the Euro- pean Community and New Zealand on sanitary measures applicable to trade in live animals and animal products (*), and in particular Article 4 thereof, Whereas: (1)  The Agreement between the European Community and New Zealand on sanitary measures applicable to trade in live animals and animal products (?) (the Agreement) pro- vided for the possibility of recognising the equivalence of the New Zealand control and certification systems for fresh meat and meat based products and for other animal products. (2)  Commission Decision 2003/56/EC (3) lays down the cer- tification requirements and provides models for official health certificates to be used for the importation from New Zealand of live animals and animal products. In cases where full equivalence of sanitary measures has been determined, simplified certificates may be used, models for which are set out in Annexes II to V to that Decision. (3)  Account should be taken of recent acknowledgements of equivalence of the disease status and of sanitary measures for trade in live honey bees and bumble bees. Simplified veterinary certification was agreed for this category. An appropriate model certificate should be set out. (1) OJ L 57, 26.2.1997, p. 4. Decision as last amended by Decision 1999/837/EC (O] L 332, 23.12.1999, p. 1). () OJL 57, 26.2.1997, p. 5. () OJ L 22, 25.1.2003, p. 38. Decision as last amended by Decision 2004/784/EC (O] L 346, 23.11.2004, p. 11). (4)  Other certification provisions need to be updated to take account of the changes in relevant Community legislation. (5)  Decision 2003/56/EC should therefore be amended accordingly. (6)  The measures provided for in this Decision are in accor- dance with the opinion of the Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health, HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION: Article 1 The Annexes to Decision 2003/56/EC are amended in accor- dance with the Annex to this Decision. Article 2 This Decision shall apply from the 20th day following its publi- cation in the Official Journal of the European Union. Article 3 This Decision is addressed to the Member States. Done at Brussels, 24 August 2006. For the Commission Markos KYPRIANOU Member of the Commission