L 32826 Official Journal of the European Union 17.12.2003 (Acts whose publication is not obligatory) COMMISSION COMMISSION DECISION of 11 December 2003 concerning the animal health and certification conditions for imports of bees (Apis mellifera and Bombus spp.) from certain third countries and repealing Decision 2000/462/EC (notified under document number C(2003) 4623) (Text with EEA relevance) (2003/881/EC) THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES, Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, Having regard to Council Directive 92/65/EEC of 13 July 1992 laying down animal health requirements governing trade in and imports into the Community of animals, semen, ova and embryos not subject to animal health requirements laid down in specific Community rules referred to in Annex A(l) to Direc- tive 90/425/EEC (), and in particular Article 17(2)(b), the first indent of Article 18(1) and Article 19(b) thereof, Whereas: 1 Commission Decision 2000/462[EC of 12 July 2000 concerning the health certification for imports of bees| hives, queens and their attendants from third coun- tries () lays down the health certification conditions for such imports from third countries, as required by Direc- tive 92/65/EEC. The small hive beetle (Aethina tumida) is an exotic pest affecting honey bees that has spread from various African countries to a number of other third countries, thereby creating serious problems for the apiculture industry. An effective and safe treatment against this pest is at present not available. If introduced, the small hive beetle poses a risk to the sustainability of the apiculture industry in the Community, and hence to agriculture and the environment, owing to the resultant disruption of pollination. (") OJ L 268, 14.9.1992, p. 54, as last amended by Commission Regu- lation (EC) No 1398/2003 (O] L 98, 6.8.2003, p. 3). () OJ L 183, 12.7.2000, p. 18. 3) The small hive beetle is not yet listed in the list of diseases maintained by the International Office of Epizootic Diseases (OIE). For this reason the extent of infestation in third countries is not known. The Tropilaelaps mite (Tropilaelaps spp.) is an exotic pest of honey bees which is spreading in various third coun- tries, thereby creating serious problems for the apicul- ture industry. If introduced, it could also have similar severe consequences for the sustainability of the apicul- ture industry in the Community. Pursuant to Regulation (EC) No 1398/2003, the presence of the small hive beetle and the Tropilaelaps mite in the Community is subject to compulsory notification through their listing under Directive 92/65/EEC. At present there have been no reports that either has been found in the Community. Apart from making the presence of these pests notifiable within the Community, it is therefore necessary to lay down additional requirements for the importation of bees from certain third countries to limit the risk of introducing the small hive beetle and the Tropilaelaps mite into the Community, in the interest of protecting the Community's status as regards apiculture health. Only queen bees accompanied by a small number of attendants in single queen bee cages can be easily checked for infestation with the small hive beetle and Tropilaelaps mite, and therefore imports of bees should in principle be limited to such consignments.