L 117/40 Official Journal of the European Union 13.5.2003 COMMISSION DECISION of 12 May 2003 on transitional measures under Regulation (EC) No 1774/2002 of the European Parliament and of the Council as regards the separation of category 1, 2 and 3 processing plants (notified under document number C(2003) 1498) (Only the French, Finnish and Swedish texts are authentic) (Text with EEA relevance) (2003/325[EC) THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES, Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, Having regard to Regulation (EC) No 1774/2002 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 3 October 2002 laying down health rules concerning animal by-products not intended for human consumption (!), and in particular Article 32(1) thereof, Whereas: (1) Regulation (EC) No 1774/2002 provides for a complete revision of Community rules concerning animal by- products not intended for human consumption, including the introduction of a number of strict require- ments. In addition, it provides that appropriate transi- tional measures may be adopted. 2)  In view of the strict nature of those requirements, it is necessary to provide for transitional measures for France and Finland in order to allow industry sufficient time to adjust. In addition, alternative collection, transport, storage, handling, processing and uses for animal by- products need to be further developed as well as disposal methods for those by-products. (3)  Accordingly, as a temporary measure a derogation should be granted to France and Finland to enable them to authorise operators to continue to apply national rules to the separation of category 1, 2 and 3 processing plants. (4 In order to prevent a risk to animal and public health, appropriate control systems should be maintained in France and Finland for the period of the transitional measures. (5)  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, () OJ L 273,10.10.2002, p. 1. HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION: Atrticle 1 Derogation regarding the complete separation of category 1, 2 and 3 processing plants Pursuant to Article 32(1) of Regulation (EC) No 1774/2002 and by way of derogation from paragraph 1 of Chapter I of Annex VI or paragraph 1 of Chapter I of Annex VII to that Regulation, France and Finland may continue to grant indivi- dual approvals until 30 April 2004 in the case of France and until 31 October 2005 in the case of Finland at the latest to operators of premises and facilities in conformity with national rules, to apply such rules for the complete separation of cate- gory 1, 2 and 3 processing plants, provided that the national rules: (a) ensure prevention of cross-contamination between the cate- gories of materials; (b) are only applied in premises and facilities that applied those rules on 1 November 2002; (c) comply with the rest of the specific requirements set out in paragraphs 2 to 9 of Chapter I of Annex VI and in para- graphs 2 to 10 of Chapter I of Annex VII to Regulation (EC) No 1774/2002. Atticle 2 Control measures The competent authority shall take the necessary measures to control compliance by authorised operators of premises and facilities with the conditions set out in Article 1. Atticle 3 Withdrawal of approvals and disposal of material not complying with this Decision 1. Individual approvals by the competent authority for the complete separation of category 1, 2 and 3 processing plants shall be immediately and permanently withdrawn in respect of any operator, premises or facilities if the conditions set out in this Decision are no longer fulfilled.