L 240/14 Official Journal of the European Communities 23.9.2000 (Acts whose publication is not obligatory) COMMISSION COMMISSION DECISION of 8 September 2000 laying down the methods of veterinary checks for products from third countries destined for introduction into free zones, free warehouses, customs warehouses or operators supplying cross border means of sea transport (notified under document number C(2000) 2532) (Text with EEA relevance) (2000/571/EC) THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES, Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, Having regard to Council Directive 97/78/EC of 18 December 1997 laying down the principles governing the organisation of veterinary checks on products entering the Community from third countries ('), and in particular Articles 12(12) and 13(6) thereof, Whereas: 1) Directive 97/78/EC sets down requirements for the control of products of animal origin being introduced into the Community at border inspection posts, in order to protect animal and public health. Consignments of products presented for introduction into free zones, free warehouses, or customs warehouses may only be admitted if the person responsible for the load has declared beforehand whether the products are ultimately for free circulation or are for some other end use. Products that do not meet Community requirements may be presented for entry into warehouses in free zones, free warehouses or customs warehouses, and for provisioning of cross border means of sea transport, and as these products represent an additional risk to both animal and public health in the Community, they must therefore be subjected to additional controls to ensure () O] L 24, 30.1.1998, p. 9. the correct handling of the products during their trans- port, storage and delivery to prevent the products being placed on the Community market. In order to control and permit effective traceability of consignments of non conforming products the details for the use of the different certificates permitted in Directive 97/78/EC must be made clear as also must the requirements for the marking of such consignments during storage to permit ready identification. The official veterinarian at the border inspection post of entry must ensure the hygiene and security of non- conforming products transported to and from ware- houses before approving the despatch, and in the case of movement to warehouses in another Member State that the competent authority of that Member State has authorised the warehouse of destination to accept this type of product. The warehouses within which the non-conforming prod- ucts are delivered and stored must be under the control of the competent authority and effective records must be kept to allow traceability of all such products that pass through the warehouse. The checks that are to be carried out by the official veterinarian on non-conforming products when the products have entered are stored or are about to leave from warehouses, as well as the extent of any splitting of consignments permitted during storage, must be clari- fied.