L 15/34 Official Journal of the European Union 22.1.2004 I (Acts whose publication is not obligatory) COMMISSION COMMISSION DECISION of 6 January 2004 amending for the 16th time Decision 2000/284/EC establishing the list of approved semen collection centres for imports of equine semen from third countries (notified under document number C(2003) 5313) (Text with EEA relevance) (2004/70/EC) THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES, (4) It is necessary to include Serbia and Montenegro into the list in the order of the ISO country code. Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, (5) It is necessary to take into account that the Acceding States are scheduled to join the Community as of 1 May 2004. 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 6) Itis thexjefore appropriate to e}mend the list Of. approved embryos not subject to animal health requirements laid down centres in the light of new information received from in specific Community rules referred to in Annex A(l) to Direc- the third countries concerned, .and to highlight the tive 90/425/EEC ('), and in particular Article 17(3)(b) thereof, amendments in the Annex for clarity. Whereas: (7 Commission Decision 2000/284/EC (}) should therefore be amended accordingly. (1)  The competent authorities of Australia officially informed the Commission that the approval has been withdrawn from two equine semen collection centres previously notified to the Commission in accordance with the provisions of Directive 92/65/EEC. (8)  The measures provided for in this Decision are in accordance with the opinion of the Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health, (2)  The competent authorities of the Slovak Republic offi- cially informed the Commission of the approval in accordance with the provisions of Directive 92/65/EEC HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION: of one equine semen collection centre. (3)  The competent authorities of the United States of America officially informed the Commission of the Article 1 approval in accordance with the provisions of Directive 92/65/EEC of nine additional equine semen collection centres and of amendments to certain approval details of The Annex to Decision 2000/284/EC is replaced by the text in another four equine semen collection centres. the Annex to this Decision. (") OJ L 268, 14.9.1992, p. 54. Directive as last amended by Commis- () OJ L 94, 14.4.2000, p. 35. Decision as last amended by Decision sion Regulation (EC) No 1398/2003 (O] L 198, 6.8.2003; p. 3). 2003/574[EC (O] L 196, 2.8.2003, p. 27).