Veterinary checks on products entering the Community from third countries

Whilst welcoming the Commission proposal, the Committee feels that, without explicitly referring to customs rules, the directive should clearly state the responsibilities of customs and the relationship between their activities and those of veterinary authorities. The ESC also feels that the directive should expressly require cooperation between the two authorities and that exclusive responsibility for the supervision of free zones, free warehouses and customs warehouses be assigned to the relevant customs authorities rather than to the veterinary authorities, as envisaged in the proposal. The Committee calls for the rapid consolidation of the existing rules, in the interests of clarity and comprehensibility. �