Whereas:

(1) By Regulation(EC)No /2004*,the European Parliament and the Council laid down general

rules for food business operators on the hygiene of foodstuffs.

(2) Certain foodstuffs may present specific hazards to human health, requiring the setting of

specific hygiene rules. This is particularly tlhe case for food of animal origin, in which microbiological and chemical hazards have frequently been reported.

(3) In the context of the common agricultural policy, many Directives have been adopted to

establish specific health rules for the production and placing on the market of the products listed in Annex I to the Treaty. These health rules have reduced trade barriers for the products concerned, contributing to the creation of thee internal market while ensuring a high level of protection of public health.

(4) With regard to public health, these rules contain common principles, in particular in relation

to the manufacturers' and competent authorities' responsibilities, structural, operational and hygiene requirements for establishments, procedures for the approval of establishments, requirements for storage and transport and health marks.

(5) These principles constitute a common bassis for the hygienic production of food of animal

origin, permitting the simplification of the existing Directives.

(6) It is desirable to achieve further simpllification by applying the same rules wherever

appropriate to all products of animal origin.

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