COMMISSION DECISION of 12 November 1991 concerning animal health conditions and veterinary certification of imports of fresh meat from the Republic of South Africa (92/21/EEC)
THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Economic Community,
Having regard to Council Directive 72/462/EEC of 12 December 1972 on health and veterinary inspection problems upon importation of bovine, ovine and caprine animals and swine, fresh meat or meat products from third countries (1), as last amended by Directive 91/497/EEC (2), and in particular Articles 14, 15 and 16 thereof,
Whereas following a Community veterinary mission it appears that the animal health situation in South Africa is generally satisfactory and completely controlled by well-structured and organized veterinary services, particularly as regards diseases transmissible through meat;
Whereas in order to avoid any disruption of trade between certain Member States and South Africa, the Commission adopted by Decision 82/527/EEC (3) health protection measures in respect of imports of fresh meat from this country;
Whereas animal health conditions and veterinary certification for imports of fresh meat from South Africa should be established now at Community level and therefore Decision 82/527/EEC revoked;
Whereas outbreaks of foot-and-mouth disease have occured from time to time in certain parts of South Africa; whereas, however, other parts of the country have been free of the disease for more than 12 months;
Whereas vaccination against SAT foot-and-mouth disease is carried out in certain areas of South Africa; whereas, however, such vaccination is limited to the regions of South Africa known as that part of the foot-and-mouth disease control area situated in the veterinary region Northern and Estern Transvaal, in the district of Ingwavuma in the veterinary region of Natal, and in the border area with Botswana east of longitude 28°;
Whereas strict measures, in particular the prohibition or control of movements of livestock, are applied; whereas certain regions where vaccination is carried out are clearly demarcated from the disease-free regions;
Whereas measures are applied throughout the country to monitor the movements of livestock and to detect any outbreak of the disease;
Whereas, in addition, the responsible veterinary authorities of South Africa have confirmed that South Africa has for at least 12 months been free from rinderpest, and that no vaccination has been carried out against this disease during that time;
Whereas the responsible veterinary authorities of South Africa have undertaken to notify the Commission of the European Communities and the Member States by telex, telefax or telegram within 24 hours, of confirmation of the occurence of any of the abovementioned diseases or the adoption or change of vaccination against them;
Whereas animal health conditions and veterinary certification must be adopted according to the animal health situation of the non-member country concerned;
Whereas the measures provided for in this Decision are in accordance with the opinion of the Standing Veterinary Committee,
HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:
Article 1
1. Member States shall authorize the importation of the following categories of fresh meat from South Africa:
(a) de-boned fresh meat excluding offal of domestic animals of the bovine, ovine or caprine species, from those areas of South Africa excluding that part of the foot-and-mouth disease control area situated in the veterinary region Northern and Eastern Transvaal, in the district of Ingwavuma in the veterinary region of Natal, and in the border area with Botswana east of longitude 28o which presents the guarantees laid down in the accompanying animal health certificate corresponding with the specimen given in Annex A;
(b) fresh meat of domestic solipeds which presents the guarantees laid down in the accompanying animal health certificate corresponding with the speciment given in Annex B.
2. Member States shall ensure that the de-boned fresh meat referred to in paragraph 1 (a) shall not enter the territory of the importing Member State for at least 21 days from the date of slaughter.
3. Member States shall prohibit the import of categories of fresh meat from South Africa other than those referred to in paragraph 1.
Article 2
Decision 82/527/EEC is hereby revoked.
Article 3
This Decision shall apply from 1 January 1992.
Article 4
This Decision is addressed to the Member States. Done at Brussels, 12 November 1991.