. /.   WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION  G/SPS/N/EEC/308 
5 June 2007 
 (07-2297) 
Committee on Sanitary a nd Phytosanitary Measures Original:   English 
  
 
 
NOTIFICATION 
 
1. Member to Agreement notifying:  EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES
 
If applicable, name of local government involved:   
2. Agency responsible:  Commission of the European Co mmunities, Health & Consumer 
Protection Directorate-General Directorate D – Animal Health and Welfare 
3. Products covered (provide tariff item number(s) as specified in national schedules 
deposited with the WTO; ICS numbers should be provided in addition, where 
applicable):   Fresh or chilled meat for human consumption of the following species. 
Domestic bovine animals, including Bubalus bubalus  and Bison bison  (HS 0201) ; 
swine (HS 0203);  sheep and goats (HS 0204);  pi gs, solipeds (HS 02050);  farmed and wild 
ruminants, suidea and solipeds (HS 0208)  
4. Regions or countries likely to be affected , to the extent relevant or practicable:  
Member States of the European Communities (EC) and the following third countries 
exporting the products concerned to the EC:  Albania, Algeria, Argentina, Australia, 
Bahrain, Belarus, Belize, Bosnia Herzegovi na, Botswana, Brazil, Canada, Chile, China, 
Colombia, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cuba, Ethiopi a, Falkland Islands, Greenland, Guatemala, 
Honduras, Hong Kong, Iceland, India, Isr ael, Kenya, Former Yugoslav Republic of 
Macedonia, Madagascar, Mauritius, Mexico , Montenegro, Morocco, Namibia, New 
Caledonia, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Panama, Pa raguay, Russia, El Salvador, Serbia, South 
Africa, Swaziland, Switzerland, Thailand, Tunisia, Turkey, Ukraine, United States, Uruguay, Zimbabwe. 
5. Title, language and number of pa ges of the notified document:  Draft Commission 
Decision amending Annex II to Council Decision 79/542/EEC as regards the list of third countries and parts thereof from which imports in to the Community of certain fresh meat is 
authorized (SANCO/10538/2006 Rev 6, 13 pages). 
6. Description of content:  This proposal replaces part 1 of Annex II to Council Decision 
79/542/EEC of 21 December 1976 drawing up a list of third countries from which the 
Member States authorize imports of bovine animals, swine and fresh meat  (OJ L 146, 
14.6.1979, p. 15–17) and repeals Commission Decision 96/367/EC: of 13 June 1996 
concerning protection measures in relation to foot-and- mouth disease in Albania (OJ 145, 
19.6.1996, p. 17–18) and Commission Decision 96/414/EC of 4 July 1996 concerning 
protective measures with regard to imports of animals and animal products from the 
Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia due to outbreaks of foot-and-mouth disease  (OJ 
L 167, 6.7.1996, p. 58–59).  
When this proposal is adopted, a transitional period of 90 days after date of application 
will be granted to imports of fresh  meat which were authorized under 
Decision 79/542/EEC.  G/SPS/N/EEC/308 
Page 2  
 
  Background 
Part 1 of Annex II to Council Decision 79/542/EEC  lists for third countries or parts of third 
countries required animal and public-health certif ication conditions.  This part of Annex II 
also indicates the time periods for which im portation of fresh meat into the European 
Communities is authorized or not, in relation to  dates of slaughter or killing of the animals 
from which the meat was obtained.  However, imports of fresh meat obtained before the 
date of restrictions are allowed for 90 days ; for consignments transported on high seas that 
period is of 40 days. 
7. Objective and rationale: [   ] food safety,  [ X ] animal health,  [   ] plant protection, 
[   ] protect humans from animal/plant pest or disease, [   ] protect territory from 
other damage from pests   
8. International standard, guideline or recommendation: 
[   ] Codex Alimentarius Commission,  [ X ] World Organization for Animal Health 
(OIE), [   ] International Plant Protection Convention,  [   ] None 
If an international standard, guideline or recommendation exists, give the appropriate 
reference and briefly identify deviations:   
9. Relevant documents and language(s) in which these are available:  European 
Commission Document (SANCO/10538/2006 Rev 6, 13 pages) Draft Commission 
Decision amending Annex II to Council Deci sion 79/542/EEC as regards the list of third 
countries and parts thereof from which imports in to the Community of certain fresh meat 
is authorised .  When adopted it will be published at the Official Journal, available at:  
http://eur-lex.europa.eu/JOYear.do?year=2007   
A consolidated version (reference 8 July  2006) of Council Decision 79/542/EEC of 
21 December 1976 drawing up a list of third countries from which the member States 
authorize imports of bovine animals, swine and fresh meat is available at: 
http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/site/e n/consleg/1979/D/01979 D0542-20060708-en.pdf  
10. Proposed date of adoption:  The aim is to adopt the Draft Decision in July/August 2007 . 
11. Proposed date of entry into force:  Six month after date of adoption 
12. Final date for comments:  Sixty (60) days after the date of notification 
Agency or authority designated to handle co mments:  [ X ] EC notification authority, 
[   ] National enquiry point, or address,  fax number and E-mail address (if available) 
of other body:   
13. Texts available from:  [   ] National notification authority, [ X ] EC enquiry point, or 
address, fax number and E-mail address (if available) of other body:   
E-mail:  sps@ec.europa.eu