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            COMMISSION DECISION         

of 8 December 2004         

amending Decision 97/222/EC laying down the list of third countries from which the Member States authorise the importation of meat products

(notified under document number C(2004) 4563)

(Text with EEA relevance)

(2004/857/EC)

THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European 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), and in particular Articles 3(1) and 16 in conjunction with the first indent of Article 21a(1) thereof,

Having regard to Council Directive 92/118/EEC of 17 December 1992 laying down animal health and public health requirements governing trade in and imports into the Community of products not subject to the said requirements laid down in specific Community rules referred to in Annex A (I) to Directive 89/662/EEC and as regards pathogens, to Directive 90/425/EEC (2), and in particular Article 10(2)(a) and (3)(a) thereof,

Having regard to Council Directive 2002/99/EC of 16 December 2002 laying down the animal health rules governing the production, processing, distribution and introduction of products of animal origin for human consumption (3), and in particular Article 8(1) and (4) thereof,

Whereas:

HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:

Article 1

Commission Decision 97/222/EC is amended as follows:

Article 2

This Decision shall apply from 23 December 2004.

Article 3

This Decision is addressed to the Member States.

Done at Brussels, 8 December 2004.

For the Commission

Markos KYPRIANOU            

Member of the Commission

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(1)OJ L 302, 31.12.1972, p. 28. Directive as last amended by Regulation (EC) No 807/2003 (OJ L 122, 16.5.2003, p. 36).

(2)OJ L 62, 15.3.1993, p. 49. Directive as last amended by Commission Regulation (EC) No 445/2004 (OJ L 72, 11.3.2004, p. 60).

(3)OJ L 18, 23.1.2003, p. 11.

(4)OJ L 89, 4.4.1997, p. 39. Decision as last amended by Decision 2004/245/EC (OJ L 77, 13.3.2004, p. 62).

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ANNEX I

                     ‘Description of regionalised territories as laid down for the countries listed in parts II and III

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(1)OJ L 146, 14.6.1976, p. 15.

(2)OJ L 378, 31.12.1994, p. 11.

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ANNEX II

                     ‘PART II

Third countries or parts thereof from where meat products are authorised for importation into the European Community

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(1)  See Part III of the present Annex for minimum treatment requirements applicable to pasteurised meat products and biltong.

(2)  For meat products prepared from fresh meat obtained from animals slaughtered after 1 March 2002.

(3)  Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia: provisional code that does not affect the definitive denomination of the country to be attributed after the conclusion of the negotiations currently taking place in the United Nations.

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ANNEX III

                     ‘PART IV

Interpretation of codes used in tables in parts II and III

Non-specific treatment regime:

Specific treatment regimes — listed in descending order of severity:

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