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COMMISSION DECISION
of 27 September 1983
concerning animal health conditions and veterinary certification for the importation of domestic animals of the bovine and porcine species from Canada
(83/494/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 animals and swine and fresh meat from third countries (1), as last amended by Directive 83/91/EEC (2), and in particular Article 8 thereof,
Whereas, following a Community veterinary mission, it appears that the animal health situation in Canada is controlled by well-structured and organized veterinary services which can offer satisfactory guarantees concerning diseases which might be transmitted through importation of domestic animals of the bovine and porcine species;
Whereas, in addition, the responsible veterinary authorities of Canada have confirmed that Canada has during the past 12 months been free from rinderpest, foot-and-mouth disease, contagious bovine pleuro-pneumonia, blue tongue, African swine fever, classical swine fever, contagious porcine paralysis (Teschen disease), swine vesicular disease and vesicular exanthema, that it has during the past six months been free from contagious vesicular stomatitis and that no vaccinations have been carried out against those diseases during those periods;
Whereas the responsible veterinary authorities of Canada have undertaken to notify the Commission of the European Communities and the Member States, by telex or telegram, within 24 hours, of the confirmation of the occurrence of any of the abovementioned diseases or the adoption of vaccination against them, or within the appropriate period of proposed changes in the Canadian tuberculosis eradication programme, the Canadian brucellosis eradication programme or Canadian import rules concerning bovine animals and swine and semen and embryos thereof;
Whereas the responsible veterinary authorities of Canada have undertaken to officially supervise the issue of certificates arising from the Commission Decision on imports of bovine animals and swine into the European Economic Community from Canada and ensure that all relevant back-up certificates and statements remain on official file for at least 12 months following dispatch of the animals;
Whereas animal health conditions and veterinary certification must be adopted according to the animal health situation of the non-member country concerned; whereas, in consideration of the epizootiological character of blue tongue, additional precautions may be taken by Member States;
Whereas where quarantine is required, it is necessary to ensure by means of an authorization document that the necessary arrangements have been made in order that it may be carried out in an orderly way, taking into account in particular the capacities of the designated quarantine stations; whereas this document is to be issued if these conditions are met, and it may also require that during quarantine and transport the animals come into contact only with animals of similar health status;
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 animals from Canada as follows:
(a) domestic animals of the bovine species for breeding or production conforming to the guarantees laid down in the health certificate in accordance with Annex A, which must accompany the consignment together with an authorization document. However, such authorization may be restricted to certain periods of the year and/or restricted to non-pregnant animals;
(b) domestic animals of the porcine species for breeding conforming to the guarantees laid down in the health certificate in accordance with Annex B, which must accompany the consignment together with an authorization document;
(c) the authorization documents referred to in paragraphs (a) and (b) above may request that animals during quarantine and transportation shall come into contact only with animals of similar health status.
2. Member States shall not authorize the import of domestic animals of the bovine or porcine species other than as indicated in paragraph 1.
3. (a) Should the tests carried out in the pre-embarcation quarantine premises referred to in Annex A (V) (10) and Annex B (V) (10) produce other than negative results, any positive animals shall be removed. Before authorizing the importation of one or more of the remaining animals from that quarantine premises, the Member State of destination together with the veterinary authorities of Canada shalll ensure that such animals continue to conform to the health guarantees referred to in paragraph 1.
(b) Where more than one Member State is involved in the simultaneous use of the quarantine premises the action referred to at (a) above shall be coordinated by the Member States concerned in conjunction with the veterinary authorities of Canada.
(c) The Member States shall furnish a report to the Commission on serious incidents which may occur in quarantine together with details of the action taken.
Article 2
1. Following the health inspection (import control) carried out pursuant to Article 12 of Directive 72/462/EEC at a frontier post in a Member State and the endorsement of the certificate accompanying each consignment of bovine animals or swine indicating that the animals have been admitted, they may be placed in isolation at a place and for a period to be designated by the Member State of destination and whilst there may be subjected to treatment as considered necessary by the Member State or to one or more of the tests described in Annex C according to the species concerned. If results are other than negative, additional more specific tests may be applied.
2. The Member State of destination shall take all necessary measures to prevent contamination of indigenous herds.
Article 3
1. By way of derogation from Article 1 (1) (a), in the case of bulls for direct entry to a semen collection centre, Member States may not apply the provisions of Annex A (V) (5) (iii), second ident. In this case the bulls shall, after importation, be placed in isolation for a period of at least nine months. During this period they shall be subjected to two agar gel immuno diffusion tests for enzootic bovine leukosis according to the provisions of Annex C, with an interval of four months between tests, the second to be completed at the end of the isolation period when the animals are at least 18 months of age.
2. (a) By way of derogation from Article 1 (1) (a), in the case of bulls and non-pregnant females, Member States are empowered not to apply the provisions of Annex A (V) (5) (iii), second indent. In this case the animals shall be at least 18 months of age at the time of loading provided for in subparagraph 13 of Annex A and in the case of females shall be non-pregnant immediately prior to entry into isolation as provided for in subparagraph 6 of Annex A and at the time of loading. (b) Member States making use of this derogation shall isolate the animals on importation and subject them to an agar gel immuno diffusion test for enzootic bovine leukosis according to the provisions of Annex C two months after importation and again four months later. Any animals showing a positive result to this test shall be slaughtered or re-exported.
(c) Member States shall ensure that animals imported by way of this derogaiton shall remain traceable for two years following importation during which time they shall be subjected to further agar gel immuno diffusion tests for enzootic bovine leukosis according to the provisions of Annex C.
(d) Member States shall, by 31 December 1985 at the latest, submit a report to the Commission on the animals imported under this derogation.
Article 4
This Decision shall apply from 1 July 1984 at the latest.
Article 5
This Decision is addressed to the Member States.
Done at Brussels, 27 September 1983.