COMMISSION DECISION of 28 February 1997 laying down animal and public health conditions and veterinary certification for imports of meat of wild swine from third countries (Text with EEA relevance) (97/220/EC)
THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,
Having regard to Council Directive 92/45/EEC of 16 June 1992 on public health and animal health problems relating to the killing of wild game and the placing on the market of wild game meat (1), as last amended by the Act of Accession of Austria, Finland and Sweden, and in particular Article 16 thereof,
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 (2), as last amended by Directive 96/91/EC (3), and in particular Article 3 thereof,
Whereas Council Decision 79/542/EEC (4), as last amended by Commission Decision 97/160/EC (5), draws up a list of third countries from which the Member States authorize imports of bovine animals, swine, equidae, sheep and goats, fresh meat and meat products and restricts the import of meat of wild swine from certain countries;
Wheras Commission Decision 94/86/EC (6), as last amended by Decision 96/137/EC (7), lays down the third countries list from which Member States are authorized to import wild game meat;
Whereas the imports of meat of wild swine can be authorized based on the existing animal health situation of the exporting third country; whereas due to the occurrence of classical swine fever in certain third countries it was necessary to obtain a detailed plan of eradication of the disease in the regions of the third countries concerned as is required from Member States in accordance with Council Directive 80/217/EEC (8), as last amended by the Act of Accession of Austria, Finland and Sweden; whereas additional conditions must be imposed on certain countries, where the risk of incursion of disease is judged to be more likely;
Whereas it is necessary to lay down the animal and public health conditions and veterinary certification for imports of meat of wild swine for human consumption into the Community accordingly;
Whereas, in addition, it is possible to recognize conditions offering equivalent gaurantees; whereas a third country may submit a proposal for such recognition to the Commission for appropriate consideration;
Whereas considering that a new certification regime is established, a period of time should be provided for its implementation;
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 imports of meat, excluding offal, of wild swine conforming to the requirements laid down in the model certificate in Annex A or B and coming from third countries or parts of third countries listed in column C or D of the Annex to Commission Decision 97/217/EC respectively.
2. The certificate referred to above must accompany the consignment and be duly completed and signed.
Article 2
This Decision shall apply with effect from 1 March 1997.
Article 3
This Decision is addressed to the Member States.
Done at Brussels, 28 February 1997.