COMMISSION DECISION of 3 March 1997 amending Decision 93/198/EEC laying down a model for the animal health conditions and veterinary certification for the importation of domestic ovine and caprine animals from third countries (Text with EEA relevance) (97/231/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), as last amended by Directive 96/91/EC (2), and in particular Articles 8 and 11 thereof,
Whereas Council Directive 91/68/EEC (3), as last amended by the Act of Accession of Austria, Finland and Sweden, lays down animal health conditions governing intra-Community trade in ovine and caprine animals;
Whereas Commission Decision 93/198/EEC (4), as last amended by the Act of Accession of Austria, Finland and Sweden, lays down the animal health conditions and veterinary certification for imports of domestic ovine and caprine animals;
Whereas it is necessary to extend the scope of this Decision in order to establish animal health conditions and veterinary certification for imports of sheep and goats for breeding and fattening purposes from third countries;
Whereas Commission Decision 97/232/EC (5) establishes lists of third countries from which imports of sheep for slaughter, fattening or breeding may be authorized;
Whereas ovine and caprine animals to be imported must satisfy certain requirements regarding freedom from brucellosis;
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
Decision 93/198/EEC is amended as follows:
1. the text of Article 1 is replaced by the following:
'Member States shall authorize the import of domestic animals of the ovine and caprine species which meet the requirements of the animal health certificate set out in Parts 1a and 1b of Annex I in respect of slaughter animals. This certificate must accompany consignments of ovine and caprine animals from those third countries or parts of third countries appearing in Parts 1 and 2 of the Annex to Commission Decision 97/232/EC (*).
(*) OJ No L 93, 8. 4. 1997, p. 43.`;
2. the text of Article 2 is replaced by the following:
'1. Member States shall authorize the import of domestic animals of the ovine and caprine species which meet the requirements of the animal health certificate set out in Annex II, Part 1a in respect of fattening animals. This certificate must accompany consignments of ovine and caprine animals for fattening from those third countries or parts of third countries appearing in the Annex, Part 3, to Decision 97/232/EC.
2. Member States shall authorize the import of domestic animals of the ovine and caprine species which meet the requirements of the animal health certificate set out in Annex II, Part 1b in respect of breeding animals. This certificate must accompany consignments of ovine and caprine animals for breeding from those third countires or parts of third countries appearing in the Annex, Part 4, to Decision 97/232/EC.
3. Furthermore Member States shall authorize the import of domestic animals of the ovine and caprine species intended for fattening or breeding only if they satisfy the requirements of Annex II, Part 1c, Chapter 1, if destined for officially brucellosis-free flocks, or Annex II, Part 1c, Chapter 2, if destined for brucellosis-free flocks or come from a third country listed in the Annex, Part 5, to Decision 97/232/EC.`;
3. the Annex is replaced by the Annex to this Decision.
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, 3 March 1997.