COMMISSION DECISION of 13 November 1996 laying down the special conditions for the approval of establishments situated in wholesale markets (Text with EEA relevance) (96/658/EC)
THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,
Having regard to Council Directive 64/433/EEC of 26 June 1964 on health conditions for the production and marketing of fresh meat (1), as last amended by Directive 95/23/EC (2), and in particular Article 13, third indent,
Having regard to Council Directive 71/118/EEC of 15 February 1971 on health problems affecting the production and placing on the market of fresh poultry meat (3), as last amended by the Act of Accession of Austria, Finland and Sweden of 1994, and in particular Article 20, first indent,
Having regard to Council Directive 77/99/EEC of 21 December 1976 on health problems affecting intra-Community trade in meat products (4), as last amended by Directive 95/68/EC (5), and in particular Article 17, first indent,
Whereas a long tradition of wholesale markets for meat and meat products exists in the Community;
Whereas establishments situated in wholesale markets to which Directives 64/433/EEC, 17/118/EEC and 77/99/EEC apply, have special technical characteristics; these establishments are using certain rooms in common, for example meat cutting rooms;
Whereas it is necessary to take these technical circumstances into account in order to fix conditions for the approval of these establishments situated in wholesale markets;
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
This Decision lays down the special conditions for the approval of establishments according to Council Directives 64/433/EEC, 71/118/EEC and 77/99/EEC situated in wholesale markets.
Article 2
For the purposes of this Decision 'wholesale market` means: a market comprising a number of separate establishments which may share common facilities, including common areas in which fresh meat or fresh poultrymeat are cut, stored, displayed and put on the market or meat products are produced, stored, displayed and put on the market. A wholesale market may be attached to other approved establishments.
Article 3
1. An establishment situated in a wholesale market cannot be placed on the list of approved establishments provided for in Article 10 (1) of Directive 64/433/EEC unless it complies with the conditions of Annex I.
2. An establishment situated in a wholesale market cannot be placed on the list of approved establishments provided for in Article 6 (1) of Directive 71/118/EEC unless it complies with the conditions of Annex II.
3. An establishment situated in a wholesale market cannot be placed on the list of approved establishments provided for in Article 8 (1) of Directive 77/99/EEC unless it complies with the conditions of Annex III.
Article 4
1. The establishments or combinations of establishments operating in a wholesale market can receive a veterinary approval number.
2. The veterinary approval number mentioned in paragraph 1 can be temporarily suspended or withdrawn by the national competent authority if an establishment or combination of establishments no longer fulfils the conditions set out in Community rules. This suspension or withdrawal does not necessarily affect the approval of other establishments of the wholesale market.
Article 5
This decision shall apply from 1 January 1997.
Article 6
This Decision is addressed to the Member States.
Done at Brussels, 13 November 1996.