COMMISSION DECISION of 13 November 1991 concerning animal health conditions and veterinary certification of imports of fresh meat from the Kingdom of Swaziland (92/23/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, ovine and caprine animals and swine, fresh meat or meat products from third countries (1), as last amended by Directive 91/497/EEC (2), and in particular Articles 14, 15 and 16 thereof,
Whereas following a Community veterinary mission it appears that the animal health situation in the Kingdom of Swaziland is generally satisfactory and completely controlled by well-structured and organized veterinary services, particularly as regards diseases transmissible through meat;
Whereas in order to avoid any disruption of trade between certain Member States and Swaziland, the Commission adopted by Decision 82/131/EEC (3) health protection measures in respect of imports of fresh meat from this country;
Whereas animal health conditions and veterinary certification for imports of fresh meat from Swaziland should be established now at Community level and therefore Decision 82/131/EEC revoked;
Whereas outbreaks of foot-and-mouth disease have occured from time to time in certain parts of Swaziland; whereas, however, other parts of the country have been free of the disease for more than 12 months;
Whereas vaccination against SAT foot-and-mouth disease is carried out in certain areas of Swaziland; whereas however such vaccination is limited to the regions of Swaziland known as that foot-and-mouth disease vaccination area east of the red line fences which extend northwards from the river Usutu to the frontier with South Africa west of Nkalashane;
Whereas strict measures, in particular the prohibition or control of movements of livestock, are applied; whereas certain regions where vaccination is carried out are clearly demarcated from the disease-free regions;
Whereas measures are applied throughout the country to monitor the movements of livestock and to detect any outbreak of the disease;
Whereas, in addition, the responsible veterinary authorities of Swaziland have confirmed that Swaziland has for at least 12 months been free from rinderpest, and that no vaccination has been carried out against this disease during that time;
Whereas the responsible veterinary authorities of Swaziland have undertaken to notify the Commission of the European Communities and the Member States by telex, telefax or telegram within 24 hours, of confirmation of the occurence of any of the abovementioned diseases or the adoption or change of vaccination against them;
Whereas animal health conditions and veterinary certification must be adopted according to the animal health situation of the non-member country concerned;
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 the following categories of fresh meat from Swaziland:
(a) de-boned fresh meat excluding offal of domestic animals of the bovine species, from Swaziland excluding the foot-and-mouth disease vaccination area east of the red line fences which extend northwards from the river Usutu to the frontier with South Africa west of Nkalashane which presents the guarantees laid down in the accompanying animal health certificate corresponding with the specimen given in Annex A;
(b) fresh meat of domestic solipeds which presents the guarantees laid down in the accompanying animal health certificate corresponding with the speciment given in Annex B.
2. Member States shall ensure that the de-boned fresh meat referred to in paragraph 1 (a) shall not enter the territory of the importing Member State for at least 21 days from the date of slaughter.
3. Member States shall prohibit the import of categories of fresh meat from Swaziland other than those referred to in paragraph 1.
Article 2
Decision 82/131/EEC is hereby revoked.
Article 3
This Decision shall apply from 1 January 1992.
Article 4
This Decision is addressed to the Member States. Done at Brussels, 13 November 1991.