1996D0659 — EN — 25.10.2001 — 002.001 — 1
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►B COMMISSIONDECISION
of22November1996
onprotective measuresinrelation toCrimeanCongohaemorrhagicfever ►M1 ◄
(TextwithEEArelevance)
(96/659/EC)
(OJ L 302, 26.11.1996, p. 27)
Amended by:
Official Journal
No page date
►M1Commission Decision of 25 February 1997 (97/183/EC) L 76 32 18.3.1997
►M2Commission Decision 2001/751/EC of 16 October 2001 L 281 24 25.10.2001
▼B
COMMISSIONDECISION
of22November1996
onprotectivemeasuresinrelationtoCrimeanCongohaemorrhagic
fever►M1 ◄
(TextwithEEArelevance)
(96/659/EC)
THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,
Having regard to Council Directive 91/496/EEC of 15 July 1991 laying
down the principles governing the organization of veterinary checks on
animals entering the Community from third countries and amendingDirectives 89/662/EEC, 90/425/EEC and 90/675/EEC(
1), as last
amended by Directive 96/43/EC(2), and in particular Article 18 (1)
thereof,
Having regard to Council Directive 90/675/EEC of 10 December 1990
laying down the principles governing the organization of veterinary
checks on products entering the Community from third countries(3),
as last amended by Directive 96/43/EC and in particular Article 19 (1)thereof,
Whereas the presence of Crimean Congo haemorrhagic fever has been
confirmed in SouthAfrica;
Whereas the appearance of Crimean Congo haemorrhagic fever in
South Africa constitutes a serious threat to animal and public health in
the Member States;
Whereas it is therefore necessary to prohibit the importation of live
ratites, and meat of ratites from SouthAfrica until th e situation is clar-
ified;
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
The Member States shall prohibit the importation of live ratites other
than those covered by Decision 2001/751/EC from countries in Africaand Asia and the importation of ratite meat other than that covered byDecision 2000/609/EC from countries in Africa and Asia.
Article 2
1. In derogation to Article 1 above, Member States may authorise
the importation of ratite meat provided that, in addition to the require-
ments of Council Directive 91/494/EEC, the provisions in Annex I arecomplied with.
2. In derogation to Article 1 above, Member States may authorise
the importation of ratites provided that, in addition to the requirementsof Council Directive 90/539/EEC, the provisions in Annex II arecomplied with.1996D0659 — EN — 25.10.2001 — 002.001 — 2
(1) OJ No L 268, 24. 9. 1991, p. 56.
(2) OJ No L 162, 1. 7. 1996, p. 1.
(3) OJ No L 373, 31. 12. 1990, p. 1.▼M2
▼M1
▼M1
Article 4
This Decision is addressed to the Member States.1996D0659 — EN — 25.10.2001 — 002.001 — 3
▼B
▼M1
ANNEX I
RATITEMEAT
The competent authority shall ensure that the ratites are isolated in rodent-proof,
tick-free surroundings for at least 14 days prior to slaughter.
Before moving to the tick-free surroundings, the birds shall either be examined
to verify that they are tick-free or treated to ensure that all ticks on them are
destroyed. The treatment used must be specified on the import certificate. Any
treatment used shall not result in any detectable residues in the ratite meat.
Each batch of ratites shall be examined for ticks prior to slaughter. If any are
detected, the entire batch shall again be subjected to the pre-slaughter isolation.1996D0659 — EN — 25.10.2001 — 002.001 — 4
▼M1
ANNEX II
LIVERATITES
The competent authority shall ensure that the ratites are isolated in rodent-proof,
tick-free surroundings for at least 21 days prior to export.
Before moving to the tick free surroundings, the birds shall be treated to ensure
that all ectoparasites on them are destroyed. After 14 days in tick-free surround-
ings the ratites shall be subjected to the competitive ELISA test for antibodies to
Crimean Congo haemorrhagic fever. Each and every animal entering the isola-
tion must give a negative result to the test. On arrival in the Community, the
treatment for ectoparasites and the serological test shall be repeated.1996D0659 — EN — 25.10.2001 — 002.001 — 5