96/659 - - - I
This document is meant purely as a documentation tool and the institutions do not assume any liability for its con-
tents
COMMISSION DECISION
of 22 November 1996
on protective measures in relation to Crimean Congo haemorrhagic fever
(Text with EEA relevance)
(96/659/EC)
(OJ No L 302, 26. 11. 1996, p. 27)
Amended by:
Official Journal
No page date
Commission Decision of 25 February 1997 (97/183/EC) L 76 32 18. 3. 199797/183 deleted
96/659 - - - I
ICOMMISSION DECISION
of 22 November 1996
on protective measures in relation to Crimean Congo haemorrhagic fever
(Text with EEA relevance)
(96/659/EC)
THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,
Having regard to the T reaty 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 amending Directives 89/662/EEC,
90/425/EEC and 90/675/EEC (1), as last amended by Di-
rective 96/43/EC (2), and in particular Article 18 (1) there-
of,
Having regard to Council Directive 90/675/EEC of 10 De-
cember 1990 laying down the principles governing the or-
ganization 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 South Africa;
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 import-
ation of live ratites, and meat of ratites from South Africauntil the situation is clarified;
Whereas the measures provided for in this Decision are in
accordance with the opinion of the Standing Veterinary
Committee,
HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:
(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. 1.97/183 deleted
96/659 - - - I
1Article 1
The Member States shall prohibit the importation of live
ratites and ratite meat from countries in Asia and Africa.
Article 2
1. In derogation to Article 1 above, Member States may
authorise the importation of ratite meat provided that, in
addition to the requirements of Council Directive
91/494/EEC, the provisions in Annex I are complied with.
2. In derogation to Article 1 above, Member States may
authorise the importation of ratites provided that, in addi-
tion to the requirements of Council Directive 90/539/EEC,
the provisions in Annex II are complied with.
Article 3
Article 4
This Decision is addressed to the Member States.96/659
97/183
97/183
deleted
96/659
96/659 - - - I
2ANNEX I
RATITE MEAT
The competent authority shall ensure that the ratites are isolated
in rodent-proof, tick-free surroundings for at least 14 days priorto slaughter.
Before moving to the tick-free surroundings, the birds shall either
be examined to verify that they are tick-free or treated to ensurethat 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 sub-
jected to the pre-slaughter isolation.97/183
96/659 - - - I
3ANNEX II
LIVE RATITES
The competent authority shall ensure that the ratites are isolated
in rodent-proof, tick-free surroundings for at least 21 days priorto 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 surroundings the ratites shall be sub-
jected to the competitive ELISA test for antibodies to Crimean
Congo haemorrhagic fever. Each and every animal entering theisolation must give a negative result to the test. On arrival in the
Community, the treatment for ectoparasites and the serological
test shall be repeated.97/183