1998D0371 — EN — 01.12.2001 — 005.001 — 1
This document is meant purely as a documentation tool and the institutions do not assume any liability for its contents
►B COMMISSION DECISION
of 29 May 1998
concerning the animal health conditions and veterinary certification for imports of fresh meat from
certain European countries
(notified under document number C(1998) 1445)
(Text with EEA relevance)
(98/371/EC)
(OJ L 170, 16.6.1998, p. 16)
Amended by:
Official Journal
No page date
►M1Commission Decision 98/546/EC of22 July 1998 L 260 15 23.9.1998
►M2Commission Decision 1999/538/EC of26 July 1999 L 207 21 6.8.1999
►M3Commission Decision 2000/19/EC of9 December 1999 L 6 58 11.1.2000
►M4Commission Decision 2001/774/EC of7 November 2001 L 291 48 8.11.2001
►M5Commission Decision 2001/849/EC of30 November 2001 L 315 71 1.12.2001
▼B
COMMISSION DECISION
of 29 May 1998
concerning the animal health conditions and veterinary certification
for imports of fresh meat from certain European countries
(notified under document number C(1998) 1445)
(Text with EEA relevance)
(98/371/EC)
THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,
Having regard to Council Directive 72/462/EEC of12 December 1972
on health and veterinary inspection problems upon importation ofbovine, ovine and caprine animals and swine, fresh meat or meat
products from third countries (
1), as last amended by Directive 97/79/
EC (2), and in particular Articles 14, 15 and 16,
Whereas the animal health conditions and veterinary certification for
imports of fresh meat from the Former Yugoslav Republic of
Macedonia, Hungary, Poland, Romania, Bulgaria, Slovenia, Croatia,Czech Republic, Slovak Republic and the Federal Republic ofYugoslavia were established by Commission Decisions 81/547/EEC (
3), 82/8/EEC (4), 82/9/EEC (5), 82/132/EEC (6), 92/222/EEC (7),
92/377/EEC (8), 92/390/EEC (9), 94/845/EC (10), 94/846/EC (11) and 97/
737/EC (12);
Whereas the imports of fresh meat from Albania are not authorised by
Commission Decision 89/197/EEC (13);
Whereas the animal health conditions and veterinary certification for
imports of fresh meat from Belarus, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Estonia,
Latvia, Lithuania, and Russia have not yet been established; whereas itis therefore necessary to determine the products to be authorised and thehealth guarantees to be requested;
Whereas, with a view to the internal market, numerous health measures
have been established in the framework of trade inside the Community;whereas the realisation ofthis objective necessitates, in parallel, anadaptation ofthe health conditions required f or importation off resh
meat from third countries particularly from certain European countries;
Whereas this adaptation must take into account the different epidemio-
logical situations in the European countries concerned, and indeed in the
different parts of their territories; whereas, given the existence of
identical health situations between the various parts of those differentcountries, it is necessary to take account ofthis f act in establishing anew system ofhealth guarantees;
Whereas, as a result, it is appropriate to establish different health
certificates in accordance with the conditions required for theimportation of fresh meat from those different categories of countriesor parts ofcountries;1998D0371 — EN — 01.12.2001 — 005.001 — 2
(1) OJ L 302, 31. 12. 1972, p. 28.
(2) OJ L 24, 30. 1. 1998, p. 31.
(3) OJ L 206, 27. 7. 1981, p. 15.
(4) OJ L 8, 13. 1. 1982, p. 9.
(5) OJ L 8, 13. 1. 1982, p. 15.
(6) OJ L 60, 3. 3. 1982, p. 16.
(7) OJ L 108, 25. 4. 1992, p. 38.
(8) OJ L 197, 16. 7. 1992, p. 75.
(9) OJ L 207, 23. 7. 1992, p. 53.
(10) OJ L 352, 31. 12. 1994, p. 38.
(11) OJ L 352, 31. 12. 1994, p. 48.
(12) OJ L 295, 29. 10. 1997, p. 39.
(13) OJ L 73, 17. 3. 1989, p. 53.
▼B
Whereas, in order to clarify and simplify the Community legislation it is
necessary to group together the health conditions required for imports offresh meat from the European countries concerned and to repeal the
decisions in force for those countries;
Whereas, in addition, the responsible veterinary authorities ofthe
concerned countries must confirm that their countries or regions have forat least 12 months been free from rinderpest, foot-and-mouth disease,African swine fever, classical swine fever, swine vesicular disease,
porcine enteroviral encephalomyelitis (Teschen disease);
Whereas the responsible authorities ofthe concerned countries must
undertake to notify the Commission and the Member States within 24hours, by fax, telex or telegram of the confirmation of the occurrence ofany ofthe abovementioned diseases or an alteration in the vaccination
policy against them; whereas certain authorities have also undertaken to
notify the Commission periodically with updated information onmonitoring and diseases control plans for the abovementioned diseases,in particular classical swine fever;
Whereas other health conditions must be established for meat not
intended for human consumption in accordance with the provisions of
Directive 92/118/EEC (
1) and Commission Decision 89/18/EEC (2),
concerning importation from third countries of fresh meat for purposesother than human consumption;
Whereas animal health conditions and veterinary certification must be
adapted according to the animal health situation ofthe third country
concerned;
Whereas Council Directive 96/93/EC (
3) lays down standards of
certification which are necessary for valid certification and to preventfraud; whereas it is appropriate to ensure that the rules and principlesapplied by third-country certifying officers provide guarantees which are
at least equivalent to those laid down in this Directive;
Whereas Council Directive 93/119/EC (
4) requires that the veterinary
health certificate accompanying meat to be imported from thirdcountries to the European Community must be supplemented by anattestation certifying that the animals have been slaughtered under
conditions which offer guarantees of humane treatment at least
equivalent to the relevant provisions in the Directive;
Whereas considering that a new certification regime is hereby
established, a period oftime should be provided f or its implementation;
Whereas the measures provided for in this Decision are in accordance
with the opinion ofthe Standing Veterinary Committee,
HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:
Article 1
For the purposes of this Decision the following definition shall be used:‘Fresh meat’: as defined in Article 2(b) of Council Directive 64/433/
EEC (
5).
Article 2
1. Member States shall authorise the importation ofthe categories of
fresh meat set out in Annex II and coming from the territories laid downin Annex I, ifthey comply with the guarantees laid down in the healthcertificate, drawn up in conformity with Annex III.1998D0371 — EN — 01.12.2001 — 005.001 — 3
(1) OJ L 62, 15. 3. 1993, p. 49.
(2) OJ L 8, 11. 1. 1989, p. 17.
(3) OJ L 13, 16. 1. 1997, p. 28.
(4) OJ L 340, 31. 12. 1993, p. 21.
(5) OJ 121, 29. 7. 1964, p. 2012/64.
▼B
2. Member States shall authorise the introduction onto their territory
of fresh meat from the country of origin subject to the supplementaryguarantees required in Annex II and described in Annex IV. These
supplementary guarantees must be provided by the exporting country in
section V ofeach model ofcertif icate laid down in Annex III.
3. In the case ofimports off resh meat described in Article 1 and
intended for purposes other than human consumption, Member Statesshall ensure that the following requirements are complied with:
— the conditions set out in paragraph 1,
— the conditions established by Directive 92/118/EEC,
— the conditions established by Decision 89/18/EEC.
Article 3
This Decision will be reassessed as required by the changing animal
health situation in the Community and in the concerned Europeancountries from which the imports are permitted.
Article 4
This Decision shall come into effect from 15 June 1998.
Article 5
1. Commission Decisions 81/547/EEC, 82/8/EEC, 82/9/EEC, 82/132/
EEC, 92/222/EEC, 92/377/EEC, 92/390/EEC, 94/845/EC, 94/846/EC
and 97/737/EC are repealed on the date mentioned in Article 4.
2. Member States shall authorise the importation off resh meat
produced and certified according to the requirements of CommissionDecisions 82/8/EEC, 82/9/EEC, 82/132/EEC, 92/222/EEC, 92/377/EEC,92/390/EEC, 94/845/EC and 94/846/EC during the 15 days followingthe date mentioned in paragraph 1.
Article 6
This Decision is addressed to the Member States.1998D0371 — EN — 01.12.2001 — 005.001 — 4
▼M2
ANNEX I
Description of territories of certain European countries established for animal health certification
purposes
CountryCode of
territoryVersion Description ofterritory
Albania AL 1/98 Whole country
Bosnia-Herzegovina BA 1/98 Whole country
Bulgaria BG 1/98 Whole country
BG-1 1/98 The provinces ofVarna, Dobrich, Solistra,
Choumen, Targovichte, Razgrad, Rousse, V.
Tarnovo, Gabrovo, Pleven, Lovetch, Plovdiv,
Smolian, Pasardijk, Sofia district, Sofia city,
Pernik, Kustendil, Blagoevgrad, Vratza, Montana
and Vidin
BG-2 1/99 The provinces ofBourgas, Jambol, Sliven,
Starazagora, Hasskovo and Kardjali, except the
20-km-wide corridor on the border with Turkey
BG-3 1/99 The 20-km-wide corridor to the border Turkey
Belarus BY 1/98 Whole country
Czech Republic CZ 1/98 Whole country
CZ-1 1/99 Whole country excluding the provinces of
Krom ěříž, Vyškov, Hodonín, Uherské Hradišt ě,
Zlin and Vsetín
CZ-2 1/99 The provinces ofKrom ěříž, Vyškov, Hodonín,
Uherské Hradišt ě, Zlin and Vsetín
Estonia EE 1/98 Whole countryFederal Republic of
YugoslaviaYU 1/98 Whole country
YU-1 1/98 The Federal Republic ofYugoslavia excluding
the region ofKosovo and Metohija
YU-2 1/98 The region ofKosovo and Metohija
Croatia HR 1/98 Whole country
Hungary HU 1/98 Whole country
Lithuania LT 1/98 Whole countryLatvia LV 1/98 Whole country
Former Yugoslav
Republic ofMacedonia807 1/98 Whole country
Poland PL 1/98 Whole country
Romania RO 1/98 Whole countryRussia RU 1/98 Whole country1998D0371 — EN — 01.12.2001 — 005.001 — 5
▼M2
CountryCode of
territoryVersion Description ofterritory
Slovenia SI 1/98 Whole country
Slovak Republic SK 1/98 Whole country1998D0371 — EN — 01.12.2001 — 005.001 — 6
ANNEX II
ANIMAL HEALTH GUARANTEES TO BE REQUESTED ON CERTIFICATION OF FRESH MEAT
Country CodeFresh meat for human consumption
Fresh meat intended for
purposes other than human
consumptionBovine Swine Ovine/Caprine Solipeds
MC (1)S G (2)M C (1)S G (2)M C (1)S G (2)M C (1)S G (2)
Albania AL — — — — — —
Bosnia-Herzegovina BA — — — — — —Bulgaria BG — — — D — E
BG-1 A — C D — E
BG-2 — — — D — E
Belarus BY — — — — — ECzech Republic CZ A B C D — E
CZ-1 A B C D — E
CZ-2 A B C D — E
Estonia EE — — — — — EFederal Republic ofYugoslavia FY — — — D — E
FY-1 A — C D — E
FY-2 — — — D — E
Croatia HR A — C D — EHungary HU A B C D — E
Lithuania LT A — C D — E▼M51998D0371 — EN — 01.12.2001 — 005.001 — 7
Country CodeFresh meat for human consumption
Fresh meat intended for
purposes other than human
consumptionBovine Swine Ovine/Caprine Solipeds
MC (1)S G (2)M C (1)S G (2)M C (1)S G (2)M C (1)S G (2)
Latvia LV — — — — — E
Former Yugoslav Republic ofMace-
donia (3)MK — — C D — E
Poland PL A B A C D — E
Romania RO A — C D — ERussia RU — — — — — E
Slovenia SI A — C D — E
Slovak Republic SK A — C D — E
(1) MC: Model of certificate to be completed. The letters (A, B, C, D …) appearing on the tables refer to the models of animal health guarantees, as describe d in Annex III ofDecision 98/371/EC, to be applied f or each product and
origin in accordance with Article 2 ofthis Decision. A dash ‘—’ indicates that imports are not authorised.
(2) SG: Supplementary guarantees. The letters (a, b, c, d …) appearing on the tables are referring to the supplementary guarantees to be provided by the ex porting country as described in Annex IV. These supplementary guarantees must
be inserted by the exporting country in the section V ofeach model ofcertif icate laid down in Annex III.
(3) Provisional code that does not affect the definitive denomination of the country to be attributed after the conclusion of the negotiations currentl y taking place in the United Nations.
NB:Imports off resh meat f or human consumption are not allowed unless a programme ofcontrol ofresidues in the exporting third country has been approved b y the Commission.▼M51998D0371 — EN — 01.12.2001 — 005.001 — 8
▼B
ANNEX III
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▼M5
ANNEX IV
SUPPLEMENTARYGUARANTEESTO BE PROVIDED BY EXPORTING
TERRITORY WHEN REQUIRED IN ANNEX II IN APPLICATION OF
ARTICLE 2(2)
a: I, the undersigned official veterinarian, hereby declare that the fresh meat
described above is obtained from porcine animals coming from holdings
where an undertaking has been received that pigs are not fed with catering
waste (1), that are subject to official controls and are included in the list
established by the competent authority for the purpose of exporting pig meat to
the European Union.1998D0371 — EN — 01.12.2001 — 005.001 — 19
(1) Catering waste means: all waste from food intended for human consumption from
restaurants, catering facilities or kitchens, including industrial kitchens and household
kitchens ofthe f armer or persons tending pigs.