1991L0495—EN—01.01.1995—003.001—1
This document is meant purely as a documentation tool and the institutions do not assume any liability for its contents
►B COUNCILDIRECTIVE
of27November1990
concerningpublichealthandanimalhealthproblemsaffectingtheproductionandplacingonthe
marketofrabbitmeatandfarmedgamemeat
(91/495/EEC)
(OJL268,24.9.1991,p.41)
Amendedby:
OfficialJournal
No page date
►M1CouncilDirective92/65/EECof13July1992 L268 54 14.9.1992
►M2CouncilDirective92/116/EECof17December1992 L62 1 15.3.1993
Amendedby:
►A1ActofAccessionofAustria,SwedenandFinland C241 21 29.8.1994
(adaptedbyCouncilDecision95/1/EC,Euratom,ECSC) L1 1 1.1.1995
▼B
COUNCILDIRECTIVE
of27November1990
concerning public health and animal health problems affecting the
production and placing on the market of rabbit meat and farmed
gamemeat
(91/495/EEC)
THECOUNCILOFTHEEUROPEANCOMMUNITIES,
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Economic
Community,andinparticularArticle43thereof,
HavingregardtotheproposalfromtheCommission(1),
HavingregardtotheopinionoftheEuropeanParliament(2),
Having regard to the opinion of the Economic and Social
Committee(3),
Whereasrabbitmeatandfarmedgamemeatareincludedinthelistof
products in Annex II to the Treaty; whereas rabbit and game farmingare generally included in the farming sector; whereas this farmingconstitutesasourceofincomeforpartofthefarmingpopulation;
Whereas,inordertoensuretherationaldevelopmentofthissectorand
to improve productivity, rules concerning public health and animalhealth problemsaffecting theproductionandplacingonthemarket ofrabbit meat and farmed game meat must be laid down at Community
level;
Whereas disparities as regards animal health and public health condi-
tionsintheMemberStatesshouldbeeliminatedinordertoencourage
intra-Community trade in rabbit meat and farmed game meat, with a
viewtothecompletionoftheinternalmarket;
Whereas diseases transmissible to domestic animals and humans may
be spread by rabbit meat and farmed game meat; whereas it is neces-
sarytolaydownrulesenablingtheseriskstobecontrolled;
Whereasthemeatinquestionmustbetreatedingoodhygieniccondi-
tionsinordertoavoidfood-borneinfectionsandintoxications;
Whereas Council Directive 82/894/EEC of 21 December 1982 on the
notification of animal diseases within the Community(
4), as last
amended by Directive 89/162/EEC(5), lays down the conditions for
notificationofanimaldiseasesintheCommunity;whereasitisoppor-tunetohave,forcertaincontagiousdiseasesaffectingfarmedgame,thesameinformationasforotherdomesticanimals;
Whereas Council Directive 64/433/EEC of 26 June 1964 on health
problems affecting intra-Community trade in fresh meat(
6), as last
amended by Directive 89/662/EEC(7) and Council Directive 71/118/
EEC of 15 February 1971 on health problems affecting trade in freshpoultrymeat(
8), as last amended by Directive 90/539/EEC(9), lay
down the health requirements for, respectively, fresh meat and fresh
poultrymeat; whereas farmed wildlife used for game production issimilar to farmed mammals and farmed birds; whereas it is thereforeopportune to extend to farmed game meat, while taking into accountcertain specific aspects, the health rules already applied for trade infreshmeatandpoultrymeat;1991L0495—EN—01.01.1995—003.001—2
(1) OJNoC327,30.12.1989,p.40.
(2) OJNoC260,15.10.1990,p.154.
(3) OJNoC124,21.5.1990,p.7.
(4) OJNoL378,31.12.1982,p.58.
(5) OJNoL61,4.3.1989,p.48.
(6) OJNo121,29.7.1964,p.2012/64.
(7) OJNoL395,30.12.1989,p.13.
(8) OJNoL55,8.3.1971,p.23.
(9) OJNoL303,31.10.1990,p.6.
▼B
Whereas it is appropriate to lay down exceptions for small quantitites
ofrabbitmeatandfarmedgamemeatusedforlocaltrade;
Whereas, in respect of the organization of, and the follow-up to, the
checks to be carried out by the Member State of destination and the
safeguard measures to be implemented, reference should be made tothe general rules laid down in Council Directive 90/425/EEC of 26June 1990 concerning veterinary and zoo-technical checks applicablein intra-Community trade in certain live animals and products with a
viewtothecompletionoftheinternalmarket(
1);
WhereastheCommissionshouldbeentrustedwiththetaskofadopting
measures for applying this Directive; whereas, to that end, provisionshould be made for procedures establishing close and effective coop-eration between the Commission and the Member States within theStandingVeterinaryCommittee,
HASADOPTEDTHISDIRECTIVE:
CHAPTERI
General rules
Article 1
This Directive lays down requirements concerning public health and
animal health problems affecting the production and placing on themarketofrabbitmeatandfarmedgamemeat.
Article 2
ForthepurposesofthisDirective,thedefinitionsgiveninArticle2of
Directive 64/433/EEC and in Article 2 of Directive 71/118/EEC shall
apply.
Thefollowingdefinitionsshallalsoapply:1. ‘rabbit meat’: all parts of domestic rabbit which are fit for human
consumption;
2. ‘farmedgamemeat’:allpartsofwildlandmammalsandwildbirds
—includingthespeciesreferredtoinArticle2(1)ofDirective90/539/EEC ►
M1andratites(Ratitae) ◄—bred,rearedandslaugh-
teredincaptivitywhicharefitforhumanconsumption;
3. ‘farmed game’: land mammals, ►A1including reindeer ◄or
birds, which are not considered as domestic and not referred to inArticle 1 (1) of Directive 64/433/EEC or ►
M2in Article 2 of
Directive 71/118/EEC ◄, but which are farmed as domestic
animals.However,wildmammalslivingwithinanenclosedterritoryunderconditionsoffreedomsimilartothoseenjoyedbywildgame
shallnotbedeemedfarmedgame;
4. ‘countryofproduction’:theMemberStateintheterritoryofwhich
thefarmofproductionissituated.
CHAPTERII
Rules applicable to the production and placing on the market of
rabbitmeat
Article 3
1. MemberStatesshallseetoitthatrabbitmeat:
(a) is obtained in an establishment fulfilling the general conditions of
Directive 71/118/EEC and approved for the purposes of thischapterinaccordancewithArticle14;1991L0495—EN—01.01.1995—003.001—3
(1) OJNoL224,18.9.1990,p.29.
▼B
(b) comes from animals from farms or areas in which bans have not
beenimposedforveterinaryinspectionreasons;
(c) comesfromanimalswhichhaveundergoneante-morteminspection
by an official veterinarian or by assistants, in accordance with
Article4ofDirective71/118/EEC,suchinspectionbeinginaccor-dancewithChapterIofAnnexItothisDirective andwhichhavebeendeemedsuitableforslaughterfollowingsuchinspection;
(d) has been treated under satisfactory hygiene conditions similar to
those provided for in Chapter V of Annex I to Directive 71/118/
EEC,exceptforthoseinpoints28aand28b;
(e) has undergone, in accordance with Chapter II of Annex I to this
Directive, post-mortem inspection by an official veterinarian or,pursuant to Article 4 of Directive 71/118/EEC, by assistants, andhas not shown any change except for traumatic lesions whichoccurred shortly before slaughter or localized malformations or
changes,providedthatitisestablished,ifnecessarybyappropriate
laboratory tests, that these donot render the carcase or offal unfitforhumanconsumptionordangeroustohumanhealth;
(f) bears a health mark in accordance with Chapter III of Annex I to
thisDirective.
A decision may be taken, where appropriate, to amend or supple-
ment the provisions of the aforementioned Chapter in accordance
withtheprocedureprovidedforinArticle20,inordertotakeintoaccountnotablythedifferentformsofpresentation,providingtheyconformtotherulescoveringhygiene;inparticular,andbywayofderogation fromthe said Chapter, the said procedure shall deter-mine—before1January1992forthefirsttime—theconditions
underwhichthemarketing,inlargepackages,whichhavenotbeen
markedinaccordance withsection11.3(a)ofthesaidChapter,ofcarcases,partsofcarcasesorofoffalmaybeauthorized;
(g) isstored in accordance with Chapter IVof AnnexIto this Direc-
tive after post-mortem inspection under satisfactory hygieneconditions in establishments approved in accordance with Article
14orinstoresapprovedinaccordancewithCommunityrules;
(h) hasbeentransportedundersatisfactoryhygieneconditionsinaccor-
dancewithChapterVofAnnexItothisDirective;
(i) in the case of parts of carcases or boned meat, has also been
obtainedinconditionssimilartothoseprovidedforinArticle3ofDirective71/118/EEC,inestablishmentsspeciallyapprovedforthis
purposeinaccordancewithArticle14ofthisDirective.
2. EachMemberStateshallalsoseetoitthatfreshrabbitmeatsent
to the territory of another Member State is accompanied by a health
certificateduringitstransporttothecountryofdestination.
Theoriginalofthehealthcertificate, whichmustaccompanythefresh
rabbitmeatduringitstransporttotheconsignee,mustbeissuedbyan
official veterinarian at the moment of loading. The health certificatemust correspond, in presentation and context, to the model in AnnexII; it must be drawn up at least in the language or languages of thecountry of destination and must contain the information provided forinthemodelinthesaidAnnex.
Article 4
1. By way of derogation from Article 3, Member States may
authorize:
(a) the direct supply of rabbit meat by a small producer to a private
individualforhisownconsumption;
(b) thesupplyoffreshrabbitmeatinsmallquantities,byfarmerswho
producerabbitsonasmallscale:
— either directly to the final consumer at those local markets
whichareclosesttotheirfarms,1991L0495—EN—01.01.1995—003.001—4
▼B
— ortoaretailerwithaviewtodirectsaletothefinalconsumer,
provided that such retailer conducts his business in the samelocalityasthatoftheproducerorinaneighbouringlocality.
The said possible derogation shall not include itinerant sales, mail
ordersalesand,asfarastheretailerisconcerned,salesonamarket.
2. Member States shall take the measures necessary to ensure the
health control of these operations provided for in paragraph 1 and toadoptrulesenablingtheoriginalholdingofsuchmeattobetraced.
3. Under the procedure laid down in Article 20, the Commission
mayadoptthedetailedrulesforapplyingthisArticleandinparticular,at the request of Member State, fix the maximum limits of quantities
whichmaybesuppliedpursuanttoparagraph1.
CHAPTERIII
Rules applicable to the production and marketing of farmed game
meat
Article 5
MemberStatesshallensurethatintra-Communitytradeinfarmedgame
meatissubject:
(a) where farmed game birds are concerned, to the requirements of
Council Directive 91/494/EEC of 26 June 1990 on animal healthconditions governing intra-Community trade in and imports fromthirdcountriesoffreshpoultrymeat(
1);
(b) whereotherspeciesoffarmedgameareconcerned,totherequire-
ments of Council Directive 72/461/EEC of 12 December 1972 onhealth problems affecting intra-Community trade in fresh meat(
2),
aslastamendedbyDirective89/662/EEC.
Article 6
1. Farmed game meat obtained from cloven-hoofed wild land
mammals shall fulfil the relevant conditions referred to in Article 3and Article 5 (b) to (k) of Directive 64/433/EEC, provided that the
original herd undergoes regular veterinary inspection and is not under
anyrestrictionsfollowingthesurveyperformedaccordingtoArticle11or as a result of veterinary inspection. The detailed rules for thisinspectionshallbelaiddowninaccordancewiththeproceduresetoutinArticle20.
Theanimalsinquestionshallbetreatedatdifferenttimesfrombovine
animals,swine,sheepandgoats.
The health certificate which must accompany such meat shall corre-
spondtothemodelinAnnexIVtothisDirective.
Meat fromfarm ed wild pigs or other species sensitive to Trichina
infestationshallbesubjectedtoexaminationbydigestioninaccordancewith Council Directive 77/96/EEC of21December 1976onexamina-tion for Trichinae (trichinella spiralis) upon importation from thirdcountries of fresh meat derived from domestic swine(
3) as last
amendedbyDirective89/321/EEC(4).
2. Notwithstanding paragraph 1, the official service may authorize
the slaughter of farmed game in the place of origin, where it cannotbetransported, inorder toavoidanyriskforthe handler ortoprotect1991L0495—EN—01.01.1995—003.001—5
(1) Seepage35ofthisOfficialJournal.
(2) OJNoL302,31.12.1972,p.24.
(3) OJNoL26,31.1.1977,p.67.
(4) OJNoL133,17.5.1989,p.33.
▼B
thewelfareoftheanimals.Thisauthorizationmaybegrantedprovided
that:
— the herd undergoes regular veterinary inspection and is not under
anyrestrictionsfollowingthesurveyperformedaccordingtoArticle12orasaresultofveterinaryinspection,
— arequestissubmittedbytheowneroftheanimals,— the official service is informed in advance of the date of slaugh-
teringoftheanimals,
— theholdinghasacentreformusteringwildanimalswhereanante-
morteminspectionofthegroupforslaughtercanbecarriedout,
— the holding has premises suitable for the slaughter, sticking and
bleedingoftheanimals,
— slaughter by means of sticking and bleeding is preceded by stun-
ning, which must be carried out in the conditions laid down inDirective 74/577/EEC(
1); the veterinary service may authorize
shootingonlyinspecialcases,
— the slaughtered and bled animals are hung as quickly as possible
afterslaughterandaretransportedundersatisfactoryhygienecondi-
tionstoaslaughterhouseapprovedinaccordancewithDirective66/433/EEC.WheregameslaughteredattheplaceofrearingcannotbebroughtwithinthehourtoaslaughterhouseapprovedinaccordancewithArticle8ofDirective64/433/EEC,itmustbetransportedina
containerormeansoftransportinwhichtheambienttemperatureis
maintainedatbetween0ºCand4ºC.Eviscerationmustbecarriedout no later than three hours after stunning. ►
A1However, all
operations for the slaughter of reindeer may be carried out inmobile slaughter units in accordance with the provisions of Direc-tive64/433/EEC, ◄
— during transportation to the slaughterhouse the slaughtered animals
are accompanied by a certificate issued by the veterinary service
attesting to the favourable outcome of the ante-mortem inspection,thecorrectconductofbleedingandthetimeofslaughter;thiscerti-ficatemustcorrespondtothemodelinAnnexIII.
3. Pending the adoption of health rules applicable to meat reserved
forthe domestic market, the slaughtering offarmed big game and the
cuttingandstorageofthemeatreferredtoinparagraph1may,byway
of derogation from paragraph 1, be performed in establishmentsapprovedbythenationalauthoritiesforthedomesticmarket,providedthatsuchmeatdoesnotenterintra-Communitytrade.
Article 7
1. Countries of destination may, with due regard for the general
provisions of the Treaty, grant one or more countries of consignmentgeneral authorizations or authorizations restricted to specific cases,
whereby the fresh meat referred to in Article 5 (b) and (i) to (k) of
Directive64/433/EECmaybeadmittedtotheirterritory.
Such fresh meat may be sent solely in accordance with Article 3 (1)
and(3)ofDirective64/433/EEC.
2. Ifacountryofdestinationgrantsageneralauthorizationinaccor-
dancewithparagraph1,itshallimmediatelyinformtheotherMember
StatesandtheCommissionthereof.
3. The countries of consignment shall make all necessary arrange-
ments to ensure that health certificates, a specimen of which isprovidedinAnnexIV,mentionthatoneoftheoptionsprovidedforinparagraph1hasbeentakenup.
Article 8
Meat of farmed game birds shall fulfil the conditions referred to in
Article3ofDirective71/118/EEC.1991L0495—EN—01.01.1995—003.001—6
(1) OJNoL316,26.11.1974,p.10.
▼B
Meat of farmed game birds intended for intra-Community trade shall
be accompanied by the health certificate provided for in Article 8 ofDirective 71/118/EEC, which shall correspond to the model in Annex
IVtothisDirective.
However,notwithstanding ChapterV(23)ofAnnexItoDirective 71/
118/EEC,where,inthecaseofquailandpigeon,theeviscerationtech-niqueuseddoesnotpermitcompletehealthinspectionofthevisceraof
eachbird,thatinspectionmaybecarriedoutonasampleofatleast5%
of each batch of 500 birds, and in corresponding proportion beyond500birds,providedthatthebatchesarehomogeneousintermsoftheirnature,weightandorigin.
Wheretheresultsarenotclearlysatisfactory,theopinionexpressedon
the basis of such sample inspection of the viscera as to whether theslaughteredbirdsarefitforconsumptionshallapplytotheentirebatch.
Article 9
NotwithstandingArticle8,firstsubparagraph,inthecaseofmeatfrom
farmed game birds obtained and put on the market in their territory,MemberStatesmay, withdueregardforthe general provisionsoftheTreaty,grantthoseslaughterhousesorcuttingpremisessituatedintheirterritorywhichwereengagedinthatactivitypriortothedateofnotifi-cation of this Directive and which expressly so request, a derogation
fromtheslaughterandeviscerationprovisionslaiddowninChapterV
of Annex I to Directive 71/118/EEC in the case of the production ofpartiallyevisceratedornon-evisceratedfarmedgamebirds.
The use of the health mark provided for in Chapter X of Annex I to
Directive71/118/EECshallbeprohibitedintheeventthatthisderoga-
tionisexercised.
Article 10
Article 8 shall not apply to meat of farmed game birds which, in
isolated cases, is supplied by the producer thereof direct to the final
consumer for his own consumption otherwise than by itinerant sale,salebymailorderorsaleonamarket.
Under the procedure laid down in Article 20, the Commission may
adopt the detailed rules for applying this Article and in particular, at
the request of Member State, fix the maximum limits of quantitieswhichmaybesuppliedpursuanttothefirstparagraph.
CHAPTERIV
Commonprovisions
Article 11
1. Member States shall ensure that a survey of the health of rabbit
and farmed game is performed on holdings on their territories atregularintervals.
2. To this end a central service or body shall be entrusted with the
taskofcollectingandusingtheresultsofthehealthinspectionscarried
out in accordance with this Directive, where diseases transmissible to
humans or animals or the presence of residues in excess of permittedlevelsarediagnosed.
3. Where a disease or condition referred to in paragraph 2 is diag-
nosed, the survey results relating to the specific case shall be
communicated as soon as possible to the official service responsibleforsupervisionofthestockfromwhichtheanimalsoriginate.
4. Depending on the epizootic situation, the official service shall
carryoutspecifictestsonfarmedgameinordertodetectthepresence
ofthediseasesreferredtoinAnnexItoDirective82/894/EEC.
ThepresenceofthesediseasesshallbecommunicatedtotheCommis-
sion and to the other Member States in accordance with the saidDirective.1991L0495—EN—01.01.1995—003.001—7
▼B
Article 12
1. MemberStatesshallsupplementtheirplansformeasuresonresi-
dues referred to in Article 4 of Council Directive 86/469/EEC of 16
September 1986 concerning the examination of animals and freshmeat for the presence of residues(
1) in order to subject rabbits and
farmedgametotheinspectionsprovidedforinthatDirectiveandalsotomonitorwildgameforcontaminantspresentintheenvironment.
2. Taking into account the results of the monitoring referred to
Article 11 (4), Member States shall impose limitations on the use ofgamemeatfromholdingsorterritoriesimplicatedbythemonitoring.
3. The Commission shall adopt the detailed rules for application of
thisArticleinaccordancewiththeprocedurelaiddowninArticle20.
Article 13
Rabbitmeatormeatoffarmedgamebirdsshallnotbeusedforhuman
consumptionif:
(a) foundtohaveoneofthefaultslistedinpoint9(a)ofAnnexI;
(b) originating from animals to which substances likely to make the
meat dangerous or harmful to human health have been adminis-
tered and onwhich a decision has been taken, in accordance withthe procedure provided for in Article 20, following the opinion ofthe Scientific Veterinary Committee. Pending that decision,national rules on authorized substances shall remain in force inaccordancewiththegeneralprovisionsoftheTreaty;
(c) withoutprejudice topossibleCommunity regulations applicable in
the field of ionization, treated with ionizing or ultraviolet radiaton
or treated with tenderizers or other substances which could affect
theorganolepticpropertiesofthemeatorcolorantsotherthanthoseusedforhealthmarking.
Article 14
1. Each Member State shall draw up a list of the establishments
approved by it, each establishment having a veterinary approval
number. Member States may approve for slaughtering and cutting ofrabbitandfarmedgameestablishmentsapprovedaccordingtoDirective71/118/EEC or Directive 64/433/EEC, provided that those establish-ments are equipped for the processing of rabbit meat and/or farmed
game meat and that those operations are performed in such a way as
to comply with hygiene rules. Member States shall send this list totheotherMemberStatesandtotheCommission.
2. No Member State shall approve an establishment unless compli-
ance with this Directive is assured. Member States shall withdraw
approvaliftheconditionsforgrantingitceasetobefulfilled.
3. If a check has been made in accordance with Article 16, the
MemberStateconcernedshalltakeaccountoftheconclusionsresultingtherefrom. The other Member States and the Commission shall beinformedofthewithdrawalofapproval.
4. Inspection and supervision of approved establishments shall be
carried out under the responsibility of the official veterinarian who,without prejudice to the tasks devolved to assistants under Directive71/118/EEC,maybeassistedinpurelymaterialtasksbystaffspecially
trainedforthepurpose.Theofficialveterinarianmustatalltimeshave
free access to all parts of establishments in order to ensure that thisDirectiveisbeingcompliedwith.
The detailed rules governing this assistance shall be determined in
accordancewiththeprocedurelaiddowninArticle20.1991L0495—EN—01.01.1995—003.001—8
(1) OJNoL275,26.9.1986,p.36.
▼B
Article 15
VeterinaryexpertsfromtheCommissionmay,insofarasitisnecessary
to ensure uniformapplication of this Directive, m ake on-the-spotchecks in co-operation with the competent authorities of the MemberStates; they may verify whether approved establishments are actuallycomplying with this Directive. The Commission shall inform theMemberStatesoftheresultsofthechecks.
A Member State in whose territory a check is being carried out shall
giveallthenecessaryassistancetotheexpertscarryingouttheirduties.
The general provisions for implementing this Article shall be deter-
minedinaccordancewiththeprocedurelaiddowninArticle20.
Article 16
1. TheruleslaiddowninCouncilDirective89/662/EECconcerning
veterinary checks to be carried out in intra-Community trade with a
viewtothecompletion oftheinternal market shallapplyinparticulartotheorganizationof,andtheactiontobetakenfollowingthecheckscarriedoutbythecountryofdestinationandtothesafeguardmeasuresto be applied in relation to health problems affecting the production
and distribution of rabbit and game meat in the territory of the
Community.
2. Directive89/662/EECshallbeamendedasfollows:
(a) inAnnexA,thefollowingshouldbeaddedinfine:
‘— CouncilDirective91/495/EECof27November1990onpublic
healthandanimalhealthproblemsaffectingtheproductionand
placing on the market of rabbit meat and farmed game meat.(OJNoL268,24.9.1991,p.41)(Excludingrabbitmeatandfarmedgamemeatimportedfromthirdcountries)’;
(b) inAnnexB,theindent‘rabbitandgamemeat’shallbereplacedby
‘wildgamemeat’.
Article 17
Pending the implementation of Community provisions concerning
imports of rabbit and game meat from third countries, Member Statesshallapplytosuchimportsprovisionswhichareatleastequivalent tothoseofthisDirective.
However, pending the implementation of these provisions, Member
States shall ensure that imports from third countries remain subject tothe rules laid down in the third subparagraph of Article 6 (1) (b) ofDirective89/662/EECandalsothat:
(i) freshrabbitmeatandfreshfarmedgamemeatmaynot,underany
circumstances, bear the public health marking referred to in
Chapter X of Annex I to Directive 71/118/EEC and, if cut and
boned, must be treated in accordance with Article 3 (1) (B) ofthatDirective;
(ii) meat from species susceptible to trichinosis shall be subjected to
examinationbydigestioninaccordancewithDirective77/96/EEC.
CHAPTERV
Finalprovisions
Article 18
This Directive shall not affect Community rules adopted in order to
protectwildlife.
Article 19
TheAnnexestothisDirectiveshallbeamendedbytheCouncilacting
byaqualifiedmajorityonaproposalfromtheCommissioninorderinparticulartobringitintolinewithtechnologicalprogress.1991L0495—EN—01.01.1995—003.001—9
▼B
Article 20
1. Where the procedure laid down in this Article is to be used,
matters shall withoutdelay be referred bythe Chairman, either onhis
own initiative or at the request of a Member State, to the Standing
Veterinary Committee (hereinafter called ‘the Committee’) set up byDecision68/361/EEC(
1).
2. The representative of the Commission shall submit to the
Committee a draft of the measures to be taken. The Committee shalldeliveritsopiniononthedraftwithinatimelimitwhichtheChairmanmay lay down according to the urgency of the matter. The opinion
shall be delivered bythe majority laid down in Article 148 (2) of the
Treaty inthecaseofdecisionswhichtheCouncil isrequired toadoptonaproposalfromtheCommission.Thevotesoftherepresentativesofthe Member States within the Committee shall be weighted in themannersetoutinthatArticle.TheChairmanshallnotvote.
3. TheCommissionshalladoptthemeasuresenvisagediftheyarein
accordancewiththeopinionoftheCommittee.
4. Ifthemeasuresenvisagedarenotinaccordancewiththeopinion
oftheCommittee,orifnoopinionisdelivered,theCommissionshall,without delay, submit to the Council a proposal relating to themeasurestobetaken.
TheCouncilshallactbyaqualifiedmajority.If,uponexpiryofaperiodofthreemonthsfromthedateofreferralto
theCouncil,theCouncilhasnotacted,theCommissionshalladopttheproposed measures and implement them immediately, save where the
Councilhasdecidedagainstthesaidmeasuresbyasimplemajority.
Article 21
Pending implementation of Community health and veterinary inspec-
tion rules on the production and marketing of meat of wild game tobe adopted not later than 31 March 1991, wild game meat fit forconsumption shall be subject to the rules of Article 3 (3), the secondindentofthesecondsubparagraphofArticle4(1)andtoArticle5(2)ofDirective89/662/EEC.
Article 22
1. Member States shall bring into force the laws, regulations and
administrative provisions necessary to comply with this Directive not
laterthan1January1993.TheyshallforthwithinformtheCommission
thereof.
2. When Member States adopt these measures, they shall contain a
reference to this Directive or shall be accompanied by such referenceon the occasion of their official publication. The methods of makingsuchareferenceshallbelaiddownbytheMemberStates.
Article 23
ThisDirectiveisaddressedtotheMemberStates.1991L0495—EN—01.01.1995—003.001—10
(1) OJNoL255,18.10.1968,p.23.
▼B
ANNEX I
CHAPTERI
Ante-mortemhealthinspectionofrabbits
1. Animals must undergo ante-mortem inspection before they are slaughtered.
As a general rule, such ante-mortem inspection must be carried out at the
holdingbeforeloading.
(a) If the ante-mortem inspection has been carried out at the holding of
origin, ante-mortem inspection at the slaughterhouse may be restricted
to detecting injuries received in transport if the rabbits have been
inspectedattheholdingoforiginwithintheprevious24hoursandfound
tobe healthy. In addition, the identity of the rabbitsmustbeproved on
arrivalattheslaughterhouse.
Iftheante-morteminspectionattheholdingoforiginandattheslaugh-
terhouse is not carried out by the same official veterinarian, a health
certificate stating the particulars required under Annex III must accom-
panytheanimals.
(b) Iftheante-morteminspectionisnotcarriedoutattheholdingoforigin,
rabbits for slaughter must undergo ante-mortem inspection within 24
hours of arrival at the slaughterhouse. The inspection must be repeated
immediately before slaughter if more than 24 hours have elapsed since
ante-morteminspection.
Theoperatoroftheslaughterhouseorhisagentmustfacilitateoperations
for performing ante-mortem health inspections and in particular any
handlingwhichisconsiderednecessary.
Eachanimalorbatchofanimalssentforslaughtermustbeidentifiedin
ordertoallowthecompetentauthoritytodetermineitsorigin.
2. The ante-mortem inspection must be carried out by the official veterinarian
inaccordancewithprofessionalrulesundersuitablelighting.
3. Theinspectionmustdetermine:
(a) whether the animals are suffering from a disease which can be trans-
mitted to humans or animals, whether they show symptoms or whether
theirgeneralconditionissuchastoindicatethatthediseasemayoccur;
(b) whethertheyshowsymptomsofadiseaseorofadisorderaffectingtheir
general condition which may make the meat unfit for human consump-
tion.
4. Animals may not be slaughtered for human consumption where it is estab-
lishedthattheysufferfromtheconditionsreferredtoatpoint3.
5. Theanimalsreferredtoatpoint4mustbekilledseparatelyorafterslaughter
ofallotherrabbitsandtheirmeathygienicallydisposedof.
CHAPTERII
Post-mortemhealthinspectionofrabbits
6. Slaughteredrabbitsmustbeinspectedimmediatelyafterslaughter.7. Thepost-morteminspectionmustbecarriedoutundersuitablelighting.
8. Thepost-mortemhealthinspectionmustinclude:
(a) visualinspectionoftheslaughteredanimal;
(b) palpation and, where necessary, incision of the lungs, liver, spleen,
kidneysandpartsofthecarcasewhichhaveundergoneanychange;
(c) investigations of anomalies of consistency, colour, smell and, where
appropriate,taste;
(d) wherenecessary,laboratorytests.
9. (a) Rabbitsshallbedeclaredtotallyunfitforhumanconsumptionwherethe
post-morteminspectionrevealsthefollowing:
— diseasestransmissibletomanoranimals;
— malignantormultipletumours;multipleabscesses;— extensiveparasiticinfestationinthesubcutaneousormuscletissues;
— presenceofresiduesofforbiddensubstancesorresiduesinexcessof
permitted Community levels, including substances with a pharmaco-
logicaleffect;
— poisoning;1991L0495—EN—01.01.1995—003.001—11
▼B
— extensiveinjuriesorextensivebloodorserumimbibition;
— anomaliesasregardscolour,smellortaste;
— anomalies as regards consistency, particularly oedema or severe
emaciation.
(b) Partsofslaughteredanimalswhichshowlocalizedlesionsorcontamina-
tions not affecting the health of the rest of the meat shall be declared
unfitforhumanconsumption.
(c) Theresultsoftheante-mortemandpost-mortemhealthinspectionsshall
be recorded by the official veterinarian and, if the presence of the
diseasesreferredtoinpoint3orthepresenceofresiduesarefound,these
shall be communicated to the authorities of the official service respon-
sible for supervision of the stock fromwhich the anim als originated, as
wellastothepersonresponsibleforthestockinquestion.
CHAPTERIII
Publichealthmarking
10. The public health marking must be made under the responsibility of the
officialveterinarian,whoshallkeepandmaintainforthatpurpose:
(a) instrumentsformakingthepublichealthmarkingonmeat,tobehanded
overtotheassistantstaffonlyattheactualtimeofmarkingandforthe
lengthoftimenecessaryforthispurpose;
(b) labelsandwrapperswherethesealreadybearoneofthemarksorofthe
seals referred to in point 11. These labels, wrappers and seals shall be
handed over in the required number to the assistant staff at the time
whentheymustbeused.
11.
1. Thepublichealthmarkingshallconsistofthefollowing:
(a) — on the upper part, the initial letter or letters in capitals of the
nameofthecountryofdispatch:
►A1AT,◄B, D, DK, EL, ESP, F, ►A1FI,◄IRL, I, L,
NL,P,►A1SE,◄UK,
— in the centre, the veterinary approval number of the slaughter-
houseor,whereappropriate,thecuttingpremises,
— onthelowerpart,oneofthefollowingsetsofinitials:
CEE,EEG,EWG,EØF,EEC ►A1,ETY◄orEOK,
thelettersandfiguresmustbe0,2cmhighor
(b) an oval containing the information listed in (a); the letters must be
0,8cmhighandthefigures1,1cmhigh.
2. The material used for marking must meet all hygiene requirements and
the information referred to in point 1 shall appear on it in perfectly
legibleform.
3. (a) Thepublichealthmarkingreferredtoinpoint1(a)mustbemade:
— on unwrapped carcases by means of a seal containing the infor-
mationlistedinpoint1(a),
— on or visibly beneath wrappers or other packaging of packed
carcases,
— on or visibly beneath wrappers or other packaging of parts of
carcasesoroffalpackedinsmallquantities;
(b) Thepublichealthmarkingreferredtoinpoint1(b)mustbemadeon
largepackaging.
4. Where a public health marking appears onthe wrapperor packaging in
accordancewithpoint3:
— it must be applied in such a way that it is destroyed when the
wrapperorpackagingisopened,or
— thewrapperorpackagingmustbesealedinsuchawaythatitcannot
bere-usedafteropening.
CHAPTERIV
Storage
12. After post-mortem inspection, rabbit meat must be chilled or frozen and
keptatatemperature whichmustnotatanytime exceed −4ºCifchilled
or−12ºCiffrozen.1991L0495—EN—01.01.1995—003.001—12
▼B
CHAPTERV
Transport
13. Therabbitmeatmustbedispatchedinsuchawaythatduringtransportitis
protectedfromanythingliabletocontaminateitortoaffectitunfavourably,
havingregard totheduration andconditions oftransportandtothemeansoftransportemployed.Inparticular,vehiclesusedforthistransportmustbe
equipped in such a way as to ensure that the temperatures laid down at
point12arenotexceeded.1991L0495—EN—01.01.1995—003.001—13
▼B
ANNEX II
MODEL
PUBLICHEALTHCERTIFICATE
1991L0495—EN—01.01.1995—003.001—14
▼B
1991L0495—EN—01.01.1995—003.001—15
▼B
ANNEX III
MODEL
HEALTHCERTIFICATE
1991L0495—EN—01.01.1995—003.001—16
▼B
ANNEX IV
MODEL
HEALTHCERTIFICATE
1991L0495—EN—01.01.1995—003.001—17
▼B
1991L0495—EN—01.01.1995—003.001—18