COMMISSION DECISION of 25 July 1997 on certain protective measures in respect of infectious anaemia in salmon in Norway (Text with EEA relevance) (97/586/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 amending Directives 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 (7) 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 (7) thereof,

Whereas, further to an outbreak of infectious salmon anaemia (ISA) in Norway, the Commission, by Decisions 95/118/EC (4) and 96/384/EC (5) has taken safeguard measures in order to prevent the introduction of that disease in the Community; whereas these measures applied until 1 July 1997;

Whereas during March 1997 new cases of ISA have been reported in Norway;

Whereas it is therefore necessary to re-establish these safeguard measures; whereas however the introduction into the Community of samples from Salmo Salar should be allowed for scientific purposes;

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

Member States shall prohibit imports of salmon of the Salmo salar species originating in Norway, whether live or slaughtered in the non-eviscerated state, as well as their viscera.

Article 2

1. Notwithstanding Article 1, imports of slaughtered and non-enviscerated salmon of the Salmo salar species originating in Norway shall be authorized provided the salmon come from the fish farms referred to in point 1 of Annex I and have been slaughtered and packaged in the establishments referred to in point 2 of Annex I, located along the Norwegian coast between the Swedish border and the border between the communes of Hå and Eigersund (region of Rogaland).

2. Packages containing the fish referred to in paragraph 1 must carry a label bearing the following:

- 'Whole salmon`,

- the codes of the farms and establishments as provided for in Annex I.

3. Consignments of salmon as referred to in paragraph 1 must be accompanied by a health certificate in accordance with the model in Annex II.

Article 3

In derogation to Article 1, Member States may allow the introduction of samples for scientific purposes.

Article 4

The Member States shall alter the measures they apply in trade in order to bring them into line with this Decision. They shall immediately inform the Commission thereof.

Article 5

This Decision shall apply until 1 July 1998.

Article 6

This Decision is addressed to the Member States.

Done at Brussels, 25 July 1997.

For the Commission

Franz FISCHLER

Member of the Commission

(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.

(4) OJ No L 80, 8. 4. 1995, p. 52.

(5) OJ No L 151, 26. 6. 1996, p. 35.

ANNEX I

HOLDINGS AND ESTABLISHMENTS LOCATED ALONG THE NORWEGIAN COAST BETWEEN THE SWEDISH BORDER AND THE BORDER BETWEEN THE COMMUNES OF HÅ AND EIGERSUND FROM WHICH SLAUGHTERED, NON-EVISCERATED SALMON MAY BE DISPATCHED TO THE COMMUNITY

1. Holdings

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2. Establishments

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ANNEX II

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