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COMMISSION DECISION

of 9 December 1981

concerning animal health conditions and veterinary certification for imports of fresh meat from Poland

(82/9/EEC)

THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN

COMMUNITIES,

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Economic Community,

Having regard to Council Directive 72/462/EEC of 12 December 1972 on health and veterinary inspection problems upon importation of bovine animals and swine and fresh meat from third countries (1), as last amended by Directive 81/476/EEC (2), and in particular Article 16 thereof,

Whereas it is necessary to lay down health requirements for imports of fresh meat from Poland;

Whereas following a Community veterinary mission it appears that the animal health situation in Poland compares favourably with that of most of the Community countries, particularly as regards diseases transmissible through meat;

Whereas, in addition, the responsible veterinary authorities of Poland have confirmed that Poland has for at least 12 months been free from rinderpest, exotic and classical foot-and-mouth disease, classical and African swine fever, contagious porcine paralysis (Teschen disease) and swine vesicular disease and that no vaccinations have been carried out against those diseases during that time with the exception of classical foot-and-mouth disease and classical swine fever; whereas animals vaccinated against foot-and-mouth disease and classical swine fever are present in Poland;

Whereas the responsible veterinary authorities of Poland have undertaken to notify the Commission and the Member States, by telex or telegram, within 24 hours, of confirmation of the occurrence of any of the abovementioned diseases or an alteration in vaccination policy against them;

Whereas animal health conditions and veterinary certification must be adapted in the light of the animal health situation of the non-member country concerned;

Whereas certain Member States, because of their particular animal health situations concerning foot-and-mouth disease and swine fever, benefit from special provisions in intra-Community trade and should therefore also be authorized to apply special provisions in respect of imports from non-member countries; whereas these provisions must be at least as strict as those which the same Member States apply in intra-Community trade;

Whereas it will be necessary to re-examine this Decision with a view to its adaptation to Community rules concerning the control and eradication of foot-and-mouth disease and swine fever within the Community;

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

1. Member States shall authorize the importation of the following categories of fresh meat from Poland:

(a) fresh meat of domestic animals of the bovine, porcine, ovine or caprine species, conforming to the guarantees laid down in the animal health certificate in accordance with Annex A, which must accompany the consignment;

(b) fresh meat of domestic solipeds, conforming to the guarantees laid down in the animal health certificate in accordance with Annex B, which must accompany the consignment;

2. Member States shall not authorize the importation of categories of fresh meat from Poland other than those referred to in paragraph 1.

Article 2

1. Until the adoption by the Council of rules concerning the control and eradication of foot-and-mouth disease within the Community, and while continuing to prohibit vaccination against foot-and-mouth disease, Ireland and the United Kingdom in respect of Northern Ireland may, in respect of fresh meat of bovine animals, swine, sheep and goats referred to under Article 1 (1) (a), retain national animal health rules relating to protection against foot-and-mouth disease.

2. For so long as they remain officially free from swine fever, Denmark, Ireland and the United Kingdom may, in respect of fresh meat of swine referred to under Article 1 (1) (a), retain national animal health rules relating to protection against swine fever.

Article 3

This Decision shall not apply to imports of glands and organs authorized by the country of destination for pharmaceutical manufacturing purposes.

Article 4

This Decision shall be re-examined with a view to its adaptation to Community rules concerning the control and eradication of foot-and-mouth disease and swine fever within the Community.

Article 5

This Decision shall apply from 1 July 1982.

Article 6

This Decision is addressed to the Member States.

Done at Brussels, 9 December 1981.

For the Commission

Poul DALSAGER

Member of the Commission

(1) OJ No L 302, 31. 12. 1972, p. 28.

(2) OJ No L 186, 8. 7. 1981, p. 20.

ANNEX A

ANIMAL HEALTH CERTIFICATE

for fresh meat (1) of domestic animals of the bovine, porcine, ovine and caprine species intended for consignment to the European Economic Community

Country of destination

Reference number of the public health certificate (2)

Exporting country, Poland

Ministry

Department

Reference

(Optional)

I. Identification of meat

Meat of

(Animal species)

Nature of cuts

Nature of packaging

Number of cuts or packages

Net weight

II. Origin of meat

Address(es) and veterinary approval number(s) (2) of the approved slaughterhouse(s)

Address(es) and veterinary approval number(s) (2) of the approved cutting plant(s)

III. Destination of meat

The meat will be sent from:

(Place of loading)

to:

(Country and place of destination)

by the following means of transport (3)

Name and address of consignor

Name and address of consignee

IV. Attestation of health

I, the undersigned, official veterinarian, certify that:

1. the fresh meat described above is obtained from:

- animals which have remained in the territory of Poland for at least three months before being slaughtered or since birth in the case of animals less than three months old,

- animals which come from holdings in which there has been no outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease in the previous 30 days, and around which within a radius of 10 km there has been no case of foot-and-mouth disease for 30 days,

- animals which have been transported to the approved (1) slaughterhouse concerned without contact with animals which do not comply with the conditions required for export of their meat to the Community, and, if conveyed in a means of transport, that the latter has been cleaned and disinfected before loading,

- animals which have passed the ante-mortem health inspection referred to in Chapter V of Annex B to Directive 72/462/EEC at the slaughterhouse during the 24 hours before slaughter and have showed no evidence of foot-and-mouth disease,

- in the case of fresh meat from swine, animals which come from holdings in which there has been no outbreak of swine vesicular disease in the previous 30 days or of swine fever in the previous 40 days and around which within a radius of 10 km there has been no case of these diseases for 30 days,

- in the case of fresh meat from swine, animals which have not come from a holding which for health reasons is subject to prohibition as a result of an outbreak of porcine brucellosis during the previous six weeks;

- in the case of fresh meat from sheep and goats, animals which have not come from a holding which for health reasons is subject to prohibition as a result of an outbreak of ovine or caprine brucellosis during the previous six weeks;

2. the fresh meat described above is obtained from an establishment or establishments in which, after a case of foot-and-mouth disease has been diagnosed, further preparation of meat for export to the Community has been authorized only after slaughter of all animals present, removal of all meat, and the total cleaning and disinfection of the establishments under the control of an official veterinarian.

Done at on

(Signature of official veterinarian)

Seal

(1) Fresh meat means all parts fit for human consumption from domestic animals of the bovine, porcine, ovine and caprine species which have not undergone any preserving process; however, chilled and frozen meat shall be considered as fresh meat.

(2) Optional when the country of destination authorizes the importation of fresh meat for uses other than human consumption in application of Article 19a of Directive 72/462/EEC.

(3) For railway wagons or lorries the registration number should be given, for aircraft the flight number and for ships the name.

(1) Optional when the country of destination authorizes the importation of fresh meat for uses other than human consumption in application of Article 19a of Directive 72/462/EEC.

ANNEX B

ANIMAL HEALTH CERTIFICATE

for fresh meat (1) of domestic solipeds intended for consignment to the European Economic Community

Country of destination

Reference number of the public health certificate (2)

Exporting country, Poland

Ministry

Department

Reference

(Optional)

I. Identification of meat

Meat of Domestic Solipeds

Nature of cuts

Nature of packaging

Number of cuts or packages

Net weight

II. Origin of meat

Address(es) and veterinary approval number(s) (2) of the approved slaughterhouse(s)

Address(es) and veterinary approval number(s) (2) of the approved cutting plant(s)

III. Destination of meat

The meat will be sent from:

(Place of loading)

to:

(Country and place of destination)

by the following means of transport (3)

Name and address of consignor

Name and address of consignee

IV. Attestation of health

I, the undersigned, official veterinarian, certify that the fresh meat described above is obtained from animals which have remained in the territory of Poland for at least three months before being slaughtered or since birth in the case of animals less than three months old.

Done at on

(Signature of official veterinarian)

Seal

(1) Fresh meat means all parts fit for human consumption from domestic solipeds which have not undergone any preserving process; however, chilled and frozen meat shall be considered as fresh meat.

(2) Optional when the country of destination authorizes the importation of fresh meat for uses other than human consumption in application of Article 19a of Directive 72/462/EEC.

(3) For railway wagons or lorries the registration number should be given, for aircraft the flight number and for ships the name.