COMMISSION DECISION of 14 June 1996 laying down animal health conditions and veterinary certificates for the importation of fresh poultrymeat from the Czech Republic (96/387/EC)

THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,

Having regard to Council Directive 91/494/EEC of 26 June 1991 on animal health conditions governing intra-Community trade in and imports from third countries of fresh poultrymeat (1), as last amended by Directive 93/121/EC (2), and in particular Article 10 (1) b, Article 11 and Article 12 thereof,

Whereas Commission Decision 94/85/EC (3), as last amended by Decision 96/2/EC (4), established a list of third countries, including the Czech Republic, from which the importation of fresh poultrymeat is authorized;

Whereas the Czech Republic is no longer free from Newcastle disease;

Whereas, however, the Czech Republic applies measures to control Newcastle disease which are at least equivalent to those laid down in Council Directive 92/66/EEC (5), as last amended by the Act of Accession of Austria, Finland and Sweden;

Whereas it is appropriate on this basis to allow the importation of fresh poultrymeat from the Czech Republic; whereas therefore the animal health conditions and the veterinary certificates must be laid down;

Whereas it is appropriate to restrict the scope of this Decision to poultry species covered by Council Directive 71/118/EEC (6), as amended and updated by Directive 92/116/EEC (7), and, if necessary, to lay down the animal health conditions and veterinary certification for other poultry species in a separate Decision;

Whereas this Decision applies without prejudice to measures taken for poultrymeat imported for other purposes than human consumption;

Whereas the measures provided for in this Decision are in accordance with the opinion of the Standing Veterinary Committee,

HAS ADOPTED THE FOLLOWING DECISION:

Article 1

Member States shall authorize the import of fresh poultry-meat from the Czech Republic, provided that it meets the requirements of the animal health certificate set out in the Annex and that it is accompanied by such a certificate, duly completed and signed.

Article 2

This Decision is addressed to the Member States.

Done at Brussels, 14 June 1996.

For the Commission

Franz FISCHLER

Member of the Commission

(1) OJ No L 268, 24. 9. 1991, p. 35.

(2) OJ No L 340, 31. 12. 1993, p. 39.

(3) OJ No L 44, 17. 2. 1994, p. 31.

(4) OJ No L 1, 3. 1. 1996, p. 6.

(5) OJ No L 260, 5. 9. 1992, p. 1.

(6) OJ No L 55, 8. 3. 1971, p. 23.

(7) OJ No L 62, 15. 3. 1993, p. 1.

ANNEX

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16. Health attestation:

I, the undersigned official veterinarian, hereby certify, in accordance with the provisions of Directive 91/494/EEC:

1. that the Czech Republic is free from avian influenza as defined in the International Animal Health Code of OIE;

2. that the meat described above is obtained from poultry which:

(a) have been held in the territory of the Czech Republic since hatching or have been imported as day-old chicks;

(b) came from holdings:

- which have not been placed under animal health restrictions in connection with a poultry disease,

- around which, within a radius of 10 km, there have been no outbreaks of avian influenza or Newcastle disease for at least 30 days;

(c) have not been slaughtered in the context of any animal health scheme for the control or eradication of poultry diseases;

(d) have not been vaccinated against Newcastle disease using a live vaccine during the 30 days preceding slaughter;

(e) during transport to the slaughterhouse did not come into contact with poultry suffering from avian influenza or Newcastle disease;

3. that the meat described above:

(a) comes from slaughterhouses which, at the time of slaughter, are not under restrictions due to a suspect or actual outbreak of avian influenza or Newcastle disease and around which, within a radius of 10 km, there have been no outbreaks of avian influenza or Newcastle disease for at least 30 days;

(b) has not been in contact, at any time of slaughter, cutting, storage or transport with meat which does not fulfil the requirements of Directive 91/494/EEC.

Done at , on (signature of official veterinarian) (1)

Seal (1)

(name in capital letters, qualifications and title)

(1) Stamp and signature in a colour different to that of the printing.

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