30. 12. 89 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 327/29 
Proposal for a Council Regulation (EEC) laying down general health rules for the production and 
placing on the market of products of animal origin and specific health rules for certain products of 
animal origin 
COM(89) 492 final 
(Submitted by the Commission on 30 October 1989) 
(89/C 327/04) 
THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES, 
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European 
Economic Community, and in particular Article 43 
thereof, 
Having regard to the proposal of the Commission, 
Having regard to the opinion of the European Parliament, 
Having regard to the opinion of the Economic and Social 
Committee, 
Whereas products of animal origin are included in the list of 
products in Annex II of the Treaty; whereas the production 
and placing on the market of products of animal origin 
constitutes a source of income for part of the farming 
population; 
Whereas, in order to ensure rational development of this 
sector and to increase productivity, public health rules 
concerning the production and placing on the market of 
products of animal origin must be laid down at Community 
level; 
Whereas the Community is to adopt measures designed to 
establish the internal market progressively over a period 
expiring on 31 December 1992; 
Whereas in this respect the free movement of agricultural 
products is a fundamental feature of the common 
organization of the markets and should facilitate the rational 
development of agricultural production and the use of the 
factors of production; 
Whereas products of animal origin must be treated 
hygienically in order to avoid public health hazards and 
whereas it is opportune to lay down general health rules to 
ensure that the consumers are offered safe and high quality 
products; 
Whereas specific Community health rules have been laid 
down for certain products of animal origin, in particular for 
meat, meat products, poultry meat, minced meat and 
heat-treated milk; whereas, in addition, it is necessary to lay 
down specific health rules for products of animal origin 
which are not yet subject to specific Community health 
rules; 
Whereas, it is necessary to ensure that only safe products of 
animal origin are placed on the market and to lay down procedures for the withdrawal of products of animal origin 
from the market, when they are likely to endanger the public 
health and to take necessary steps on Community level; 
Whereas the provisions of Chapter II of the present 
Regulation should be reviewed after adoption by the Council 
of horizontal hygiene legislation of foodstuffs; 
Whereas the Commission should be entrusted with the task 
of adopting measures for applying this Regulation, whereas, 
to that end, provisions should be made for procedures 
establishing close and effective cooperation between the 
Commission and the Member States within the Standing 
Veterinary Committee, 
HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION: 
CHAPTER I 
General provisions 
Article 1 
1. This Regulation lays down 
— general health rules for the production and placing on the 
market of products of animal origin, 
— specific health rules for the production and placing on the 
market of products of animal origin, which are not yet the 
subject of Community health rules. 
2. The provisions of the present Regulation shall apply 
without prejudice to future horizontal hygiene legislation on 
foodstuffs. 
Article 2 
For the purpose of this Regulation the following definitions 
shall apply: 
— 'products of animal origin' means products derived 
directly or indirectly from animals, whether processed or 
not and which are intended for human consumption, 
— 'animal' means all species of animal, 
No C 327/30 Official Journal of the European Communities 30. 12. 89 
— 'treatment' means treatment to ensure a certain degree of 
preservation. However, chilling or freezing alone are not 
regarded as treatment, 
— 'establishment' means any premise where products of 
animal origins are prepared, processed, wrapped, packed 
or stored, 
— 'competent authority' means the health authority 
designated by the Member State. 
CHAPTER II 
GENERAL HEALTH RULES 
Article 3 
Products of animal origin shall only be placed on the market 
or used as ingredients, if they: 
1. come from animals not suffering from diseases 
communicable to humans through the product of animal 
origin; 
2. are fit for their intended use and not likely to endanger 
human health; 
3. have been obtained under hygienic conditions and found 
fit for human consumption; 
4. satisfy the health rules of the Community, in particular 
those laid down in specific Community health rules or, in 
the absence thereof, in Chapter III. 
Article 4 
1. Manufacturers of products of animal origin shall adopt 
all necessary measures to prevent public health hazards; in 
particular they shall: 
— identify and monitor the critical hazard points in 
establishments, , 
— take samples for examination in a laboratory approved 
by the competent authority, in order to check the cleaning 
and disinfecting practices and to check compliance with 
the microbiological and other inspection criteria laid 
down in specific health rules or in accordance with 
Article 24, 
— record and keep the results of the various checks and tests 
for presentation to the competent authority, for a period 
of at least two years. 
2. When the laboratory examination or any other 
information at the manufacturer's disposal reveals that there 
is a serious health risk the management must immediately 
inform the competent authority, which shall take the 
necessary steps in accordance with Article 5. Article 5 
1. . Where any information at the manufacturer's disposal 
or inspections carried out by the competent authority reveal 
that there is an immediate human health risk the 
manufacturer must, at the request of the competent 
authority, withdraw the consignment concerned and, when 
necessary, other consignments from the market. The 
competent authority must immediately institute an 
investigation and must take adequate measures. Those 
measures may include a ban on the marketing of products 
until improvements required by the competent authority 
have been carried out. 
2. The competent authority shall take all necessary steps 
to ensure that consignments which have already been placed 
on the market are withdrawn. 
3. Any withdrawn consignment shall stay under the 
supervision and control of the competent authority until they 
are destroyed, used for purposes other than human 
consumption or, after authorization by the competent 
authority, reprocessed in an appropriate manner to ensure 
their safety. 
4. Rules for the application of this Article shall be 
established in accordance with the procedure laid down in 
Article 24. 
Article 6 
1. Each Member State shall immediately inform the 
Commission and the other Member States of the suspicion or 
presence on its territory of problems which are likely to pose 
a serious threat to public health. It shall also inform the 
Commission and the other Member States of the measure 
applied. These measures must be such as to prevent any 
threat to public health. 
2. Upon receipt of the information referred to .in 
paragraph 1 representatives of the Commission may, in 
cooperation with the competent authority, immediately visit 
the establishment or area concerned, and make an 
investigation. 
If the Commission considers that the measures applied under 
paragraph 1 are not sufficient, the Commission shall adopt a 
decision, as quickly as possible, imposing such measures as 
are considered appropriate to the situation. 
3. Rules for the application of this Article and in 
particular a list of health problems which are considered as 
serious, shall be established in accordance with the procedure 
laid down in Article 24. 
Article 7 
1. If a Member State considers that one of the situations 
referred to in Article 6(1) exist or might exist in another 
Member State and that the competent authority of that latter 
30. 12. 89 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 327/31 
Member State has not applied the appropriate measures, the 
Member State shall immediately inform the Commission. 
2. In the circumstances referred to in paragraph 1, the 
provisions of Article 6 (2) shall apply. 
Article 8 
1. As soon as possible, the Commission shall request the 
Committee provided for in Article 22 to examine the 
situation. The Commission may, under the procedure laid 
down in Article 23 confirm, amend or revoke the decision 
referred to in Article 6 (2), or may adopt a decision to impose 
on the Member State concerned such measures as are judged 
appropriate to the situation. 
2. In exceptionally serious circumstances, and in 
particular when the Member State concerned finds it 
impossible to apply the measures which are considered 
necessary, the Commission, under the procedure laid down 
in Article 23, may authorize other Member States to take 
appropriate measures. 
Article 9 
The Commission shall monitor the situation, if necessary by 
sending representatives to the establishment or area 
concerned, and, under the procedure laid down in Article 23, 
shall amend or revoke the decision mentioned in Article 6(2) 
and Article 7 in the light of developments. 
Article 10 
Where health problems occur or there is a risk of such 
problems occurring in several or all Member States the 
Commission, in accordance with the procedure laid down in 
Article 24, may adopt a decision to coordinate the necessary 
steps. 
This decision may include in particular: 
— information in respect of the situation in the Member 
States which needs to be submitted to the 
Commission, 
— a monitoring programme to be carried out by the 
Member States in respect of the presence of certain 
micro-organisms, residues or other harmful substances in 
products of animal origin in the different stages of 
production and distribution, 
— measures which shall be taken following the results of 
checks. 
Article 11 
The authorities of a Member State into whose territory the 
Commission considers it necessary to send representatives 
shall give all necessary assistance to the representatives to 
enable them to accomplish their objectives. Article 12 
The rules for the application of Articles 7 to 11 shall be 
established, where necessary, in accordance with the 
procedure laid down in Article 24. 
Article 13 
1. Without prejudice to the provisions laid down in 
specific Community health rules and in so far as health 
problems make this necessary, the Commission may, in 
accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 24, 
establish a list of national reference laboratories in the 
Community, designated by the Member States, in order to 
ensure uniform operation by the enforcement laboratories. 
2. In accordance with the same procedure, the 
Commission may designate, depending on the problem and 
the type of product, one or more Community reference 
laboratories. The powers and conditions of operations of the 
Community reference laboratories shall be established by the 
Commission in accordance with the procedure laid down in 
Article 24. 
Article 14 
The Commission may establish recommendations with 
guidelines for good manufacturing practices for the different 
stages of production and distribution. These 
recommendations may include detailed arrangements for the 
controls which should be carried out by manufacturers. 
Article IS 
The rules laid down in Council Regulation concerning 
veterinary checks in intra-Community trade, with a view to 
the realization of the internal market shall apply, in 
particular with respect to the organization of, and the action 
to be taken following, the checks carried out by the Member 
State of destination, and the safeguard measures to be 
applied. 
CHAPTER HI 
Specific health rules 
Article 16 
1. The provisions of Articles 17, 18 and 19 apply to 
products of animal origin which are not yet the subject of 
specific Community health rules. 
2. Insofar as this is necessary for the uniform application 
of this Regulation, the Commission may, in accordance with 
No C 327/32 Official Journal of the European Communities 30. 12. 89 
the procedure laid down in Article 24, establish a list of 
products of animal origin referred to in paragraph 1 or 
amend this list. 
Article 17 
The following conditions apply to the production and 
placing on the market of products of animal origin referred to 
in Article 16 (1). 
1. The establishment in which they have been prepared, 
processed or packed, must have been inspected in 
accordance with Article 18 to ensure compliance with 
the requirements laid down in Chapters I and II of the 
Annex; 
2. the products must have been checked in accordance with 
Chapter HI of the Annex; 
3. the products, if packed, must have been packed in 
accordance with Chapter IV of the Annex; 
4. the products must be labelled in accordance with 
Chapter V of the Annex; 
5. the products must be transported and stored in 
accordance with Chapter VI of the Annex; 
Article 18 
1. For the purpose of inspection and in order to be able to 
trace back to the establishment of origin, the Member States 
shall register all establishments, each of which they shall give 
an official number. The registers shall be kept up to date. 
2. The inspection and monitoring of establishments shall 
be carried out by the competent authority, which shall at all 
times have free access to all parts of establishments, in order 
to ensure compliance with the requirements of this 
Regulation. 
3. If such inspections reveal that not all the requirements 
of this Regulation are being met, the competent authority 
shall take appropriate action. 
4. The analyses and tests must be carried out in 
accordance with proven and scientifically recognized 
methods, in particular those laid down in Community 
provisions or other international standards. 
5. The Commission shall establish the reference methods 
in accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 24. 
Article 19 
1. Veterinary experts from the Commission may, in so far 
as it is necessary to ensure uniform application of this 
Regulation, make on-the-spot checks; they may, in 
particular, verify whether establishments are actually 
complying with this Regulation. The Commission shall 
inform the Member States of the results of the 
investigations. A Member State in whose territory a check is being carried 
out shall give all the necessary assistance to the experts 
carrying out their duties. 
The general provisions for implementing this Article shall be 
determined in accordance with the procedure laid down in 
Article 24. 
2. The Member State concerned shall take all measures 
necessary to take account of the results of the checks referred 
to in paragraph 1. If the Member State fails to take those 
measures, the Commission may, in accordance with the 
procedure laid down in Article 23, prohibit the placing on 
the market of products of animal origin coming from the 
establishment which no longer complies with the provisions 
of this Regulation. 
CHAPTER IV 
Final provisions 
Article 20 
The Annex shall be amended by the Commission in 
accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 24 in 
order, in particular, to bring it into line with technological 
progress. 
Article 21 
Until the implementation of Community rules concerning the 
importationn of products of animal origin from third 
countries, Member States shall apply to such imports 
conditions at least equivalent to those laid down in this 
Regulation. 
Article 22 
The Commission shall be assisted by the Standing Veterinary 
Committee set up by Council Decision 68/361/EEC (*), 
hereinafter referred to as 'the Committee'. 
Article 23 
1. Where the procedure laid down in this Article is to be 
followed, the following provisions shall apply. 
2. The representative of the Commission shall submit to 
the Committee a draft of the measures to be taken. The 
Committee shall deliver its opinion on the draft within a time 
limit which the chairman may lay down according to the 
urgency of the matter. The opinion shall be delivered by the 
majority laid down in Article 148 (2) of the Treaty in the case 
of decisions which the Council is required to adopt on a 
proposal from the Commission. The votes of the 
H OJNoL255, 18. 10. 1968, p. 23. 
30. 12. 89 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 327/33 
representatives of the Member States within the Committee 
shall be weighted in the manner set out in that Article. The 
chairman shall not vote. 
3. The Commission shall adopt the measures envisaged if 
they are in accordance with the opinion of the 
Committee. 
4. If the measures envisaged are not in accordance with 
the opinion of the Committee, or if no opinion is delivered, 
the Commission shall, without delay, submit to the Council a 
proposal relating to the measures to be taken. The Council 
shall act by a qualified majority. 
If, on the expiry of a period of fifteen days from the date of 
referral to the Council, the Council has not acted, the 
proposed measures shall be adopted by the Commission. 
Article 24 
1. Where the procedure laid down in this Article is to be 
followed, the following provisions shall apply. 
2. The representative of the Commission shall submit to 
the Committee a draft of the measures to be taken. The 
Committee shall deliver its opinion on the draft within a time 
limit which the chairman may lay down according to the 
urgency of the matter. The opinion shall be delivered by the 
majority laid down in Article 148 (2) of the Treaty in the case 
of decisions which the Council is required to adopt on a proposal from the Commission. The votes of the 
representatives of the Member States within the Committee 
shall be weighted in the manner set out in that Article. The 
chairman shall not vote. 
3. The Commission shall adopt the measures envisaged if 
they are in accordance with the opinion of the 
Committee. 
4. If the measures envisaged are not in accordance with 
the opinion of the Committee, or if no opinion is delivered, 
the Commission shall, without delay, submit to the Council a 
proposal relating to the measures to be taken. The Council 
shall act by a qualified majority. 
If, on the expiry of a period of three months from the date of 
referral to the Council, the Council has not acted, the 
proposed measures shall be adopted by the Commission. 
Article 25 
This Regulation shall enter into force on the 30th day 
following its publications in the Official journal of the 
European Communities. 
It shall apply from 1 January 1993. 
This Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly 
applicable in all Member States. 
ANNEX 
CHAPTER I 
General requirements for establishments and cold stores 
Establishments must have at least: 
1. Working areas of adequate size to enable the work to be carried out under suitable conditions. They must be 
designed and arranged to avoid contamination of the product. If necessary, there shall be separate rooms to 
facilitate hygienic operations and to prevent recontamination of the finished product. 
2. In areas where products are prepared, treated or processed: 
(a) waterproof flooring which is easy to clean and disinfect and laid down in such a way as to facilitate the 
draining of water, or provided with equipment to remove water; 
(b) smooth, durable, impermeable walls with a light-coloured, washable coatingup to a height of two metres. 
Wall to floor junctions must be rounded or similarly finished; 
(c) doors in material that does not deteriorate, and if of wood, with a smooth and impermeable covering on 
both sides; 
(d) a clean and easily-cleaned ceiling or, failing that, a roof covering with an interior surface which fulfils 
these conditions; 
No C 327/34 Official Journal of the European Communities 30. 12. 89 
(e) insulation materials which are rot-proof and odourless; 
(f) adequate ventilation and where necessary good extraction of steam; 
(g) adequate natural or artificial lighting; 
(h) a sufficient number of facilities for cleaning and disinfecting hands and for cleaning tools with hot water. 
For washing hands, these facilities must have hot and cold running water, cleaning and disinfecting 
products and hygienic means of drying hands. Taps, to be used by persons who manipulate unwrapped 
products, must not be hand or arm operable. 
3. An adequate number of changing rooms with smooth, waterproof, washable walls and floors, washbasins 
and flush lavatories. The latter must not open directly into the work rooms. Facilities for washing hands shall 
meet the requirements of paragraph 2 (h). 
4. Adequate facilities for cleaning and disinfecting equipment and utensils. 
5. A sufficient capacity for the storage of the product under appropriate circumstances. Cold stores must meet 
hygienic requirements. 
6. A waste water disposal system which meets hygienic requirements. 
7. Equipment supplying exclusively potable water within the meaning of Directive 80/778/EEC (J) relating to 
the quality of water intended for human consumption. 
However, the use of non-potable water is authorized as an exception for steam production, fire fighting and for 
cooling purposes, provided that the pipes installed for this preclude the use of this water for other purposes and 
present no risk for direct or indirect contamination of the product. Pipes carrying non potable water must be 
clearly distinguished from those carrying potable water. 
8. Installations and equipment for the preparation of products of animal origin must be kept in a good state of 
repair and must meet the following requirements: 
(a) equipment, piping and instruments or their surfaces which are intended to come into direct contact with 
the product must be made of smooth material, which is easy to clean and disinfect, resistant to corrosion 
and does not transfer substances to the product in such quantities as to endanger human health, cause 
deterioration in the composition of the product or affect its organoleptic characteristics; 
(b) cold and freezing stores must be equipped with apparatus to measure and register the temperature; 
(c) heat treatment installations must be fitted with appropriate instruments to control and to register the 
processing temperature and time. 
9. The establishment must have its own laboratory or make use of the services of a laboratory organized and 
equipped in such a way that it is, in the opinion of the competent authority, able to make the necessary 
analysis. 
10. Cold stores and freezing stores not belonging to the premises of an establishment and where unpacked 
products of animal origin are stored shall meet hygienic requirements. 
CHAPTER II 
Hygiene requirements relating to the establishment, equipment and staff of establishments 
1. The highest degree of cleanliness shall be required of staff, premises, installations and equipment: 
(a) staff who treat or handle products of animal origin must in particular wear clean working clothes; they must 
also have clean hands. Smoking shall be forbidden in the areas where products of animal origin are handled or 
stored; 
(b) no animal, with exception of animals for slaughtering, may enter the establishments. Any rodents, insects or 
other vermin found should be systematically destroyed; 
(J) OJ No L 229, 30. 8. 1980, p. 11. 
30. 12. 89 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 327/35 
(c) equipment, containers, tanks and installations which come into contact with products of animal origin must 
be maintained in a clean condition and must be washed, cleaned and disinfected when necessary, and, if 
perishable products are prepared, at least each working day; 
(d) reusable packages must be washed, cleaned and disinfected before they are used again; 
(e) any person who is a possible source of contamination, in particular through pathogenic agents, shall be 
prohibited from working with unpacked products of animal origin. 
2. Staff must carry out all operations hygienically. Adequate measures must have been taken to protect the 
product of animal origin from recontamination after treatment. If necessary, the end product shall be wrapped 
immediately after the preparation has been completed. 
3. Raw materials, food ingredients, additives and other agents for the preparation of the products, must be in 
good condition and comply with the relevant legislation. 
In working areas, no products, additives or chemicals, may be present unless they are for the preparation of the 
products of animal origin, for cleaning or for maintenance of equipment and installations. 
4. Chemicals used for cleaning and disinfecting must be approved for that purpose. 
5. The premises, installations and equipment may only be used for the production of products not intended for 
human consumption under the following conditions: 
(i) the storage of raw materials, unfit for human consumption, and the preparation and the storage of products, 
unfit for human consumption, must be adequately separated in time or place from those for human 
consumption; 
(ii) equipment which has been in contact with material unfit for human consumption must be cleaned and 
disinfected before it is reused for the preparation of products of animal origin intended for human 
consumption; 
(iii) the raw materials and the final products must be clearly identified as being unfit for human 
consumption. 
6. Any person employed in the preparation and packaging of products of animal origin shall be required to 
show a medical certificate indicating that there is no impediment to such employment. The medical certificate shall 
be renewed every year, unless some other staff medical check-up scheme offering equivalent guarantees is 
recognized in accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 24. 
CHAPTER III 
Health control and supervision of production 
A control system shall be established by the competent authority. This control system shall include in 
particular: 
1. An inspection of establishments at regular intervals to verify in particular: 
(a) compliance with the condition relating to premises, rooms, installations and equipment; 
(b) the cleanliness of the establishments, facilities and equipment and to check on staff hygiene; 
(c) — whether the raw materials are sound and fit for their intended use; 
— whether the products are handled correctly; 
— the microbiological and hygienic condition of the products of animal origin; 
— the presence of any residues of substances having a pharmacological or hormonal effect, and of 
antibiotics, detergents or other substances which are harmful or liable to render their consumption 
dangerous or harmful to human health, where those residues exceed the permitted levels. 
— whether the marks are applied correctly. 
2. Checks on the storage and transport conditions. 
No C 327/36 Official Journal of the European Communities 30. 12. 89 
CHAPTER IV 
Wrapping and packaging 
1. Wrapping and packaging shall be carried out under satisfactory hygiene conditions, avoiding contamination 
of the products of animal origin. 
2. Wrapping and packaging materials shall comply with all the hygiene rules, and in particular: 
— they must not be such as to alter the organoleptic characteristics of the products, 
— they must not be capable of transmitting to the products substances harmful to human health, and must comply 
with Council Directive 76/893/EEC (') relating to materials and articles intended to come into contact with 
foodstuffs, 
— they must be strong enough to protect the products adequately. 
3. Wrapping and packaging materials may not be reused for the preparations and the products, with the 
exception of containers made of corrosion resistant material which may be reused after cleaning and 
disinfecting. 
4. Unused materials for wrapping and packaging must be stored in a separate area away from the production 
area and be protected from dirt and contamination. 
CHAPTER V 
Marking of products of animal origin 
1. Without prejudice to the requirements laid down in Directive 79/112/EEC relating to the labelling, 
presentation and advertising of foodstuffs for sale to the ultimate consumers (2), it must be possible to trace back 
for inspection purposes the establishment of production and the batch of production. 
For this purpose each package of product of animal origin leaving the establishment shall, under the responsibility 
of the competent authority, be marked with: 
(a) a batch identification; 
(b) the identification of the establishment of production by means of 
(i) an oval surround containing the initials in Latin script (in capitals) of the country of production, i.e. B, 
DK, D, EL, ESP, F, IRL, I, L, NL, P or UK, followed by 
— the registration number of the establishment of production, and 
— one of the following sets of initials: CEE, EEG, EWG, EOF, EEC or EOK, 
— the letters and figures must be at least 0,2 cm high; 
or 
(ii) the mention of name and address of the producer, in accordance with Directive 79/112/EEC. 
When the product is transported unwrapped the information, referred to in (a) and (b) and the nature of the 
products, shall be given in accompanying documents. 
CHAPTER VI 
Storage and transport requirements 
1. Products of animal origin which cannot be stored at ambient temperature must be stored at the temperatures 
established by the manufacturer to ensure their durability. When stored under cooled conditions the storage 
temperatures must be registered and the cooling rate must be such that the product reaches the required 
temperature as quickly as possible. 
I1) OJ No L 340, 9. 12. 1976, p. 19. 
(2) OJNoL33, 8. 2. 1979, p. 2. 
30. 12. 89 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 327/37 
2. Vehicles and containers for the transport of perishable products of animal origin must be designed and 
equipped in such a way that the temperature required can be maintained throughout the period of transport. 
3. Products of animal origin must be dispatched in such a way that they are protected from anything liable to 
contaminate them or to affect them adversely, having regard to the duration and conditions of transport and the 
means of transport employed. 
4. In accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 24, the Commission may establish additional 
conditions for the storage and transport of specific products of animal origin. 
Proposal for a Council Decision concerning safeguard measures in the veterinary field in the 
framework of the internal market 
COM(89) 493 final 
(Submitted by the Commission on 30 October 1989) 
(89/C 327/05) 
THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES, 
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European 
Economic Community, and in particular Article 43 
thereof, 
Having regard to the proposal from the Commission, 
Having regard to the opinion of the European Parliament, 
Having regard to the opinion of the Economic and Social 
Committee, 
Whereas the Community is to adopt measures designed to 
establish the internal market progressively over a period 
expiring on 31 December 1992; 
Whereas the harmonious operation of the common 
organization of the market in livestock, livestock products, 
products of animal origin and, in certain circumstances, 
plants implies the dismantling of veterinary barriers to the 
development of intra-Community trade in the products 
concerned; whereas in this respect the free movement of 
agricultural products is a fundamental feature of the 
common organization of markets and should facilitate the 
rational development of agricultural production and the 
optimum use of the factors of production; 
Whereas, however, in the veterinary sector provision must be 
made for safeguard measures, in order to protect human and 
animal health from any risk arising from the spread of serious 
animal diseases; 
Whereas the Commission has proposed to the Council a 
Regulation (EEC) concerning veterinary checks in 
intra-Community trade with a view to the completion of the internal market (J); whereas that proposal provides, in 
particular, for interim safeguard measures to be taken; 
Whereas it is now appropriate to set out the safeguard 
measures which will apply in the framework of the single 
market; 
Whereas the harmonious and effective operation of such 
measures requires that restrictions must be imposed by the 
Member State in which an outbreak or suspected outbreak of 
disease occurs; 
Whereas, in order to give all Member States the appropriate 
guarantees, it is necessary to provide for stricter control by 
the Commission; 
Whereas provision should be made for establishing close and 
effective cooperation between the Commission and the 
Member States within the Standing Veterinary 
Committee, 
HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION: 
Article 1 
1. Each Member State shall immediately notify the other 
Member States and the Commission of any outbreak or 
suspected outbreak in its territory of an animal disease likely 
to constitute a serious threat to animals, or of an animal 
disease which is transmissible to humans and which 
constitutes a serious hazard to public health. It shall also 
notify the Commission and the other Member States of the 
measures it has taken. The latter must be such as to prevent 
the disease from streading in the Community, and to prevent 
the risk to public health. 
(M OJ No C 225, 31. 8. 1988, p. 4.