Proposal for a Council Decision concerning the conclusion of a Protocol on veterinary matters to supplement the Agreement in the form of an Exchange of Letters between the European Economic Community and the Principality of Andorra (96/C 373/05) COM(96) 537 final - 96/0262(ACC)

(Submitted by the Commission on 31 July 1996) THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, and in particular Article 113 thereof,

Having regard to the proposal from the Commission,

Having regard to the opinion of the European Parliament,

Whereas the Protocol on veterinary matters supplementing the Agreement in the form of an Exchange of Letters between the European Economic Community and the Principality of Andorra, signed on . . ., should be approved,

HAS DECIDED AS FOLLOWS:

Article 1

The Protocol on veterinary matters supplementing the Agreement in the form of an Exchange of Letters between the European Economic Community and the Principality of Andorra is hereby approved on behalf of the Community.

The text of the Protocol is attached to this Decision.

Article 2

The President of the Council shall undertake the notification provided for in Article 4 of the Protocol.

Article 3

This Decision shall be published in the Official Journal of the European Communities. It shall take effect on the first day of the month following its publication.

PROTOCOL on veterinary matters supplementary to the Agreement in the form of an Exchange of Letters between the European Economic Community and the Principality of Andorra

THE PRINCIPALITY OF ANDORRA

and

THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITY

Having regard to the Agreement, in the form of an Exchange of Letters between the European Economic Community and the Principality of Andorra, signed in Luxembourg on 28 June 1990,

Desiring to maintain traditional flows of trade in live animals and animal products between Andorra and the European Community,

Whereas such trade should accordingly be conducted in compliance with Community veterinary rules;

Whereas, to this end, the Agreement between the European Economic Community and the Principality of Andorra should be supplemented,

HAVE AGREED UPON THE FOLLOWING PROVISIONS:

Article 1

The Principality of Andorra undertakes to apply Community veterinary rules in respect of the following:

I. preventive measures/notification of diseases;

II. animal health: trade and placing on the market (except third countries);

III. animal health protective measures for animal health products (except third countries);

IV. public health protective measures: rules governing placing on the market (except third countries);

V. hormones, residues, BST, zoonoses, animal residues, medicated feed;

VI. imports from third countries;

VII. inspection, animal identification, mutual assistance;

VIII. animal science (including provisions in respect of third countries);

IX. animal protection;

X. institutional matters (primarily concerning procedures for the ongoing incorporation of Community veterinary law into Andorran law).

Article 2

A list of the Community veterinary provisions to be applied by Andorra shall be drawn up by the Joint Committee set up under Article 17 of the Agreement between the European Economic Community and the Principality of Andorra.

A veterinary subgroup shall be set up under the Joint Committee. It shall periodically examine the situation concerning Community law applicable to Andorra. If necessary, the subgroup shall make recommendations to the Joint Committee with a view to amending or updating the legislation in question.

Article 3

This Protocol shall form an integral part of the Agreement.

Article 4

This Protocol shall be approved by the Contracting Parties in accordance with their own procedures. It shall enter into force on the first day of the second month following notification of the completion of such procedures by the Contracting Parties.

Article 5

This Protocol is drawn up in two copies in the Danish, Dutch, English, French, Finnish, German, Greek, Italian, Portuguese, Spanish, Swedish and Catalan languages, each text being equally authentic.