Proposal for a European Parliament and Council Directive amending Directive 89/662/EEC concerning veterinary checks in intra-Community trade with a view to the completion of the internal market, in order to reinforce checking (98/C 13/06) COM(97) 643 final - 97/0334(COD)

(Submitted by the Commission on 3 December 1997)

THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, and in particular Article 100a thereof,

Having regard to the proposal from the Commission,

Having regard to the opinion of the Economic and Social Committee,

Acting in accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 189b of the Treaty,

Whereas as a result of the BSE crisis there is a clear desire that veterinary checks should be made more stringent; whereas this will require improved exchange of information between Member States' competent authorities;

Whereas Article 20 of Council Directive 90/425/EEC of 26 June 1990 concerning veterinary and zootechnical checks applicable in intra-Community trade in certain live animals and products with a view to the completion of the internal market (1), as last amended by Council Directive 92/118/EEC (2), charged the Commission with introduction of a computerized system linking veterinary authorities (ANIMO);

Whereas the possibility should be introduced of using the ANIMO system for intra-Community trade in animal products covered by Council Directive 89/662/EEC of 11 December 1989, concerning veterinary checks in intra-Community trade with a view to the completion of the internal market (3), as last amended by Directive 92/118/EEC;

Whereas since the veterinary control arrangements for intra-Community trade in animal products have implications for protection of public health and operation of the internal market, Article 100a of the Treaty should be used as a legal basis,

HAVE ADOPTED THIS DIRECTIVE:

Article 1

The following Article 12 is inserted in Directive 89/662/EEC:

'Article 12

1. The ANIMO computerized system linking veterinary authorities may if necessary be extended through the procedure laid down in Article 18 to intra-Community trade in animal products covered by this Directive.

2. Any rules of application required for the purposes of paragraph 1 shall be set through the procedure laid down in Article 18.`

Article 2

1. Member States shall bring into force the legislative, regulatory and administrative provisions necessary to comply with this Directive by 1 July 1998 at the latest. They shall forthwith inform the Commission thereof.

When Member States adopt these provisions, they shall contain a reference to this Directive or shall be accompanied by such reference at the time of their official publication. The procedure for such reference shall be adopted by Member States.

2. Member States shall notify to the Commission the texts of the main provisions of national law which they adopt in the field governed by this Directive.

Article 3

This Directive shall enter into force on the day of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Communities.

Article 4

This Directive is addressed to the Member States.

(1) OJ L 224, 18.8.1990, p. 29.

(2) OJ L 62, 15.3.1993, p. 49.

(3) OJ L 395, 30.12.1989, p. 13.