COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES 
COM(92) 211 final 
Brussels, 2 June 1992 
Proposal for a 
COUNCIL DIRECTIVE 
amending Directive 89/662/EEC concerning veterinary checks in 
intra-Community trade with a view to the completion 
of the internal market 
(presented by the Commission) 
- 2 -
EXPLANATORY MEMORANDUM 
Under 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 market1, the veterinary checks on certain animal 
products are no longer to be carried out at the Community's internal 
frontiers. 
The Directive however 
- leaves open the rules applicable on expiry of certain provisions 
(Article 14 for products listed in Annex B; Articles 20 and 21 for 
certain requirements) 
- makes provision for certain specific checks on products from third 
countries. 
Further, the fourth paragraph of Article 21 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^ provides for inclusion within the scope of Directives 
89/662/EEC or 90/425/EEC of animals and animal products not covered by 
them. 
The attached proposal is for all veterinary checks at internal frontiers 
and animal products to be discontinued from 1 July 1992. This is 
possible because of the considerable progress made on veterinary 
harmonisation, particularly as regards 
- veterinary checks on products from third countries (Council 
Directive 90/675/EEC of 10 December 1990 laying down the principles 
governing the organization of veterinary checks on products 
entering the Community from third countries-*), 
1 OJ No L 395, 30.12.1989, p. 13. 
2 OJ NO L 224, 18.8.1990, p. 29. 
3 OJ No L 373, 31.12.1990, p. 1. 
- 3 -
control of foot-and-mouth disease (Council Directive 90/423/EEC of 
26 June 1990 amending Directive 85/511/EEC introducing Community 
measures for the control of foot-and-mouth disease, Directive 
64/432/EEC on animal health problems affecting intra-Community 
trade in bovine animals and swine and Directive 72/462/EEC on 
health and veterinary inspection problems upon importation of 
bovine animals and swine and fresh meat or meat products from third 
countries^) and of swine fever (Council Directive .../.../EEC of 
amending Directive 80/217/EEC introducing Community 
measures for the control of classical swine fever5). 
4 OJ No L 224, 18.8.1990, p. 13. 
5 OJ No L 
- 4 -
Proposal for a 
COUNCIL DIRECTIVE 
amending Directive 89/662/EEC concerning veterinary checks in 
intra-Community trade with a view to the completion 
of the internal market 
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 Commission1, 
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 to establish the internal 
market progressively during the period up to 31 December 1992; 
Whereas Council Directive 89/662/EEC^, as last amended by Directive 
91/496/EEC5, stipulates that the veterinary checks on certain animal 
products are no longer to be carried out at the Community's internal 
frontiers; 
Whereas since adoption of that Directive the Council has set 
principles for the organization of veterinary checks on products from 
third countries brought into the Community; whereas in this connection 
account must be taken of the provisions of Council Directive 90/675/EEC 
of 10 December 1990 laying down the principles governing the 
organization of veterinary checks on products entering the Community 
from third countries6 and of Council Directive 91/496/EEC of 
15 July 1991 laying down the principles governing the organization of 
1 OJ No C 
2 OJ No C 
3 OJ No C 
4 OJ No L 395, 30.12.1989, p. 13 
5 OJ No L 268, 24.9.1991, p. 56. 
6 OJ No L 373, 31.12.1990, p. 1. 
- 5 
veterinary checks on animals entering the Community fron^ third countries 
and amending Directives 89/662/EEC, 90/425/EEC and 90/675/2i;C7; 
Whereas the third paragraph of Article 14 of Directive 89/602/^20 rtatec 
that the Council "shall determine the final arrangements applicable to 
trade in the products listed in Annex B before 31 December 1991"; 
Whereas the fourth paragraph of Article 21 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 market8, as last amended 
by Directive 91/628/EEC^ states that the Council shall cacide on 
inclusion "in the scope of Directive 89/662/EEC and of this Directive of 
the animals and products of animal origin not covered by the said 
Directives"; 
Whereas Article 21 of Directive 89/662/EEC states that the Council shall 
"determine the arrangements applicable on the expiry of the transitional 
provisions laid down in Article 20": whereas in this connection account 
should be taken of the progress made in the Community, both on setting 
rules for products from third countries and on harmonization of control 
measures for foot-and-mouth disease and swine fever as embodied in 
Council Directive 90/423/EEC of 26 June 1990 amending Directive 
85/511/EEC introducing Community measures for the control of foot-and-
mouth disease, Directive 64/432/EEC on animal health problems affecting 
intra-Community trade in bovine animals and swine and Directive 
72/462/EEC on health and veterinary inspection problems upon importation 
of bovine animals and swine and fresh meat or meat products from third 
countries^, and in Council Directive .../.../EEC of 
amending Council Directive 80/217/EEC introducing Community measures for 
the control of classical swine feverll; 
Whereas given the favourable progress of harmonization on veterinary 
matters all veterinary checks at internal frontiers on animal products 
should be discontinued with effect from 1 July 1992, 
7 OJ No L 268, 24.9.1991, p. 56. 
8 OJ No L 224, 18.8.1990, p. 29. 
9 OJ No L 340, 11.12.1991, p. 17. 
10 0J No L 224, 18.8.1990, p. 13. 
11 OJ No L 47, 21.2.1980, p. 11. 
- 6 -
HAS ADOPTED THIS DIRECTIVE: 
Article 1 
Directive 89/662/EEC is hereby amended as follows: 
1. Article 3(3) is deleted. 
2. In Article 6(2) the date of 1 January 1993 is replaced by 
1 July 1992. 
3. In the first subparagraph of Article 8(2) the words "Except in 
cases covered by the fourth subparagraph," are added. 
4. In the fourth subparagraph of Article 8(2) the words "and without 
prejudice to the aforementioned rights of appeal" are deleted. 
5. In the first paragraph of Article 14 the words "Until 
31 December 1992" are deleted. 
6. In Article 14 the second and third paragraphs are replaced by: 
"Member States shall notify the Commission and the other Member 
States of the conditions and procedures applicable to trade in the 
products referred to in the first paragraph." 
7. Article 16 is replaced by the following: 
"Article 16 
1. Member States shall submit to the Commission, in harmonized 
form, basic information on veterinary checks carried out in 
line with this Directive. 
2. The Commission shall examine the information referred to in 
paragraph 1 within the Standing Veterinary Committee and may, 
in accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 18, 
adopt suitable measures. 
- 7 -
3. Detailed rules for the application of this Article, in 
particular on frequency of communication of information, the 
form in which it is to be given and its nature shall be drawn 
up in accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 18." 
8. Article 19(1) is deleted. 
9. Articles 20 and 21 are deleted. 
10. The following subparagraph is added to Annex B: 
"Other products of animal origin not covered by Annex A to this 
Directive or by Annexes A or B-B to Directive 90/42 5 /EEC*. The 
products shall be defined by the Commission. 
*OJ No L 224, 18.8.1990, p. 29." 
Article 2 
Member States shall bring into force the laws, regulations and 
administrative provisions necessary to comply with this Directive by 
1 July 1992 and shall forthwith inform the Commission thereof. 
When Member States adopt these provisions, these 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. 
Article 3 
This Directive is addressed to the Member States. 
Done at Brussels, For the Council 
The President 

ISSN 0254-1475 
COM(92)211 final 
DOCUMENTS 
EN 03 
Catalogue number: CB-CO-92-224-EN-C 
ISBN 92-77-44321-9 
Office for Official Publications of the European Communities 
Lr2985 Luxembourg