1999/163/EC: Commission Decision of 17 February 1999 laying down protection measures concerning trichinosis (notified under document number C(1999) 331) (Text with EEA relevance)
Date: 1999-02-17
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: Yugoslavia, animal disease, equidae, health control, import, veterinary inspection

2. 3. 1999

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

L 54/19

COMMISSION

COMMISSION DECISION

of 17 February 1999

laying down protection measures concerning trichinosis

(notified under document number C(1999) 331)

(Text with EEA relevance)

(1999/163/EC)

THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European
Community,

Having regard to Council Directive 91/496/EEC of 15
July 1991 laying down the principles governing the
organisation of veterinary checks on animals entering the
Community from third countries and amending Direct-
ives 89/662/EEC, 90/425/EEC and 90/675/EEC (1), as last
amended by Directive 96/43/EC (2), and in particular
Article 18 thereof,

Having regard to Council Directive 90/675/EEC of 10
December 1990 laying down the principles governing the
organisation of veterinary checks on products entering the
Community from third countries (3), as last amended by
Directive 96/43/EC, and in particular Article 19 thereof,

(1) Whereas recently cases of human trichinosis have
appeared in the territory of
the Community;
whereas epidemiological investigations have shown
that these cases were related to imports of slaughter
horses originating in the Federal Republic of Yugo-
slavia;

priateness of the methods of detection and their
application;

(4) Whereas, awaiting a scientific opinion on this
question, measures should be taken in order to
ensure that horses intended for slaughter and horse
meat originating in the Federal Republic of Yugo-
slavia do not constitute a hazard to human health;

(5) Whereas this can be ensured by ensuring that horse
meat has been submitted to a cold treatment suffi-
cient to destroy larvae, possibly present;

(6) Whereas Council Directive 77/96/EEC of 21
December 1976 on the examination for trichinae
(Trichinella spiralis) upon importation from third
countries of
fresh meat derived from domestic
swine (4), as last amended by the Act of Accession
of Austria, Finland and Sweden lays down the
detection methods and methods of destruction of
Trichinella spiralis in swine meat and horse meat;

(7) Whereas

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

(2) Whereas Community legislation lays down that
horse meat must be submitted to a systematic
control for the detection of the possible presence of
larvae of Trichinella spiralis;

HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:

Article 1

(3) Whereas, according to information collected and
brought to the attention of the Commission during
a Community inspection carried out on the spot,
doubts might be raised with regard to the appro-

(1) OJ L 268, 24. 9. 1991, p. 56.
(2) OJ L 162, 1. 7. 1996, p. 1.
(3) OJ L 373, 31. 12. 1990, p. 1.

Member States shall ensure that meat from horses which
are imported from the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia for
being slaughtered in the Community, is submitted to a
cold treatment as referred to in Annex IV to Directive
77/96/EEC before it is placed on the market for human
consumption.

(4) OJ L 26, 31. 1. 1977, p. 67.

L 54/20

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

2. 3. 1999

Article 2

Article 4

This Decision shall apply until 31 March 1999.

This Decision is addressed to the Member States.

Article 3

Done at Brussels, 17 February 1999.

The Member States shall alter the measures they apply in
trade in order to bring them into line with this Decision.
They shall immediately inform the Commission thereof.

For the Commission

Franz FISCHLER

Member of the Commission