1999/640/EC: Commission Decision of 23 September 1999 on protective measures with regard to contamination by dioxins of certain products of porcine and poultry origin intended for human or animal consumption (notified under document number C(1999) 3050) (Text with EEA relevance)
Date: 1999-09-23
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: animal nutrition, health control, human nutrition, pigmeat, poultrymeat, toxic substance

28. 9. 1999

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COMMISSION

COMMISSION DECISION

of 23 September 1999

on protective measures with regard to contamination by dioxins of certain products of porcine and
poultry origin intended for human or animal consumption

(notified under document number C(1999) 3050)

(Text with EEA relevance)

(1999/640/EC)

THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European
Community,

Having regard to 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 (1), as last amended by Directive 92/118/EEC (2), and in
particular Article 9(4) thereof,

Having regard to Council Directive 90/425/EEC of 26 June
1990 concerning veterinary and zootechnical checks applicable
in intra-Community trade in certain live animal and products
with a view to the completion of the internal market (3), as last
amended by Directive 92/118/EEC, and in particular Article 10
(4) thereof,

Whereas:

(1)

(2)

on 27 May 1999, the Belgian authorities informed the
Commission of a case of heavy contamination of
compound feedingstuffs with dioxins. Those feeding-
stuffs had been distributed to a considerable number of
poultry farms in Belgium (some 25 %) from 15 January
1999 onwards;

the Belgian authorities placed
from 26 May 1999,
restrictions on all
the poultry holdings which had
received those feedingstuffs. The Belgian authorities
prohibited the slaughter of poultry from 1 June 1999.
Products intended for human or animal consumption
derived from animals reared in those farms before that
date may still be on the market;

(3)

on 2 June 1999, the Belgian authorities informed the
Commission that they had placed restrictions on some
500 pig holdings which may have received contamin-

(1) OJ L 395, 30.12.1989, p. 13.
(2) OJ L 62, 15.3.1993, p. 49.
(3) OJ L 224, 18.8.1990, p. 20.

(4)

(5)

ated feedingstuffs. On 3 June 1999, they also informed
the Commission that contaminated feedingstuffs had
been distributed to a number of bovine holdings as well.
The Belgian authorities adopted measures applying to
pigs and bovine animals and derived products which
were similar to those applied in the case of poultry and,
in particular, they prohibited the slaughter of bovine
animals and pigs from 3 June 1999;

it appears that those feedingstuffs,
live animals which
had been fed therewith and products derived from those
animals have been traded to other Member States and
third countries. Other animal species may have been fed
with those contaminated feedingstuffs. Investigation of
the responsibility for this contamination is continuing.
The Community inspection in Belgium on 8 to 11 June
1999 concluded that, on the basis of the available results
of analyses, a massive contamination occurred over a
limited time, rather than a recurring problem;

it is necessary to take
in the light of the foregoing,
measures to protect the health of consumers. The meas-
ures should apply to poultry and pigs reared in Belgium
from 15 January onwards and to products derived there-
from. The measures should not apply to products which
have been shown by analyses not to be contaminated by
dioxins. Provision should be made for contaminated
products to be destroyed in a manner that ensures that
they cannot enter the human food or animal feed chains.
It is not yet appropriate to set an end-date for the
application of the measures. In order to prevent deflec-
tions of trade, the measures should also apply to exports
to third countries. All relevant information should be
supplied to the Commission, the Member States and
third countries, where appropriate by means of the rapid

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alert system set up by Council Directive 92/59/EEC of
29 June 1992 on general product safety (1). For the
purposes of intra-Community trade and exports to third
countries, a system of certificates should be established
for consignments of Belgian origin. In the view of the
difficulties which have arisen in connection with the
tracing system used in Belgium,
it is appropriate to
terminate the issue of certificates for trade or export to
third countries on the basis of traceability. It is necessary
that Belgium and Member States which received certain
Belgian animals and products establish a monitoring
plan to evaluate the presence of contamination of
dioxins/PCB in products of animal origin. Inspections
should be carried out by the Commission in order to
verify the implementation of this Decision;

(10)

(6)

(7)

(8)

(9)

the Belgian authorities are prepared to accept the return
of those products from Member States in application of
Article 7 of Directive 89/662/EEC. It is necessary to lay
down strict and specific rules on the procedure to be
followed when the products are returned to Belgium in
order to ensure that they cannot re-enter the human
food or animal feed chains before they are subjected to
appropriate checks to verify their safety;

Article 15 of Council Directive 97/78/EC of 18
December 1997 laying down the principles governing
the organisation of veterinary checks on products
entering the Community from third countries (2) estab-
lishes specific rules for the reimportation of consign-
ments of products of Community origin which have
been refused by a third country. It is necessary to estab-
lish that products returned from third countries to
Belgium cannot re-enter the human food or animal feed
chains before they are submitted to the appropriate
checks to verify their safety;

Council Directive 1999/29/EC of 22 April 1999 on the
undesirable substances and products in animal nutri-
tion (3) provides that feed materials may only be put into
circulation in the Community if they are sound, genuine
and of merchantable quality;

the body of toxicological and epidemiological evidence
available today has led the International Agency for
Research on Cancer (IARC) of the World Health Organ-
isation (WHO) to consider TCDD a class 1 carcinogen
(the highest class in the IARC ranking). The WHO has
recommended that a tolerable daily intake (TDI) of 1
-4pg/Kg bw/day be respected for dioxins. No limits for
dioxin contamination have been set
individual
commodities and food products. Data on background
levels of contamination do exist. In the absence of limits
for dioxins at
international, Community or national
level, the data on background levels should be used as
references. The analysis of dioxins requires sophisticated

for

(1) OJ L 228, 11.8.1992, p. 24.
(2) OJ L 24, 30.1.1998, p. 9.
(3) OJ L 115, 4.5.1999, p. 32.

methods which are available only in a limited number of
laboratories in the Member States;

In its opinion,

on 11 June 1999 a Commission working group on PCBs
as markers for dioxin contamination concluded that the
levels of
seven persistent polychlorinated biphenyls
(PCBs) in eggs and poultrymeat products can be used
reliably as a surrogate for dioxins. Furthermore,
it
concluded that an action level of 200 ng PCB (sum of 7
congeners)/g fat be used for poultry products. On 16
June 1999 the Scientific Committee for Food adopted an
opinion on dioxins in milk derived from cattle fed on
contaminated feed in Belgium.
the
Committee stressed the need to analyse milk samples
from all dairy farms placed under restriction by the
Belgian authority, individually, at least for PCBs, using
an adequate limit of quantification, as an indicator for a
possible dioxin contamination, above background. For
this purpose,
the Committee recommended that an
action level of 100 ng PCB (sum of 7 congeners)/g fat
be used for milk and milk products. This action level
should be applied for screening purposes for raw milk
from the individual farms in question, for bulked milk
from dairies, and for any milk products manufactured
since the date of known contamination of animal feed.
Where levels above 100 ng PCB/g fat are found, this
should trigger analysis for dioxins. The Committee and
the Commission working group stressed that
those
action levels were only intended to apply in the context
of the present particular situation in Belgium and should
not be taken as an endorsement of a permanent limit for
PCBs in the products concerned;

(11)

in compliance with the above scientific opinion of 16
June 1999, the Belgian authorities carried out individual
analyses of raw milk from all the 234 individual farms
placed under restriction, bulked milk from dairies, and
milk products manufactured since the date of known
contamination of animal feed. The results indicated that
the current and past milk products from those farms
have no health significance for consumers. Furthermore,
the Belgian authorities carried out a sample survey for
possible PCB/dioxin contamination in the Belgian cattle
population and a separate screening of fattening calves
farms. The results of that survey combined with the
results of that screening have not showed positive results
linked to this dioxin contamination. The Belgian author-
a monitoring
ities have undertaken to continue
programme on slaughtered cattle. Accordingly,
is
appropriate to exclude bovine animals and products
derived therefrom from the scope of this Decision;

it

(12)

it appears necessary to establish a provisional maximum
level for PCBs in fresh pigmeat and derived products,
pending the generation of data to allow a scientific
evaluation;

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(13)

in the light of

on 28 and 29 June 1999 a Commission working group
on the PCB/Dioxin contamination of the Belgian food
supply considered the adequacy of a threshold of 2 % of
fat below which foodstuffs would be excluded from the
scope of the restrictions laid down. That working group
the abovementioned
concluded that,
opinion of
the Scientific Committee for Food and
considering the data available so far on PCBs and
dioxins in Belgian products, it was reasonable to assume,
in the case of egg products containing less than 10 % of
egg fat, that their presence in amounts below 2 % was
unlikely to increase PCB and dioxins intake significantly
above background levels. The fat level in animal casings
cleaned, salted or dried, and/or heated is less than 1 %. It
is therefore appropriate to exclude those products from
the scope of this Decision;

(14) Article 9(4) of Directive 89/662/EEC and Article 10(4)
of Directive 90/425/EEC authorise the Commission to
adopt safeguard measures for animals and products
specified in those Directives and,
if the situation so
requires, products or products derived from those prod-
ucts. Therefore,
in this
Decision can also cover incidentally other products
which are not included in Annex I to the Treaty. The
situation as regards contamination by dioxins justifies
such measures;

the measures provided for

(15)

Commission Decision 1999/449/EC of 9 July 1999 on
protective measures with regard to contamination by
dioxins of certain products of animal origin intended for
human or animal consumption (1), as amended by
Decision 1999/551/EC (2), and Commission Decision
1999/601/EC of 1 September 1999 amending Decision
1999/551/EC as regards the review of the protective
measures with regard to contamination by dioxins (3)
should accordingly be repealed;

(16)

the measures provided for in this Decision are in accord-
the Standing Veterinary
ance with the opinion of
Committee,

HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:

Article 1

Belgium shall prohibit

1.
the placing on the market,
including distribution to the final consumer, the trade and the
export to third countries, of the products listed below which
are intended for human or animal consumption and are
derived from poultry of species referred to in Article 2(1) of

(1) OJ L 175, 10.7.1999, p. 70.
(2) OJ L 209, 7.8.1999, p. 42.
(3) OJ L 232, 2.9.1999, p. 33.

Council Directive 71/118/EEC (4) and pigs reared in Belgium
from 15 January 1999:

(a) fresh poultrymeat, as defined by Council Directive 71/

118/EEC;

(b) fresh meat,
433/EEC (5);

as defined by Council Directive 64/

(c) mechanically recovered meat;

(d) minced meat and meat preparations, as defined by Council

Directive 94/65/EC (6);

(e) meat products and other products of animal origin as
defined by Council Directive 77/99/EEC (7); with the
exclusion of stomachs, bladders and intestines, cleaned,
salted or dried, and/or heated;

(f) products intended for human consumption which contain
other products of porcine or poultry origin as defined by
Directive 77/99/EEC, which contain more than 2 % of
animal fat;

(g) eggs;

(h) egg products, as defined by Council Directive 89/

437/EEC (8), with the exclusion of egg white;

(i) products intended for human consumption which contain
more than 2 % of eggs or more than 2 % of egg products
containing more than 10 % of egg fat;

(j) rendered fats, as referred to in Directive 92/118/EEC;

(k) processed animal proteins, as referred to in Directive 92/

118/EEC;

(l) raw material for the manufacture of animal feedingstuffs,

as referred to in Council Directive 92/118/EEC;

(m) compound feedingstuffs and pre-mixtures.

2.
The prohibition set out in paragraph 1 shall not apply
where the results of analysis demonstrate that the products are
not contaminated with dioxins or, that they do not exceed the
levels for PCB set out in Annex A.

Belgium shall prohibit the placing on the market, the
3.
trade and the export to third countries of pigs and live poultry
reared from l5 January 1999 or hatching eggs laid by those
poultry unless the animals or the hatching eggs come from a
homogenous group and the results of analysis on repres-
these animals or hatching eggs have
entative samples of
demonstrated that they are not contaminated with dioxin, or
that it does not contain PCBs in excess of the maximum levels
set out in Annex A.

4.
Belgium shall ensure that all the products referred to in
paragraph 1 which do not fulfil the conditions laid down in
paragraph 2 are destroyed by means approved by the
competent authorities in a manner that ensures that
they
cannot enter the human food or animal feed chain.

(4) OJ L 55, 8.3.1971, p. 23.
(5) OJ 121, 29.7.1964, p. 2012/64.
(6) OJ L 368, 31.12.1994, p. 10.
(7) OJ L 26, 31.1.1977, p. 85.
(8) OJ L 212, 22.7.1989, p. 87.

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Belgium shall inform immediately the Commission and
5.
the Member States, if appropriate by means of the rapid alert
system under Directive 92/59/EEC, and third countries which
have received the live animals, hatching eggs referred to in
paragraph 3 or products covered by paragraph 4 of
this
Article.

6.

Belgium shall

investigate:

(a) possible remaining stocks of feedingstuffs contaminated by

dioxins, and

panied by an official declaration signed by the Belgian
competent authority as laid down in Annex D.

The official

certificate and the official declarations
4.
referred to in paragraphs 1, 2 and 3 shall be drawn up on the
date of loading in the language or languages of the Member
State of dispatch and in the official language of the Member
State of destination and they shall consist of a single sheet.

(b) possible distribution of

feedingstuffs contaminated by
dioxins to other farm animals and to other Member States
and third countries.

Article 3

It shall
inform without delay the Commission and other
Member States and third countries concerned of the results of
such investigations.

Member States which have received feedingstuffs suspected of
being contaminated with dioxins, live animals or hatching eggs
referred to in Article 1(3) and/or products of Belgian origin
referred to in Article 1(4), shall

immediately:

Belgium shall monitor the level of dioxins in Belgian

7.
products of animal origin.

(a) carry out an investigation into the distribution of those

feedingstuffs and into possible remaining stocks;

For
this purpose, Belgium shall
monitoring plan to the Commission.

submit without delay a

(b) trace and place restrictions on those animals and hatching

eggs and products arising therefrom;

Belgium shall keep the Commission and the Member
its investigation into the

8.
States informed of the results of
source of the contamination of feedingstuffs by dioxins.

(c) trace back all products derived from animals fed with those
feedingstuffs, and products listed in Article 1(1) destined
for human or animal consumption which contain those
products;

Article 2

For the purpose of intra-Community trade and export to
1.
third countries,
in addition to the appropriate commercial
document or to the official certificate, each consignment of
products of Belgian origin listed in Article 1(1) must be accom-
panied by an official
signed by the Belgian
certificate
competent authority as laid down in Annex B.

2.
For the purpose of intra-Community trade and export to
third countries, the appropriate health certificate accompanying
each consignment of live poultry and hatching eggs derived
therefrom, of Belgian origin, must be accompanied by an offi-
cial declaration signed by the Belgian competent authority as
laid down in Annex C.

(d) trace back all products of Belgian origin to which this
Decision applies, and products listed in Article 1(1) which
are destined for human or animal consumption containing
those products of Belgian origin;

(e) ensure that the products referred to in points (a) to (d) are
destroyed by a means approved by the competent authority
in a manner that ensures that they cannot enter the human
food or animal feed chain, unless it can be proved they are
not contaminated with dioxins or, that they do not exceed
the levels for PCB set out in Annex A;

(f) inform immediately the Commission and the Member
States, if appropriate by means of the rapid alert system
under Directive 92/59/EEC, and third countries concerned
of the findings of their investigation and of any actions
taken;

(g) monitor the level of dioxins in products of animal origin.

3.
For the purpose of intra-Community trade and export to
third countries, the appropriate health certificate accompanying
each consignment of pigs of Belgian origin must be accom-

For this purpose, the Member States concerned shall without
delay submit a monitoring plan to the Commission.

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Belgium shall keep full records demonstrating compliance

3.
with paragraph 2.

Article 6

Belgium shall ensure that the products of Belgian origin which
are reimported into Belgium from third countries in accord-
ance with the conditions laid down in Article 15 of Directive
97/78/EC, are placed under restriction until their destruction
by a means approved by the competent authority in a manner
that ensures that they cannot enter the human food or animal
feed chain, or until the results of analysis demonstrate that the
products are not contaminated with dioxins or, that they do
not exceed the levels for PCB set out in Annex A to this
Decision.

Belgium shall keep full records demonstrating compliance with
this Article.

Article 7

Commission inspections may be carried out in order to verify
the implementation of this Decision.

Article 8

Member States shall adopt the necessary measures to bring
their trade rules into conformity with this Decision. They shall
immediately inform the Commission thereof.

Article 9

This Decision may be reviewed in the light of the results of
Commission inspections and of
information received by
Member States.

Article 10

Decision 1999/449/EC and Decision 1999/551/EC are
repealed.

Article 11

This Decision is addressed to the Member States.

Done at Brussels, 23 September 1999.

For the Commission

David BYRNE

Member of the Commission

Article 4

On request of a Member State or of a third country which has
received products referred to in Article 1(1) or live animals or
hatching eggs referred to in Article 1(3), Belgium shall, where it
has such information, provide a declaration in accordance with
the model set out at Annex E.

Article 5

By way of derogation from Article 3(e) of this Decision,
1.
in accordance with Article 7 of Directive 89/662/EEC, Member
States may return products of Belgian origin to which Article
1(1) of
this Decision applies to Belgium in cases where,
following the application of Article 4 of this Decision, analyses
of the products for dioxins or PCBs have not been carried out.

Paragraph 1 shall apply only if the following conditions

2.
are fulfilled:

(a) Belgium must have authorised in writing the return of the
product indicating the exact address of the establishment to
which the products must be returned;

(b) the product must be accompanied by an official certificate
as laid down in Annex F and by a copy of the commercial
document or the health certificate which accompanied the
product from Belgium to the Member State concerned;

(c) the products must be transported in containers or vehicles
sealed by the competent authority of the Member State
concerned in such a manner that the seals will be broken
whenever the container or the vehicle is opened;

(d) the products must be conveyed directly to the establish-

ment referred to in point (a);

(e) Member States which return products to Belgium must
inform by fax the competent authority in charge of the
establishment referred to in point (a) of the place of origin
and of the place of destination of the returned product
giving the details laid down in the Annex to Commission
Decision 91/637/EC (1). The words ‘Product returned in
accordance with Article 5 of Decision 1999/640/EC' must
be contained in the fax;

(f) Belgium must send confirmation by fax of the arrival of
the

to the competent authority of

each consignment
Member State which returned the product;

(g) Belgium must ensure that the returned product is placed
under restriction until its destruction by a means approved
by the competent authority in a manner that ensures that it
cannot enter the human food or animal feed chain or until
the results of analysis demonstrate that the product is not
contaminated with dioxins or, that it does not exceed the
levels for PCB set out in Annex A;

(1) OJ L 343, 13.12.1991, p. 46.

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ANNEX A

Maximum levels for PCB for certain products listed in Article 1(1)

Products

Maximum level PCB (1)

Eggs, egg products, fresh poultrymeat and derived products

200 ng/g fat

Fresh pig meat and derived products

200 ng/g fat (2)

(1) Sum of the following PCBs (IUCPA): 28, 52, 101, 118, 138, 153, 180.
(2) Provisional

level.

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ANNEX B

HEALTH CERTIFICATE

for products intended for human or animal consumption of Belgian origin derived from poultry and pigs listed
in Article 1(1) of Decision 1999/640/EC

Country of destination . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Reference No of this health certificate. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Responsible Ministry (1)

— Ministère des affaires sociales, de la santé publique et de l'environnement/Ministerie van Sociale Zaken, Volksgezond-

heid en Leefmilieu

— Ministère des classes moyennes et de l'agriculture/Ministerie van Middenstand en Landbouw

Certifying department . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

I.

Identification of the products (1)

— fresh meat, as defined by Council Directive 64/433/EEC,

— fresh poultrymeat, as defined by Council Directive 71/118/EEC,

— mechanically recovered meat,

— minced meat and meat preparations, as defined by Council Directive 94/65/EC,

— meat products and other products of animal origin as defined by Council Directive 77/99/EEC, with the

exclusion of stomachs, bladders and intestines, cleaned, salted or dried, and/or heated,

— products intended for human consumption which contain other products of porcine or poultry origin as defined

by Directive 77/99/EEC, which contain more that 2 % of animal fat,

— eggs,

— egg products, as defined by Council Directive 89/437/EEC, with the exclusion of egg white,

— products intended for human consumption which contain more than 2 % of eggs or more than 2 % of egg

products containing more than 10 % of egg fat,

— rendered fats, as referred to in Council Directive 92/118/EEC,

— processed animal proteins, as referred to in Directive 92/118/EEC,

— raw material for the manufacture of animal feedingstuffs, as referred to in Directive 92/118/EEC,

— compound feedingstuffs and pre-mixtures.

The product was derived from: poultry/pigs (1)

Nature of packaging . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Number of cuts or packages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Net weight . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

II. Origin of the products

Address and veterinary approval or registration No of the approved or registered establishment

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(1) Delete as appropriate.

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III. Destination of the products

The product will be sent from . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(place of loading)

to . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(country and place of destination)

By the following means of transport . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Name and address of consignor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Name and address of consignee . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

IV. Attestation

I, the undersigned official competent authority, declare that I am aware of the provisions laid down in Decision
1999/640/EC and certify that the product described above is in compliance with Decision 1999/640/EC and, in
particular, that the result of analysis demonstrate that the product is not contaminated with dioxins or, that it does
not exceed the levels for certain PCBs set out in Annex A to Decision 1999/640/EC.

Done at . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ,

on . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(place)

(date)

Stamp (1)

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
(signature of the official competent authority) (1)

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(name in capital

letters, qualification and title)

(1) The signature and the stamp must be in a colour different to that of the printing.

28. 9. 1999

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

L 253/27

ANNEX C

OFFICIAL DECLARATION

for poultry and hatching eggs referred to in Article 1(3) of Decision 1999/640/EC

Health certificate No . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

No of the declaration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

DECLARATION

I, the undersigned official veterinarian, declare that I am aware of the provisions laid down in Decision 1999/640/EC and
certify that the animals/hatching eggs (1) accompanied by the attached health certificate are in compliance with Decision
1999/640/EC and, in particular, that the animals come from a homogeneous group for which the results of analysis on
representative samples on these animals/hatching eggs (1) have demonstrated that they are not contaminated with dioxin,
or that they do not exceed the levels of PCBs set out in Annex A.

Done at . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

on . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(place)

(date)

Stamp (2)

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
(Signature of the official veterinarian of Ministère des classes moyennes
et de l'agriculture/Ministerie van Middenstand en Landbouw) (2)

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(name in capital

letters, qualification and title)

(1) Delete as appropriate.
(2) The signature and the stamp must be in a colour different to that of the printing.

L 253/28

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

28. 9. 1999

ANNEX D

OFFICIAL DECLARATION

for pigs referred to in Article 1(3) of Decision 1999/640/EC

Health certificate No . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

No of the declaration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

DECLARATION

I, the undersigned official veterinarian, declare that I am aware of the provisions laid down in Decision 1999/640/EC and
certify that the pigs accompanied by the attached health certificate are in compliance with Decision 1999/640/EC and, in
particular, that the animals come from a homogeneous group for which the results of analysis on representative samples
of these animals have demonstrated that they are not contaminated with dioxin, or that they do not exceed the levels of
PCBs set out in Annex A.

Done at . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

on . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(place)

(date)

Stamp (1)

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
(Signature of the official veterinarian of Ministère des classes moyennes
et de l'agriculture/Ministerie van Middenstand en Landbouw) (1)

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(name in capital

letters, qualification and title)

(1) The signature and the stamp must be in a colour different to that of the printing.

28. 9. 1999

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

L 253/29

ANNEX E

OFFICIAL DECLARATION

for live animals, hatching eggs and products of Belgian origin covered by Article 1(1) and Article 1(3) which
were dispatched from Belgium after 15 January 1999

Responsible Ministry (1):

— Ministère des affaires sociales, de la santé publique et de l'environnement/Ministerie van Sociale Zaken, Volksgezond-

heid en Leefmilieu

— Ministère des classes moyennes et de l'agriculture/Ministerie van Middenstand en Landbouw

Certifying department . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

No of the declaration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

DECLARATION

I, the undersigned official competent authority, declare that I am aware of the provisions laid down in Decision
1999/640/EC and certify that (1):

— the poultry/pigs/hatching eggs (1) which were sent from Belgium to . . . . . . . . . . . . (2) on . . . . . . . . . . . . (3) and which
were accompanied by the attached health certificate are in compliance with Decision 1999/640/EC and, in particular,
that the animals/hatching eggs (1) come from a homogeneous group for which the results of analysis on representative
samples of these animals have demonstrated that they are not contaminated with dioxin, or that they do not exceed
the levels of PCBs set out in Annex A,

— the following product

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (4) which was sent from Belgium to . . . . . . . . . . . . . (2) on
. . . . . . . . . . . . . (3) and which was accompanied by the attached commercial document/health certificate (1)
is in
compliance with Decision 1999/640/EC and, in particular, that the product comes from a homogeneous batch for
which the results of analysis on representative samples of this product have demonstrated that they are not
contaminated with dioxin, or that they do not exceed the levels of PCBs set out in Annex A.

Done at

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
(place)

on . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(date)

Stamp (5)

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
(signature of the official competent authority) (5)

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(name in capital

letters, qualification and title)

(1) Delete as appropriate.
(2) Place of destination.
(3) Date of dispatching.
(4) Description of the product.
(5) The signature and the stamp must be in a colour different to that of the printing.

L 253/30

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

28. 9. 1999

ANNEX F

HEALTH CERTIFICATE

for products of Belgian origin covered by Decision 1999/640/EC intended to be returned to Belgium from
Member States

Country of destination: BELGIUM

Reference No of this health certificate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Responsible Ministry . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Certifying department . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

I.

Identification of the product (1):

— fresh meat, as defined by Council Directive 64/433/EEC,

— fresh poultrymeat, as defined by Council Directive 71/118/EEC,

— mechanically recovered meat,

— minced meat and meat preparations, as defined by Council Directive 94/65/EC,

— meat products and other products of animal origin as defined by Council Directive 77/99/EEC, with the

exclusion of stomachs, bladders and intestines, cleaned, salted or dried, and/or heated,

— products intended for human consumption which contain other products of porcine or poultry origin as defined

by Directive 77/99/EEC, which contain more than 2 % of animal fat,

— eggs,

— egg products, as defined by Council Directive 89/437/EEC, with the exclusion of egg white,

— products intended for human consumption which contain more than 2 % of eggs or more than 2 % of egg

products containing more than 10 % of egg fat,

— rendered fats, as referred to in Directive 92/118/EEC,

— processed animal proteins, as referred to in Directive 92/118/EEC,

— raw material for the manufacture of animal feedingstuffs, as referred to in Directive 92/118/EEC,

— compound feedingstuffs and pre-mixtures.

The product was derived from: poultry/pigs (1)

Nature of packaging . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Number of cuts or packages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Net weight . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

II. Origin of the products

Address and veterinary approval or registration No of the Belgian approved or registered establishment (2):

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(1) Delete as appropriate.
(2) If applicable.

28. 9. 1999

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

L 253/31

III. Destination of the products

The product will be sent from . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(address of the place of loading)

to . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(address of the place of destination)

By the following means of transport . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

No of the official seal

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Name and address of consignor

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Name and address of consignee

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

IV. Attestation

I, the undersigned official competent authority, certify:

(a) that a declaration has been received from the consignee/holder/retailer (1) of the product described above stating
(1)

the product was consigned from Belgium accompanied by the commercial document/certificate

that
No . . . . . . . . a copy of which is attached to the present certificate;

(b) that the product is being returned to Belgium in conformity with Article 5 of Decision 1999/640/EC, and, in

particular:

— the product has not been analysed for dioxins or PCBs,

and

— in all other respects the product still retains the same sanitary status which it had on arrival.

Done at

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
(place)

on . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(date)

Stamp (2)

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
(signature of the official competent authority) (2)

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(name in capital

letters, qualification and title)

(1) Delete as appropriate.
(2) The signature and the stamp must be in a colour different to that of the printing.