1999/820/EC: Commission Decision of 18 November 1999 suspending the approval of establishments in Slovenia producing fresh meat, meat products and game meat (notified under document number C(1999) 3816) (Text with EEA relevance)
Date: 1999-11-18
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: Slovenia, fresh meat, game meat, meat product, trade restriction, veterinary inspection

11. 12. 1999

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

L 318/31

COMMISSION DECISION

of 18 November 1999

suspending the approval of establishments in Slovenia producing fresh meat, meat products and
game meat

(notified under document number C(1999) 3816)

(Text with EEA relevance)

(1999/820/EC)

THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European
Community,

Having regard to Council Directive 72/462/EEC of 12
December 1972 on health and veterinary inspection problems
upon importation of bovine, ovine and caprine animals and
swine, fresh meat or meat products from third countries (1), as
last amended by Directive 97/79/EC (2) and in particular Article
5 thereof,

Having regard to 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 (3), and in particular Article 22 thereof,

Whereas:

(1) Within the meaning of Article 5 of Council Directive
72/462/EEC and Article 22 of Council Directive 97/
78/EC the Commission shall take a decision suspending
the approval of certain establishments and the import of
products if inspections carried out on the spot by veter-
inary experts of the Member States and the Commission
bring to light serious facts against approved establish-
ments,

(2)

(3)

(4)

(5)

The Food and Veterinary Office (FVO) of the European
Commission has carried out a mission to Slovenia
concerning controls in fresh meat establishments, meat
products establishments and wild game meat establish-
ments,

These controls brought to light serious facts against the
approval fresh meat, meat products and wild game meat
establishments,

In order to avoid any risk for the consumer, action
should be taken to foresee the prevention of imports of
fresh meat, meat products and wild game meat from
Slovenia; in this context, a time limit should be given to
the Slovenian authorities with a view to taking the
appropriate measures with the aim of correcting the
deficiencies as soon as possible,

The Europe Agreement with Slovenia, entered into force
on 1 February 1999 (4), and in particular Article 36
thereof concerning authorised restrictions on imports,
export or goods on transit,

(6)

(7)

Such a measure should be reviewed in the light of the
results of a further inspection mission of the FVO to
Slovenia,

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

HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:

Article 1

This Decision shall apply to fresh meat, wild game meat and
meat products prepared from meat of bovine animals, swine,
equidae and sheep and goats.

Article 2

Member States shall prohibit from 1 February 2000 the intro-
duction to their territory of meat, wild game meat and meat
products referred in Article 1 from Slovenia.

Article 3

This Decision shall be reviewed before 1 February 2000 in the
light of the results of a further inspection mission organised by
the Good and Veterinary Office of the Commission to Slovenia.

Article 4

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

Article 5

This Decision is addressed to the Member States.

Done at Brussels, 18 November 1999.

For the Commission

David BYRNE

Member of the Commission

(1) OJ L 302, 31.12.1972, p. 28.
(2) OJ L 24, 30.1.1998, p. 31.
(3) OJ L 24, 30.1.1998, p. 9.
(4) OJ L 51, 26.2.1999, p. 1.