2000/236/EC: Commission Decision of 22 March 2000 amending Council Decision 79/542/EEC drawing up a list of third countries from which the Member States authorise imports of bovine animals, swine, equidae, sheep and goats, fresh meat and meat products (notified under document number C(2000) 815
Date: 2000-03-22
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: fresh meat, import, live animal, meat product, originating product, third country

23.3.2000

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

L 74/19

COMMISSION DECISION

of 22 March 2000

amending Council Decision 79/542/EEC drawing up a list of third countries from which the
Member States authorise imports of bovine animals, swine, equidae, sheep and goats, fresh meat
and meat products

(notified under document number C(2000) 815)

(2000/236/EC)

THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,

(4)

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
on 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 3(1) thereof,

Having regard to Council Directive 96/23/EC of 29 April 1996
concerning measures to monitor certain substances and resi-
dues thereof in live animals and animal products and repealing
Directives 85/358/EEC and 86/469/EEC and Decisions 89/
187/EEC and 91/664/EEC (3), and in particular Article 29
thereof,

Whereas:

(1)

(2)

(3)

Member States can only import fresh meat including
offal from third countries or parts of third countries
appearing on a list established by the Council on a
proposal from the Commission.

these third countries or parts thereof

The list of
is
contained in Council Decision 79/542/EEC (4) as last
amended by Commission Decision 2000/162/EC (5).

Inclusion and retention of a third country on the lists of
third countries provided for in Community legislation
from which Member States are authorised to import
products of animal origin covered by Directive 96/23/EC
is subject to submission by the third country concerned
of a plan setting out the guarantees which it offers as
regards the monitoring of the groups of residues and
substances referred to in Annex I of
the Directive
referred to; this plan must be updated at the request of
the Commission, particularly when the checks referred
to in Article 29(3) of
the abovementioned Directive
render it necessary.

(1) OJ L 302, 31.12.1972, p. 28.
(2) OJ L 24, 30.1.1998, p. 31.
(3) OJ L 125, 23.5.1996, p. 10.
(4) OJ L 146, 14.6.1979, p. 15.
(5) OJ L 51, 24.2.2000, p. 41.

If the requirements of Article 29(1) of Directive 96/
inclusion of a third
23/EC are not complied with,
country on the lists of third countries laid down by
Community legislation may be suspended in accordance
with the procedure laid down in Article 33 of
the
Directive referred to.

The application of residue monitoring plans, and the
follow up to evidence of
the use of unauthorised
substances or of residue levels exceeding the Community
maximum residue limits, are necessary to protect public
health.

Following deficiencies in the implementation of
the
residue monitoring programme identified by inspections
in the United States of America by the
carried out
Commission in November 1999 and January/February
2000, the United States of America took measures to
rectify the deficiencies reported; these measures were
communicated to the Commission.

In the light of
the measures communicated by the
United States of America the Commission carried out an
evaluation of the adequacy and effectiveness of these
measures.

The evaluation by the Commission of the actions taken
showed that the remedial measures taken by the United
States of America were generally satisfactory.

is,

It
therefore, no longer necessary to suspend the
United States of America from the list of third countries
from which the Member States are authorised to import
fresh meat and meat products for human consumption
with effect from 15 March 2000.

(5)

(6)

(7)

(8)

(9)

(10)

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

HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:

Article 1

Part I of the Annex to Decision 79/542/EEC is amended as
follows:

L 74/20

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

23.3.2000

1. the line

‘US United States of America

s

s

s

s

s

s

x

x

x

x # # #’

is replaced by:

‘US United States of America

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x # # #’

2. Footnote ‘s = suspended for export of fresh meat and meat products for human consumption,’ is hereby

deleted.

Article 2

This Decision shall apply from 15 March 2000.

This Decision is addressed to the Member States.

Article 3

Done at Brussels, 22 March 2000.

For the Commission

David BYRNE

Member of the Commission