Council Directive 98/99/EC of 14 December 1998 amending Directive 97/12/EC amending and updating Directive 64/432/EEC on health problems affecting intra-Community trade in bovine animals and swine

COUNCIL DIRECTIVE 98/99/EC of 14 December 1998 amending Directive 97/12/EC amending and updating Directive 64/432/EEC on health problems affecting intra-Community trade in bovine animals and swine
THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION
,
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, and in particular Article 43 thereof,
Having regard to the proposal from the Commission (1),
Having regard to the opinion of the European Parliament (2),
Having regard to the opinion of the Economic and Social Committee (3),
Whereas the adoption of Directive 97/12/EC (4) provided an improved legal basis for implementation of measures to prevent spread of animal diseases via trade in live bovine animals and swine;
Whereas Directive 97/12/EC contained special requirements for further updating of the criteria for defining the health status of animal populations at herd, region and Member State level as regards bovine tuberculosis, bovine brucellosis and enzootic bovine leucosis; whereas the updating of these criteria should, based on a proposal submitted to the Council before July 1997, have been decided before 1 January 1998;
Whereas the review carried out by the Council of diagnostic procedures of most importance for implementation of effective surveillance and monitoring programmes for bovine tuberculosis, bovine brucellosis and enzootic bovine leucosis included in-depth examination of laboratory testing methods and resulted in time-consuming deliberations;
Whereas the changes required for updated monitoring programmes and surveillance programmes cannot be implemented in this field at short notice;
Whereas in accordance with Directive 97/12/EC swine intended for intra-Community trade are no longer subjected to brucellosis testing prior to departure; whereas, this provision should be anticipated in order to facilitate trade between the Member States;
Whereas to avoid obstacles in intra-Community trade and to ensure uniform application of the provisions, harmonised rules concerning the use and the issue of health certificates should be laid down for the period until the date by which the Member States have to comply with the amended provisions of Council Directive 64/432/EEC of 26 June 1964 on health problems affecting intra-Community trade in bovine animals and swine (5);
Whereas on 24 June 1998 the Council adopted Directive 98/46/EC to amend the Annexes A, D (Chapter I) and F of Directive 64/432/EEC; whereas owing to this amendment certain references in Directive 97/12/EC have changed;
Whereas this fact has been taken into account by attaching a table of correspondence in Annex II to Directive 98/46/EC; whereas for the sake of improved clarity and of the coherence of the legal texts it is necessary to correct the references in the corresponding articles;
Whereas it is therefore necessary to amend Directive 97/12/EC in particular as regards the period made available for Member States to transpose and introduce new rules for disease monitoring and surveillance,