98/84/EC: Commission Decision of 16 January 1998 on protective measures with regard to fishery products from, or originating in Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania and Mozambique and repealing Decision 97/878/EC (Text with EEA relevance)

COMMISSION DECISION of 16 January 1998 on protective measures with regard to fishery products from, or originating in Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania and Mozambique and repealing Decision 97/878/EC (Text with EEA relevance) (98/84/EC)
THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES
,
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,
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 (1), as last amended by Directive 96/43/EC (2), and in particular Article 19(6) thereof,
Whereas, following the outbreak of cholera in a number of African countries, the Commission, in accordance with Article 19(1) of Directive 90/675/EEC, adopted on its own initiative the decisions necessary to protect public health;
Whereas the provisions concerned subject consignments of frozen or processed fishery products from, or originating in Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania and Mozambique to sampling to ensure that they are healthy;
Whereas such checks must be capable of detecting, in particular, the presence of salmonellae and vibrions (Vibrio cholerae and Vibrio parahaemolyticus);
Whereas, because of time required to carry out microbiological analyses, the import into Community territory of fresh fishery products from, or originating in the countries concerned should be prohibited;
Whereas a derogation should be provided for fishery products which are caught, frozen and packed in their final packaging at sea and landed directly on Community territory;
Whereas the provisions of this Decision should be reviewed shortly in the light of the development of the epidemic;
Whereas the measures provided for in this Decision are in accordance wih the opinion of the Standing Veterinary Committee,