2009/151/EC: Commission Decision of 20 February 2009 amending Annex II to Council Decision 79/542/EEC as regards the entry for Botswana in the list of third countries or parts thereof from which imports into the Community of certain fresh meat are authorised (notified under document number C(2009) 1031) (Text with EEA relevance)

21.2.2009 EN Official Journal of the European Union L 50/45
COMMISSION DECISION
of 20 February 2009
amending Annex II to Council Decision 79/542/EEC as regards the entry for Botswana in the list of third countries or parts thereof from which imports into the Community of certain fresh meat are authorised
(notified under document number C(2009) 1031)
(Text with EEA relevance)
(2009/151/EC)
THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES
,
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,
Having regard to Council Directive 2002/99/EC of 16 December 2002 laying down the animal health rules governing the production, processing, distribution and introduction of products of animal origin for human consumption (1), and in particular the introductory phrase of Article 8, the first subparagraph of Article 8(1) and Article 8(4) thereof,
Whereas:
(1) Council Decision 79/542/EEC of 21 December 1976 drawing up a list of third countries or parts of third countries, and laying down animal and public health and veterinary certification conditions, for importation into the Community of certain live animals and their fresh meat (2) establishes the sanitary conditions for the importation into the Community of live animals excluding equidae, and for the importation of fresh meat of such animals, including equidae, but excluding meat preparations.
(2) Decision 79/542/EEC provides that imports of fresh meat intended for human consumption are only allowed if such meat comes from a territory of a third country or a part thereof listed in Part 1 of Annex II to that Decision, and the fresh meat meets the requirements set out in the appropriate veterinary certificate for that meat in accordance with the models set out in Part 2 of that Annex, taking into account any specific conditions or supplementary guarantees required for the meat.
(3) Botswana is listed in Part 1 of Annex II to Decision 79/542/EEC and has been divided into different territories, mainly according to their animal health status. Those territories are authorised to export to the Community de-boned and matured fresh meat of domestic bovine animals, of domestic sheep and goats, and of certain farmed and wild non-domestic animals (fresh meat).
(4) On 20 October 2008, an outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease was suspected in a farm located in the district of Ghanzi, situated in the veterinary disease control zone 12 of Botswana. As soon as the outbreak was confirmed, the competent authority in Botswana suspended exports of fresh meat to the Community from the whole of the country.
(5) In view of these circumstances, imports into the Community of fresh meat from the veterinary disease control zone 12 of Botswana was no longer authorised by Decision 79/542/EEC, as amended by Commission Decision 2009/4/EC (3).
(6) Considering that the competent authority in Botswana has now provided sufficient guarantees regarding the measures put in place to control the spread of the disease which have been effective in eliminating infection of foot-and-mouth disease it is appropriate to re-instate veterinary disease control zone 12 thereby once again allowing exports of fresh meat into the Community from that zone.
(7) Part 1 of Annex II to Decision 79/542/EEC should therefore be amended accordingly.
(8) The measures provided for in this Decision are in accordance with the opinion of the Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health,