86/414/EEC: Commission Decision of 31 July 1986 on the list of establishments in Argentina approved for the purpose of importing meat products into the Community

COMMISSION  DECISION
of 31 July 1986
on the list of establishments in Argentina approved for the purpose of importing meat products into the Community
(86/414/EEC)
THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES
,
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Economic Community,
Having regard to Council Directive 77/99/EEC of 21 December 1976 on health problems affecting intra-Community trade in meat products (1), as last amended by Regulation (EEC) No 3768/85 (2), and in particular Article 17 (1) thereof,
Whereas, in application of Article 17 (1) of Directive 77/99/EEC, lists of establishments in third countries authorized for importation of meat products into the Community must be established; whereas these establishments must satisfy the conditions laid down in the Annex to the said Directive;
Whereas Argentina has forwarded a list of the establishments authorized to export to the Community fully heat-treated canned bovine meat and frozen cooked bovine meat which is cooked to a centre temperature of at least 80 °C;
Whereas Community on-the-spot visits have shown that the hygiene standards of certain of these establishments are sufficient; whereas they may therefore be entered on an initial list, established pursuant to Article 17 (1) of the said Directive, of establishments from which importation of meat products may be authorized;
Whereas the case of the other establishments proposed by Argentina has to be re-examined on the basis of additional information regarding their hygiene standards and their ability to adapt quickly to Community legislation;
Whereas, in the meantime and so as to avoid any abrupt interruption of existing trade flows, these establishments may be authorized temporarily to continue their exports of meat products to those Member States prepared to accept them;
Whereas it will therefore be necessary to re-examine and, if necessary, amend this Decision in the light of measures taken to this end and of improvements made;
Whereas the present Decision is based upon the existing Community rules applicable to importations from third countries; whereas it will therefore be necessary to re-examine this Decision as soon as the aforesaid rules have been modified or extended;
Whereas, moreover, in accordance with Article 17 (1) of Directive 77/99/EEC, the provisions otherwise applied by the Member States concerning importation of meat products from third countries may not be more favourable than those governing intra-Community trade; whereas, in this respect, importation of meat products from the establishments appearing on the list in the Annex to this Decision remain subject to other veterinary legislation, particularly as regards animal health requirements, and to the general provisions of the Treaty;
Whereas the measures provided for in this Decision are in accordance with the opinion of the Standing Veterinary Committee,