COMMISSION REGULATION (EC) No 3337/93 of 3 December 1993 adopting exceptional support measures for the market in pigmeat in Belgium

COMMISSION REGULATION (EC) No 3337/93 of 3 December 1993 adopting exceptional support measures for the market in pigmeat in Belgium
THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES
,
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,
Having regard to Council Regulation (EEC) No 2759/75 of 29 October 1975 on the common organization of the market in pigmeat (1), as last amended by Regulation (EEC) No 1249/89 (2), and in particular Articles 20 and 22 (2) thereof,
Whereas, because of the outbreak of classical swine fever in certain production regions in Belgium, protection zones have been established by the Belgian authorities pursuant to Article 9 of Council Directive 80/217/EEC of 22 January 1980 introducing  Community measures for the control of classical swine fever (3), as last amended by Directive 93/384/EEC (4); whereas, consequently, in these zones the trade in live pigs, fresh pigmeat and pigmeat products which have not been subjected to heat  treatment is temporarily prohibited;
Whereas restrictions on the free movement of goods resulting from the application of veterinary measures are likely to bring about a serious disturbance of the market for pigmeat in Belgium; whereas exceptional market support measures, to apply for no  longer than is strictly necessary, must accordingly be adopted with respect solely to live animals from the affected areas;
Whereas, with the aim of preventing a further spread of the disease, the pigs produced in the protection zones should be separated from normal trade in products intended for human consumption and processed into products intended for uses other than  human consumption;
Whereas a buying-in price should be fixed at which piglets and live pigs in the protection zones are to be taken over by the intervention agency; whereas with the aim of preventing misuse, the buying in of piglets which are fattened on closed-circuit  holdings should be excluded;
Whereas provision should be made for the Belgian authorities to adopt all necessary control and surveillance measures and to inform the Commission accordingly;
Whereas the restrictions on the free movement of live pigs have been operative for several weeks now in the zones in question, provoking a substantial increase in the weight of the animals and leading to an intolerable situation where the welfare of the  animals is concerned; whereas retroactive application of this Regulation from 22 November 1993 is therefore justified;
Whereas the Management Committee for Pigmeat has not delivered an opinion within the time limit set by its chairman,