1999/419/EC: Commission Decision of 24 June 1999 amending Decisions 1999/363/EC and 1999/389/EC as regards protective measures with regard to contamination of certain products by dioxins (notified under document number C(1999) 1832) (Text with EEA relevance)

COMMISSION DECISION
of 24 June 1999
amending Decisions 1999/363/EC and 1999/389/EC as regards protective measures with regard to contamination of certain products by dioxins
(notified under document number C(1999) 1832)
(Text with EEA relevance)
(1999/419/EC)
THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES
,
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,
Having regard to Council Directive 89/662/EEC of 11 December 1989 concerning veterinary checks in intra-Community trade with a view to the completion of the internal market(1), as last amended by Directive 92/118/EEC(2), and in particular Article 9(4) thereof,
Having regard to Council Directive 90/425/EEC of 26 June 1990 concerning veterinary and zootechnical checks applicable in intra-Community trade in certain live animal and products with a view to the completion of the internal marked(3), as last amended by Directive 92/118/EEC, and in particular Article 10(4) thereof,
(1) Whereas in the light of information on contamination of poultry, bovine and pig products with dioxins, the Commission adopted Decision 1999/363/EC of 3 June 1999 on protective measures with regard to contamination by dioxins of certain animal products intended for human or animal consumption(4), as amended by Decision 1999/390/EC(5), and Decision 1999/389/EC of 11 June 1999 on protective measures with regard to contamination by dioxins of products intended for human consumption derived from bovine animals and pigs and revoking decision 1999/368/EC(6) as amended by Decision 1999/390/EC;
(2) Whereas, in accordance with the provisions of Decisions 1999/363/EC and 1999/389/EC, Member States have placed restrictions on products to which those Decisions apply; whereas it appears to be difficult to trace back the exact origin of certain Belgian products and, in particular, products derived from domestic fowl produced between 15 January 1999 and 1 June 1999 and products derived from bovine animals and pigs produced between 15 January 1999 and 3 June 1999; whereas the Belgian authorities are prepared to accept the return of those products from Member States in application of Article 7 of Directive 89/662/EC; whereas it is necessary to lay down strict and specific rules on the procedure to be followed when the products are returned to Belgium in order to ensure that they cannot re-enter the human food or animal feed chains before they are submitted to the appropriate checks to verify their safety;
(3) Whereas Article 15 of Council Directive 97/78/EC of 18 December 1997 laying down the principles governing the organisation of veterinary checks on products entering the Community from third countries'(7) establishes specific rules for the re-importation of consignments of products of Community origin which have been refused by a third country;
(4) Whereas the measures provided for in this Decision are in accordance with the opinion of the Standing Veterinary Committee,