85/472/EEC: Commission Decision of 2 October 1985 on health protection measures in respect of Zimbabwe

COMMISSION  DECISION
of 2 October 1985
on health protection measures in respect of Zimbabwe
(85/472/EEC)
THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN
COMMUNITIES
,
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Economic Community,
Having regard to Council Directive 72/462/EEC of 12 December 1972 on health and veterinary inspection problems upon importation of bovine animals and swine and fresh meat from third countries (1), as last amended by Directive 83/91/EEC (2), and in particular Article 15 thereof,
Whereas the Member States should be granted the option of authorizing imports into their territory, under certain conditions and from certain regions, of fresh meat from Zimbabwe, taking into account, in particular, the existing health situation in that country and the measures taken by that country's authorities to combat foot-and-mouth disease and to avoid its spreading into other, unaffected regions;
Whereas outbreaks of exotic foot-and-mouth disease have occurred from time to time in certain southern areas of Zimbabwe; whereas, however, other parts of the country have been free of the disease for a number of years;
Whereas strict measures, in particular the prohibition of movements of livestock from the southern regions of Zimbabwe to the disease-free region of Mashonaland, are applied, except in the case of livestock for immediate slaughter; whereas the southern regions are clearly demarcated from the disease-free region; whereas measures are applied throughout the country to monitor the movements of livestock and to detect any outbreak of the disease;
Whereas the central veterinary authorities of Zimbabwe have confirmed that Zimbabwe has remained free of foot-and-mouth disease since September 1984 and have undertaken to inform the Member States and the Commission of any new outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease therein within 24 hours, by telex or telegram, or of an alteration to their vaccination policy against it;
Whereas the competent authorities of Zimbabwe have given assurances that meat intended for the Community will be produced, handled and stored entirely separately from meat which does not fulfil the terms of this Decision;
Whereas this Decision will be reviewed in the light of the developing animal health situation in Zimbabwe and in particular of the appearance of foot-and-mouth disease, of the vaccination policy employed, of the designation of buffer zones and of the designation of regions from which animals, whose meat is intended for export to the Community, are acceptable;
Whereas the animal health requirements of Member States, pursuant to Article 16 of Directive 72/462/EEC relating to imports of meat from Zimbabwe, have not yet been laid down at Community level; whereas, pending the entry into force of such requirements, the Member States may continue to apply their national animal health rules on imports of fresh meat from Zimbabwe;
Whereas the measures provided for in this Decision are in accordance with the opinion of the Standing Veterinary Committee,