COMMISSION DECISION  of 26 July 1991  laying down the specimen animal health certificates in respect of meat products imported from third countries  (91/449/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, ovine and caprine animals and swine, fresh meat or meat products from third countries (1), as last amended by  Directive 91/266/EEC (2), and in particular Articles 21a and 22 thereof,
Whereas Council Decision 79/542/EEC (3), as amended by Commission Decision 91/360/EEC (4), draws up a list of third countries from which the Member States authorize imports of bovine animals, swine, fresh meat and meat products;
Whereas it is necessary to lay down animal health conditions required for imports of meat products from those third countries;
Whereas the categories of meat products that may be imported from third countries depends on the health situation of the country of manufacture; whereas, in order to be able to be imported, certain meat products must have been subjected to a particular  treatment;
Whereas certain third countries appearing on the abovementioned list are only to be authorized for imports of meat products which have been subjected to a complete heat treatment;
Whereas, however, certain Member States import meat products from these countries, and it is necessary to authorize direct import of these products to the Member States concerned until the Commission has carried out a veterinary mission;
Whereas, in general, certain categories of meat products can be imported into the Community; whereas it is necessary to lay down the treatments and certificates required to import these products from the exporting third country; whereas, however, under  the procedure laid down in Article 29 of Directive 72/462/EEC, other types of treatment may be allowed on a case-by-case basis according to the animal health situation prevailing in the exporting country;
Whereas the measures provided for in this Decision are in accordance with the opinion of the Standing Veterinary Committee,
1. Member States shall authorize imports of the following categories of meat products:
(a) meat products other than those described in (b) conforming to the requirements laid down in the specimen animal health certificate in Annex A. This certificate must accompany the consignments of meat products coming from the third country or parts  of third countries listed in the second part of Annex A, until specific animal health conditions and veterinary certification have been laid down by Commission decisions, following a mission to each country;
(b) meat products which have undergone a heat treatment in a hermetically sealed container to a Fo value of three or more conforming to the requirements laid down in the specimen animal health certificate in Annex B. This certificate must accompany the  consignment of meat products coming from those third countries listed in the second part of Annex B, until specific animal health conditions and veterinary certification have been laid down by Commission decisions, following a mission to each country.
2. However, Member States shall authorize the import from certain countries listed in the second part of Annex C, meat products which have been cooked to a centre temperature of at least 80 °C conforming to the requirements laid down in the animal  health certificate in Annex C. This certificate must accompany the consignment, until specific animal health conditions and veterinary certification have been laid down by Commission decisions, following a mission to each country.
3. Member States shall not authorize the import of categories of meat products other than those mentioned in paragraphs 1 and 2.
This Decision is addressed to the Member States.