Introductory text

THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,

Having regard to Council Directive 2002/99/EC of 16 December 2002 laying down the animal health rules governing the production, processing, distribution and introduction of products of animal origin for human consumption^f1, and in particular points (1) and (4) of Article 8 and Article 9(4) thereof,

Whereas:

Council Decision 79/542/EEC of 21 December 1976 drawing up a list of third countries or parts of third countries, and laying down animal and public health and veterinary certification conditions, for importation into the Community of certain live animals and their fresh meat^f2 provides that imports of those animals and meat are to meet the requirements set out in the appropriate model certificates drawn up under that Decision.

Argentina has confirmed an outbreak of foot and mouth disease (type O) in the Province of Corrientes in the Department of San Luís del Palmar and has immediately informed the Commission on 8 February 2006.

It is necessary, in order to protect the health status of the Community, to take regionalisation measures temporarily suspending imports of de-boned meat coming from bovines originating from that Department and the surrounding Departments of Berón de Astrada, Capital, General Paz, Empedrado, Itati, Mbucuruyá and San Cosme.

The first notification of a suspicion of foot and mouth disease to the Argentinean veterinary authorities was on 4 February 2006. However, the veterinary authorities have suspended certification of exports of meat from animals slaughtered after the 4 January 2006. Consignments of such meat from bovines slaughtered on or after 4 January 2006 from those Departments should be suspended. However by way of derogation from that suspension consignments with a certification signed between 4 January to 4 February 2006 for de-boned and matured meat from bovines slaughtered during the period from 4 January 2006 to 4 February 2006 and already dispatched to the Community should be permitted to be imported into the Community.

Following a recent Commission mission to Brazil it appears that although the traceability systems have been substantially improved, some further improvements are necessary in order to avoid possible contacts between animals of different status. It is also necessary to improve the efficacy of foot and mouth disease vaccination and the ability to demonstrate lack of circulation of foot and mouth disease virus taking into account that only de-boned and matured bovine meat is imported into the Community.

It is appropriate as an additional measure to provide for supplementary guarantees concerning animal contacts, vaccination and surveillance.

Account needs to be taken of the non-vaccination foot and mouth policy in the State of Santa Catarina.

Annex II to Decision 79/542/EEC should therefore be amended accordingly.

The measures provided for in this Decision are in accordance with the opinion of the Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health,

HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION: