The Commission has approved the operational programmes submitted by Finland and Sweden regarding salmonella controls. Those programmes include specific measures for laying hens, namely productive poultry reared with a view to producing eggs for consumption.

Guarantees should be established equivalent to those implemented by Finland and Sweden under their operational programmes.

Those additional guarantees are to be based in particular on a microbiological examination of the poultry to be sent to Finland and Sweden.

Rules should be established for this microbiological examination of samples by laying down the sampling method, the number of samples to be taken and the microbiological methods for examining the samples.

Those guarantees should not be applicable to any flock that is subject to a programme recognized as equivalent to that implemented by Finland and Sweden.

Finland and Sweden should apply to consignments originating from third countries import requirements at least as stringent as those laid down in this Decision.

The methods described in this Decision take into account the opinion of the European Food Safety Authority.

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