THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,
Having regard to Council Directive 2004/68/EC of 26 April 2004 laying down animal health rules for the importation into and transit through the Community of certain live ungulate animals, amending Directives 90/426/EEC and 92/65/EEC and repealing Directive 72/462/EEC(1) in particular Article 3(1) and Article 17 thereof,
Whereas:
(1) Part 1 of Annex I to Council Decision 79/542/EEC of 21 December 1979 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(2) sets out a list of third countries and parts of third countries from which Member States are authorised to import certain live animals.
(2) The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Serbia and Montenegro are listed in Part 1 of Annex II to Decision 79/542/EEC for import into the Community of meat but are not listed in Part 1 of Annex I and therefore import and transit through the EU of the live animals covered by this Decision is not presently authorised.
(3) However the disease situation in these countries is acceptable and, in addition, in the interest of animal welfare it would be preferable to allow transit of slaughter animals through these countries subject to certain conditions. Therefore for a transitional period until 31 December 2006 and pending a Commission mission to these countries, transit through these countries of consignments of live animals referred to in Decision 79/542/EEC for direct slaughter may be allowed coming from the acceding countries of Bulgaria and Romania and destined to a Member State. This transitional period should apply only for Bulgaria and Romania in view of their intended accession.
(4) In order to ensure the health status of the individual consignments additional conditions such as sealing of the lorries and stamping of the certificate must be laid down.
(5) Part 1 of Annex I to Decision 79/542/EEC should be amended accordingly.
(6) 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:
OJ L 139, 30.4.2004, p. 321, as corrected by OJ L 226, 25.6.2004, p. 128.
OJ L 146, 14.6.1979, p. 15. Decision as last amended by Commission Decision 2005/753/EC (OJ L 282, 26.10.2005, p. 22).