Where, on the basis of the checks carried out at the point where the animals are marketed, a competent authority of a Member State considers that this Directive is not being complied with at a border inspection post of another Member State, it shall contact the competent national authority of that Member State without delay.

The latter shall take all the necessary measures and inform the competent authority of the first Member State of the nature of the checks made, the decision taken and the reasons for such decisions.

If the competent authority of the first Member State believes the measures are insufficient it shall examine, with the competent authority of the Member State in question, the ways and means in which the situation could be remedied, where necessary by visiting the Member State in question.

Where the checks referred to in the first subparagraph show repeated non-compliance with this Directive, the competent authority of the Member State of destination shall inform the Commission and the competent authorities of the other Member States.

The Commission must, at the request of the competent authority of the Member State of destination or on its own initiative, send an inspection team to the Member State in question in conjunction with the competent national authorities. Depending on the type of infringement observed, that team may remain in the Member State in question until the decisions referred to in the final subparagraph have been taken.

Pending the Commission's findings, the Member State in question must, at the request of the Member State of destination, step up checks at the border inspection post or quarantine centre concerned.

The Member State of destination may, for its part, intensify checks on animals coming from these sources.

At the request of one of the two Member States concerned, and in accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 22, the Commission must, where the irregularities are confirmed by the inspection referred to in the fifth subparagraph, take the appropriate measures. These measures must be confirmed or reviewed as soon as possible in accordance with the same procedure.