Commission Decision of 28 April 1987 on the list of establishments in the United States of America approved for the purpose of importing fresh meat into the Community (87/257/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 animals and swine and fresh meat from third countries⁽¹⁾, as last amended by Directive 87/64/EEC⁽²⁾, and in particular Articles 4 (1) and 18 (1) thereof,

1. Whereas establishments in third countries cannot be authorized to export fresh meat unless they satisfy the general and special conditions laid down in Directive 72/462/EEC;

2. Whereas the United States of America has forwarded, in accordance with Article 4 (3) of Directive 72/462/EEC, a list of establishments authorized to export to the Community;

3. Whereas, on the basis of a first inspection, no establishments were judged satisfactory and Commission Decision 86/189/EEC⁽³⁾ prohibited Member States, on a Community basis, from importing fresh meat from establishments in the United States of America, while still allowing those Member States whose national legislation so permitted not to interrupt existing trade flows with the establishments proposed by the American authorities for a period of seven months;

4. Whereas, following a re-examination of the establishments, the transitional arrangements were extended to 29 April 1987 by Commission Decision 87/134/EEC⁽⁴⁾ to correspond with the entry into force of amended Community rules; whereas the deadline for introduction into the Community of meat from these establishments is 22 May 1987;

5. Whereas a further inspection carried out pursuant to Article 5 of Directive 72/462/EEC and Article 2 (1) of Commission Decision 86/474/EEC of 11 September 1986 on the implementation of the on-the-spot inspections to be carried out in respect of the importation of bovine animals and swine and fresh meat from non-member countries⁽⁵⁾ has shown that the standard of hygiene in certain establishments has been raised and can thus be regarded as satisfactory;

6. Whereas they may therefore be entered on an initial list of establishments authorized to export to the Community;

7. Whereas the case of other establishments proposed by the United States of America has to be re-examined on the basis of additional information regarding their hygiene standards and their ability to adapt quickly to Community legislation;

8. Whereas, to avoid any abrupt interruption of trade flows, these establishments may be authorized temporarily from 29 April 1987 to export fresh meat to those Member States prepared to accept them;

9. Whereas it will therefore be necessary to re-examine and, if necessary, amend this Decision in the light of measures taken to this end and of improvements made;

10. Whereas the measures provided for in this Decision are in accordance with the opinion of the Standing Veterinary Committee,

HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION: