Whereas following a Community veterinary mission it appears that the animal health situation in Iceland is excellent, stable and completely controlled by well structured and organized veterinary services, particularly as regards diseases transmissible through meat;

Whereas following a Community veterinary mission it appears that the animal health situation in Honduras is good, stable and completely controlled by well-structured and organized veterinary services, particularly as regards diseases transmissible through meat;

Canada and the United States of America have provided guarantees regarding compliance with the appropriate rules set out in Directive 89/556/EEC and the collection teams concerned have been officially approved for exports to the Community by the veterinary services of those countries.

The competent veterinary services of Cyprus, Switzerland, Canada and Hungary have forwarded requests for addition to the list of centres officially approved in their territories for the export of semen of domestic animals of the porcine species to the Community, established by Commission Decision 95/94/EC.

To be included on that list, a third country must demonstrate its rabies status and that it complies with certain conditions relating to notification, monitoring, veterinary services, prevention and control of rabies and regulation of vaccines.

Whereas Community on-the-spot visits have been undertaken or will be undertaken to ensure the uniform application of Directive 88/407/EEC, particularly in relation to the veterinary supervision of semen production systems, the powers of the veterinary services and the supervision to which semen collection centres are subject;

(2) Guarantees regarding compliance with the requirements specified in Article 8 of Directive 89/556/EEC have been provided to the Commission by the competent veterinary services of the countries concerned, and they have officially approved the collection teams concerned for exports to the Community.

Whereas, following a Community veterinary mission, it appears that the animal health situation in the United States of America is excellent, stable and completely controlled by well-structured and organized veterinary services, particularly as regards diseases transmissible through meat;

Whereas, following a Community veterinary mission, it appears that the animal health situation in Belize is excellent, stable and completely controlled by well structured and organized veterinary services, particularly as regards diseases transmissible through meat;

Where general compliance with the periods referred to in the second indent of ubparagraph 1(a) and in subparagraph 1(b) poses problems for veterinary services, the Contracting Parties shall see to it that, subject to at least twelve hours' notice being given by the carrier, a veterinary expert is available during those periods;

is approved for export to the Community by the veterinary services of ………………………………. and fulfils the requirements of Annex A to Directive 90/429/EEC (conditions relating to the approval and supervision of semen collection centres);

In deciding whether an embryo collection team in a third country may appear on the list referred to in paragraph 1, particular account shall be taken of the veterinary supervision of embryo collection systems in that country, the powers of the veterinary services and the supervision to which embryo collection teams are subject.

Where general compliance with the periods referred to in paragraph 1 (a), second indent, and (b) poses problems for veterinary services, Member States shall see to it that, with at least 2 hours' notice from the carrier, a veterinary expert is available during those periods:

(3) However, the Argentinean veterinary authorities have informed the Commission Services on 19 September 2003 that they have enlarged the area under restriction in order to prevent a further spread of the disease in other parts of Argentina, and to create a buffer zone along the borders with other countries.

To ensure that all products of animal origin entering the Community undergo veterinary checks the competent authority and the official veterinarians of each Member State shall coordinate with other enforcement services to gather all pertinent intelligence regarding introduction of animal products.

is approved for export to the Community by the veterinary services of …………………………… and fulfils the requirements of Annex A to Council Directive 90/429/EEC (conditions relating to the approval and supervision of semen collection centres);

Whereas following a Commission veterinary inspection mission to Morocco and after receiving a comprehensive report on the control measures taken by the competent authorities of Morocco, the equine health situation appears to be under the satisfactory control of well structured and organized veterinary services;

The competent veterinary services of Hungary have forwarded a request for one addition to the list, established by Commission Decision 93/693/EC fn, as last amended by Decision 2001/104/EC fn, of semen collection centres officially approved for the export from Hungary to the Community of semen of domestic animals of the bovine species.

Whereas the Ministry of National Development, Primary Production Department, the competent authority in Singapore, and the Veterinary Public Health Division, its inspection department, are capable of effectively verifying the application of the laws in force;

(1) The competent veterinary services of the United States of America and Switzerland have forwarded requests for amendments to the list established by Commission Decision 92/452/EEC fn, as last amended by Decision 2002/637/EC fn, of teams officially approved in their territory for the export of embryos of domestic animals of the bovine species to the Community.

The competent veterinary services of the Slovak Republic have forwarded a request for amendments to the list, established by Commission Decision 93/693/EC (2), as last amended by Decision 2002/36/EC (3), of semen collection centres officially approved for the export from the Slovak Republic to the Community of semen of domestic animals of the bovine species.

Whereas therefore the animal health conditions, the veterinary certificates and the third countries from which Crassostrea gigas can be introduced for relaying must, awaiting information on the zoosanitary situation and on the organization of the inspection services of third countries not yet listed, be a provisional one;

The competent veterinary services of the United States of America have forwarded a request for one addition to the list, established by Commission Decision 93/693/EC (2), as last amended by Decision 2001/639/EC (3) of semen collection centres officially approved for the export from the United States of America to the Community of semen of domestic animals of the bovine species.

(3) Article 2.3.13.7 of the International Animal Health Code (2001) issued by the International Office of Epizootics on BSE recommends that if gelatine and collagen are prepared exclusively from hides and skins, veterinary administrations should authorise their import and transit through their territories without restriction, regardless of the status of the exporting countries.

(g) that it is signed by the official veterinarian or, where appropriate, the representative of the official authority, and shows legibly and in capitals his/her name and position, and also that the official health stamp of the third country and official signature are in a different colour to that of the printing of the certificate, or, for electronic certificates, signature and stamp are made by a secure system;

Whereas it appears that the animal health situation in the third countries on the list drawn up in Council Decision 79/542/EEC (6), as last amended by Commission Decision 93/100/EEC (7), and including ovine and caprine animals, is supervised by veterinary services which, although in some cases are in the process of reorganization, can nevertheless offer satisfactory guarantees concerning diseases which might be transmitted through the import of ovine and caprine animals;

Article 1 of Commission Decision 94/323/EC of 19 May 1994 laying down special conditions governing imports of fishery products originating in Singapore(3), states that the Ministry of National Development, Primary Production Department (Veterinary Public Health Division) shall be the competent authority in Singapore for verifying and certifying compliance of fishery and aquaculture products with the requirements of Directive 91/493/EEC.

Whereas it is also necessary to review the provisions relating to China, following an on-the-spot inspection carried out by the Commission services; whereas this inspection revealed that certification provided was inaccurate and inadequate; whereas a certain delay should be provided for this suspension to come into force to enable the competent authorities in the Member States to implement this Decision and to allow importation of consignments shipped before the date of entry into force of this Decision;

Derogation from the documentary and identity checks may be granted by the competent veterinary authority for sea and air transport where the consignment:

Whereas, following a Community veterinary mission, it appears that the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia is covered by sufficiently well-structured and organized veterinary services;

structures and powers of the veterinary service; (f)

notify the veterinary service in advance of the time of slaughter and the number and the origin of the animals to allow it to carry out the ante mortem inspection in accordance with Chapter VI of Annex I, either on the farm or at the slaughterhouse.

the official veterinary service of the Member State,

the slaughterhouse must notify the veterinary service of the time of slaughter and the number and the origin of the animals to allow it to carry out the ante mortem inspection in accordance with Chapter VI of Annex I, either on the farm or immediately prior to slaughter;

Demands made of Community veterinary services for residues

Whereas, in Mauritius the "Official Veterinary Services (OVS) of the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Cooperatives" is capable of effectively verifying the application of the laws in force;

the structure of the veterinary services in that country and their powers;

The "Official Veterinary Services (OVS) of the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Cooperatives" shall be the competent authority in Mauritius for verifying and certifying compliance of fishery and aquaculture products with the requirements of Directive 91/493/EEC.

THE STRUCTURE OF THE VETERINARY SERVICES IN THE COUNTRY AND THEIR POWERS;

the structure of the veterinary services in the country and their powers; (e)

Demands made of Community veterinary services for certification on quality matters

report to the Chief Veterinary Officer and the national disease control centre;

AN ADEQUATELY EQUIPPED LOCKABLE ROOM FOR THE EXCLUSIVE USE OF THE VETERINARY SERVICE;

Competent authority: Directorate of Veterinary Services of the Ministry of Agriculture and Food (DVSMAF)

structures, skills, independence and qualifications of the veterinary service or other competent services;

To the room referred to in point 9 of Chapter I for the veterinary service, extra rooms may be added if necessary;

Article 1 of Commission Decision 1999/276/EC of 23 April 1999 laying down special conditions governing imports of fishery and aquaculture products originating in Mauritius(3), states that the "Official Veterinary Services (OVS) of the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Cooperatives" shall be the competent authority in Mauritius for verifying and certifying compliance of fishery and aquaculture products with the requirements of Directive 91/493/EEC;

the legal power of the veterinary service to inspect and approve the plants producing processed animal protein;

the organisation of close cooperation between wildlife biologists, hunters, hunting organisations, the wildlife protection services and veterinary services

Guarantees regarding compliance with the requirements specified in Article 8 of Directive 89/556/EEC have been provided to the Commission by the competent veterinary services of Canada.