****

( 1 ) OJ NO L 302 , 31 . 12 . 1972 , P . 28 .

( 2 ) OJ NO L 26 , 31 . 1 . 1977 , P . 81 .

( 3 ) OJ NO L 213 , 3 . 8 . 1978 , P . 15 .

( 4 ) OJ NO L 5 , 9 . 1 . 1980 , P . 7 .

COMMISSION DECISION

OF 7 MARCH 1980

SUSPENDING THE OPTION PROVIDED FOR BY DECISION 78/642/EEC OF AUTHORIZING IMPORTS OF FRESH MEAT FROM THE REPUBLIC OF BOTSWANA

( 80/354/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 77/98/EEC ( 2 ), AND IN PARTICULAR ARTICLE 15 THEREOF ,

WHEREAS COUNCIL DECISION 78/642/EEC ( 3 ), AS LAST AMENDED BY COMMISSION DECISION 80/2/EEC ( 4 ), GRANTED THE MEMBER STATES THE OPTION OF AUTHORIZING IMPORTS INTO THEIR TERRITORY , UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS AND FROM CERTAIN REGIONS , OF FRESH MEAT FROM THE REPUBLIC OF BOTSWANA , TAKING INTO ACCOUNT IN PARTICULAR THE EXISTING HEALTH SITUATION IN THAT COUNTRY AND THE MEASURES TAKEN BY THAT COUNTRY ' S AUTHORITIES TO COMBAT FOOT-AND-MOUTH DISEASE AND TO AVOID ITS SPREADING INTO OTHER UNAFFECTED REGIONS ;

WHEREAS INFORMATION RECEIVED FROM THE AUTHORITIES OF THE REPUBLIC OF BOTSWANA SUGGESTS THAT A NEW OUTBREAK OF FOOT-AND-MOUTH DISEASE HAS OCCURRED IN A REGION WHICH WAS HITHERTO UNAFFECTED AND WHICH WAS INTENDED TO SERVE AS A BUFFER ZONE TO PROTECT THE REGIONS AUTHORIZED FOR THE EXPORT OF FRESH MEAT TO THE COMMUNITY ; WHEREAS THIS ACCORDINGLY MEANS THAT THERE IS A SERIOUS DANGER THAT THE DISEASE WILL SPREAD INTO THE REGIONS AUTHORIZED FOR THE EXPORT OF FRESH MEAT TO THE COMMUNITY ;

WHEREAS , UNTIL SUCH TIME IN PARTICULAR AS THE RESULTS OF THE SURVEYS REQUIRED TO ENSURE THAT THE DISEASE IS NOT PRESENT IN THE REGIONS WHICH WERE AUTHORIZED FOR EXPORT ARE AVAILABLE , IT IS NECESSARY TO SUSPEND IMPORTS OF FRESH MEAT FROM THE ENTIRE TERRITORY OF THE REPUBLIC OF BOTSWANA IN ORDER TO AVOID ANY RISK OF INTRODUCING THIS DISEASE INTO THE COMMUNITY ;

WHEREAS THE SUSPENSION OF IMPORTS FROM THE REPUBLIC OF BOTSWANA WILL BE REVIEWED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CHANGING SITUATION IN RESPECT OF THE DISEASE ;

WHEREAS THE MEASURES PROVIDED FOR IN THIS DECISION ARE IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE OPINION OF THE STANDING VETERINARY COMMITTEE ,

HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION :

ARTICLE 1

THE OPTION PROVIDED FOR IN DECISION 78/642/EEC OF AUTHORIZING IMPORTS OF FRESH MEAT FROM CERTAIN DISTRICTS OF THE REPUBLIC OF BOTSWANA IS HEREBY PROVISIONALLY SUSPENDED .

ARTICLE 2

THIS DECISION IS ADDRESSED TO THE MEMBER STATES .

DONE AT BRUSSELS , 7 MARCH 1980 .

FOR THE COMMISSION

FINN GUNDELACH

VICE-PRESIDENT