COUNCIL RESOLUTION of 15 October 1990 on measures to be taken in the veterinary field with a view to the completion of the internal market (90/C 288/01)

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES, Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Economic Community, Whereas the establishment since 1964 of harmonized rules in the veterinary field in respect of the main animals and products of animal origin covered by common organization of the market has facilitated the development of intra-Community trade in such animals and products; Considering the objectives set out in the White Paper submitted by the Commission in June 1985 and given tangible form by the signing of the Single Act; Whereas since the submission of the White Paper considerable progress has been made with regard to the harmonization of means of controlling epizootic diseases and zoonoses, health conditions concerning production and rules governing veterinary checks; Considering in this context Council Directive 89/662/EEC of 11 December 1989 concerning veterinary checks in intra-Community trade with a view to the completion of the internal market (1) and Council Directive 90/425/EEC of 26 June 1990 concerning veterinary and zootechnical checks applicable in intra-Comunity trade in certain live animals and products with a view to the completion of the internal market (2) to be of prime importance in setting up measures which must be introduced to bring about the completion of a genuine internal market in 1993; Considering that those measures should aim: - at stepping up operations to combat and control the main epizootic diseases and zoonoses threatening the Community, the objective continuing to be the highest degree of harmonization with regard to the protection of public and animal health within the Community, -at establishing a genuinely uniform policy towards third countries, -at completing the arrangements set up by extending them to all products of animal origin and animals subject to veterinary checks in the Community; Whereas at their meeting on 6 and 7 July 1990 the Chief Veterinary Officers took the view that the objectives laid down in the White Paper could be achieved only if the Community: - established at its external borders: (i) effective, uniform inspection, the Commission having to ensure that inspection rules were uniformly applied and that the necessary structures were in place, (ii)quarantine centres approved and controlled in accordance with Community procedures, (iii)a computerized system introduced as soon as possible linking border posts and attached to the computerized liaison system between the veterinary authorities, the setting up of which had been entrusted to the Commission by the Council in accordance with Article 20 (1) of Directive 90/425/EEC, -decided, with regard to control measures and checks: (i) to step up cooperation between Member States and the Commission, (ii)to put into practice the Council's decisions concerning the early-warning system by setting up a structure and arrangements making it possible to take action more effectively to deal swiftly with serious crisis situations affecting Community territory, HEREBY AGREES: - on the need to strengthen, to the extent necessary, by 1993, the structures and staffing of the Community and Member States' veterinary services to enable them to fulfil their responsibilities in ensuring the uniform application of Community rules and the establishment of control arrangements at the Community's external borders and the crisis mechanism, -to give favourable consideration, with a view to the internal market, to (i) setting up a Community veterinary structure aimed at grouping together all the verification tasks conferred on the Commission by the Community legislation referred to in Annex I, (ii)a Community crisis unit at the Commission, and, at the same time, a national crisis unit in each Member State concerned or likely to be, which will exchange information and provide mutual assistance in dealing with emergencies, -to give the Working Party of Chief Veterinary Officers, in the context of the Community procedures in force, greater responsibility in the decision-making process in the veterinary field, -to use every possible means to achieve the objectives set out in the Council's rolling action programme to ensure the application of Community rules with a view to the completion of the internal market in the veterinary sector and the elimination of checks at internal Community borders, -that any expenditure arising from these procedures will be defrayed within the framework of the existing budget procedures, INVITES THE COMMISSION: - to submit to it at the earliest opportunity the study on the infrastructure of Community and Member States' veterinary services which was requested on 26 June 1990, updating in this context the report on veterinary inspection submitted in 1987, in order to take into account the extension of Community inspection to all the sectors covered by veterinary checks, -to submit to it, in the light of the study referred to in the first indent, suitable proposals taking account of the objectives set by the Chief Veterinary Officers and of this resolution, and in particular a proposal for the creation of a Community crisis unit and the introduction of general rules concerning national crisis units, -to submit to the Chief Veterinary Officers a working document setting out the priorities and ways of arriving by 1993 at procedures for applying the Directives referred to in Annex II, -to draw up a list of the veterinary measures applicable to the different products of animal origin and animals subject to veterinary controls and the agreements which have been concluded between Member States to facilitate trade in these products and animals with a view to submitting to the Council appropriate proposals, -to take control harmonization initiatives, in the context of Directives 89/662/EEC and 90/425/EEC: - by means of in-service training for inspection staff provided in particular through sessions and courses organized by Member States, -by carrying out quality controls of the various laboratories available to veterinary services as scientific and technical back-up. (1) OJ No L 395, 30. 12. 1989, p. 13.

(2) OJ No L 224, 18. 8. 1990, p. 29.

ANNEX I

Community checks to be carried out pursuant to Directives: - 64/432/EEC: Intra-Community trade in bovine animals and swine -64/433/EEC:Fresh meat - intra-Community trade -71/118/EEC:Poultrymeat -72/462/EEC:Imports from third countries of: - fresh meat - live animals - meat products -77/99/EEC:Meat products - intra-Community trade -77/391/EEC:Eradication of brucellosis, tuberculosis and leukosis -80/215/EEC:Meat products - intra-Community trade - health conditions -80/217/EEC:Community measures - classical swine fever -80/1095/EEC:Classical swine fever -85/397/EEC:Heat treated milk - intra-Community trade -85/511/EEC:Foot-and-mouth disease -86/469/EEC:Examination for presence of residues -88/146/EEC:Prohibition of use of certain substances having a hormonal action - protection of laying hens kept in battery cages -88/407/EEC:Bovine semen -88/408/EEC:Fees with regard to fresh meat -88/409/EEC:Health rules and fees for meat intended for the domestic market -88/657/EEC:Meat preparations -89/437/EEC:Egg products -89/556/EEC:Bovine embryos - 89/662/EEC and 90/425/EEC: Veterinary checks in intra-Community trade with a view to completion of the internal market - 90/424/EEC: Veterinary funds

ANNEX II

Detailed rules of application to be adopted and procedures to be carried out pursuant to Directives: - 64/432/EEC: Intra-Community trade in bovine animals and swine -64/433/EEC:Fresh meat - intra-Community trade -72/461/EEC:Fresh meat - intra-Community trade -71/118/EEC:Poultrymeat -72/462/EEC:Imports from third countries of: - fresh meat - live animals - meat products -77/96/EEC:Trichinae - third countries -77/97/EEC:Emergency fund -77/99/EEC:Meat products - intra-Community trade -77/391/EEC:Eradication of brucellosis, tuberculosis and leukosis -80/215/EEC:Meat products - intra-Community trade - health conditions -80/217/EEC:Community measures - classical swine fever -80/1095/EEC:Classical swine fever -85/397/EEC:Heat-treated milk - intra-Community trade -85/511/EEC:Foot-and-mouth disease -86/469/EEC:Examination for presence of residues -88/146/EEC:Prohibition of use of certain substances having a hormonal action - protection of laying hens kept in battery cages -88/407/EEC:Bovine semen -88/408/EEC:Fees with regard to fresh meat -88/409/EEC:Health rules and fees for meat intended for the domestic market -88/657/EEC:Meat preparations -89/437/EEC:Egg products -89/556/EEC:Bovine embryos -89/662/EEC:Veterinary checks in intra-Community trade with a view to completion of the internal market