31. 1. 97 Official Journal of the European Communities No L 29/1 (Acts whose publication is obligatory) COMMISSION REGULATION (EC) No 164/97 of 30 January 1997 adopting exceptional support measures for the beef market in France by application of Decision 97/18/EC THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES, Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, Having regard to Council Regulation (EEC) No 805/68 of 27 June 1968 on the common organization of the market in beef and veal ("), as last amended by Regulation (EC) No 2222/96 (3, and, in particular, Article 23 thereof, Whereas by Commission Decision 97/18/EC (%) the Commission approved measures proposed by France in order to control and eradicate BSE in that Member State; whereas in accordance with the abovementioned Decision financial assistance to France for carrying out the slaugh- tering of the animals concerned should be provided along the lines laid down in Commission Regulation (EC) No 716/96 of 19 April 1996 adopting exceptional support measures for the beef market in the United Kingdom (%), as last amended by Regulation (EC) No 2423/96 (%) whereas, consequently it is appropriate to provide for a Community contribution of 70 % of the market value of the animals slaughtered; whereas, for the purpose of es- tablishing the market value France shall set up a system securing a fair and objective evaluation of each animal; Whereas, it is necessary to ensure that the animals concerned are killed and destroyed in a manner which does not pose any threat to human health or the health of other animals; whereas, it is therefore necessary to specify the conditions for the destruction of these animals and of the controls to be carried out by the French authorities; Whereas, provision should be made for Commission experts to check compliance with the conditions as speci- fied; Whereas the measures provided for in this Regulation are in accordance with the opinion of the Management Committee for Beef and Veal, J No L 148, 28. 6. 1968, p. 24. J No L 296, 21. 11. 1996, p. 0. ] No L 6, 10. 1. 1997, p. 43. 7 No L 99, 20. 4. 1996, p. 14. J No L 329, 19. 12. 1996, p. 43. HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION: Article 1 1. France shall be authorized to pay compensation in respect of bovine animals present on a holding located in the territory of France and slaughtered in accordance with France’s eradication plan as approved by Decision 97/18/EC. 2.  The animals referred to in paragraph 1 shall be killed either on the farm or in a rendering plant. No part of the abovementioned animals may enter into the human food or animal feed chains or be used for cosmetic or pharmaceutical products. Notwithstanding the first subparagraph and subject to the necessary control, after being killed on the farm, the animals shall immediately be transported to a rendering plant for processing and destruction. 3. The French competent authority shall: — notwithstanding paragraph 1, before processing and destruction, be authorized to proceed to laboratory examination of the brains from a sample of animals slaughtered, — be authorized, before processing and destruction, to use a limited number of animals for research or educational purposes, — carry out the necessary administrative checks and effective on-the-spot supervision of the operations referred to in paragraphs 2, and — control those operations on the basis of frequent and unannounced inspections, in particular to verify that all material obtained has been effectively destroyed. The results of these checks, controls and examinations shall be made available to the Commission on request. 4. The hides of the animals referred to in paragraph 1 do not have to be destroyed provided that they have been treated in such a way that they can only be used for leather production.