3.4.97 Official Journal of the European Communities No L 88/45 COMMISSION DECISION of 28 February 1997 laying down animal and public health conditions and veterinary certification for imports of farmed game meat and rabbit meat from third countries (Text with EEA relevance) (97/219/EC) THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES, Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, Having regard to Council Directive 91/494/EEC of 26 June 1991 on animal health conditions governing intra- Community trade in and imports from third countries of fresh poultrymeat ('), as last amended by Directive 93/121/EEC (}), in particular Articles 11 and 12 thereof, Having regard to Council Directive 92/118/EEC of 17 December 1992 laying down animal health and public health requirements governing trade in and imports into the Community of products not subject to the said re- quirements laid down in specific Community rules referred to in Annex A (I) to Directive 89/662/EEC and, as regards pathogens, to Directive 90/425/EEC (%), as last amended by Directive 96/90/EC (*), and in particular Article 10 thereof, Whereas Annex 1 Chapter 11 of the abovementioned Directive lays down some requirements for the import of farmed game meat and rabbit meat within the meaning of Council Directive 91/495/EEC of 27 November 1990 concerning public health and animal health problems affecting the production and placing on the market of rabbit meat and farmed game meat (°); Whereas furred game meat and feathered game meat can be imported only if they come from third countries included on the lists of countries from which fresh meat of the corresponding species may be imported pursuant to Council Directives 72/462/EEC (*) and 91/494/EEC respectively; Whereas Commission Decision 94/278/EC () as last amended by Decision 96/344/EC (), lays down the list of third countries from which Member States are authorized to import rabbit meat; () OJ No L 268, 24. 9. 1991, p. 35. () OJ No L 340, 31. 12. 1993, p. 39. () OJ No L 62, 15. 3. 1993, p. 49. (9 OJ No L 13, 16. 1. 1997, p. 24. () O] No L 268, 24. 9. 1991, p. 41. () OJ No L 302, 31. 12. 1972, p. 28. () OJ No L 120, 11. 5. 1994, p. 44. () OJ No L 133, 4. 6. 1996, p. 28. Whereas imports of farmed game meat are imports of meat from different species; whereas moreover it is neces- sary to take into account the fact that the meat can be bone-in or deboned; Whereas for meat from farmed ‘game birds’, imports have to fulfil the requirements of Directive 91/495/EEC; Whereas Commission Decision 94/984/EC (%), as last amended by Decision 96/456/EC ("), lays down the animal health conditions and veterinary certification for fowl, turkeys, guinea fowl, ducks and geese, whereas this present Decision applies to quail, pigeons, pheasants, partridges and any other game birds not mentioned ex- cluding ratitae; Whereas it is necessary to lay down the animal and public health conditions and veterinary certification for imports of farmed game meat and farmed rabbit meat for human consumption into the Community accordingly; Whereas, in addition, it is possible to recognize condi- tions offering equivalent guarantees; Whereas a third country may submit a proposal for such recognition to the Commission for appropriate considera- tion; ‘Whereas considering that a new system of certification is established a period of time should be provided for its implementation; 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 For the purposes of this Decision ‘farmed game birds’ means quail, pigeons, pheasants, partridges, and any other game birds with the exclusion of fowl, turkeys, guinea fowl, ducks, geese and ratitae. () OJ No L 378, 31. 12. 1994, p. 11. (" OJ No L 188, 27. 7. 1996, p. S2.