31.1.77 Official Journal of the European Communities No L 26/85" 1] COUNCIL DIRECTIVE of 21 December 1976 on health problems affecting intra-Community trade in meat products (77/99/EEC) THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES, Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Economic Community, and.in particular Articles 43 and 100 thereof, Having regard to the proposal from the Commission, Having regard to the opinion- of the European. Parliament (1), Whereas, since the establishment of the common organization of the markets, meat products may move freely within the Community; whereas, however, intra-Community trade in these products is curbed - by the existence of different- health requirements in this sector in the various Member States; whereas, in order to remove such disparities, it is necessary to substitute common provisions for these national requirements; Whereas, in-order to guarantee the quality of the products in question from the health point of view, it is necessary to use, in their manufacture, only that fresh meat obtained in accordance with the Community standards laid down in Council Directive 64/433/EEC of 26 June 1964 on health problems affecting intra-Community trade in fresh meat (2), as last amended by Directive 75/379/EEC (3), Council Directive 71/118/EEC of 15 February 1971 on health problems affecting trade in fresh poultrymeat (1), as last amended by Directive 75/379/EEC, and also 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 (%), as last amended by Directive 75/379/EEC; whereas meat products must be manufactured, stored and trasnported in conditions offering every guarantee as regards health; whereas the need for manufacturing and processing (1) OJ No C 114, 11. 11. 1971, p. 40. (2) OJ No 121, 29. 7. 1964, p. 2012/64. () OJ No L 172, 3. 7. 1975, p. 17. () OJ No L 55, 8. 3. 1971, p. 23. (%) OJ No L 302, 31. 12. 1972, p. 28. establishments to obtain approval is likely to facilitate - supervision of compliance with these conditions; whereas provision should be made for a procedure intended to settle any disputes which may arise between Member States as to the justification of the approval of a manufacturing establishment; Whereas,- moreover, Community control arrange- ments should be introduced to ensure .that the standards laid down in -this Directive are applied uniformly in all Member States; whereas provision should be made for the procedure for such controls to be determined according to a Community procedure within the Standing Veterinary Committee set up by the Council Decision -of 15 October 1968 (%); Whereas provision should be made for the possibility of derogating from certain provisions of this Directive in respect of certain meat products which contain other- foodstuffs and which contain a minimal  percentage of meat; whereas these derogations should be made according to a Community  procedure  within the Standing Veterinary Committee; Whereas, as regards intra-Community trade, the issue of a health certificate drafted by .the competent authority is considered to be the best way of assuring the competent authorities of the country of destination that a consignment of meat products complies with this Directive; whereas this certificate must accompany the consignment of these products to the place of destination; Whereas Member States must have the right to prohibit the introduction into their territory of meat products from another Member State which prove unfit for human consumption or do not comply with Community health provisions; Whereas, in such cases, the consignor should, at his own request or upon request of his representative, be allowed to have the meat products returned to him unless there are health reasons to the contrary; (8) O] No L 255, 18. 10. 1968, p. 23.