No L 237/18 Official Journal of the European Communities 5.9. 84 COMMISSION DECISION of 25 July 1984 on health protection measures in respect of Botswana (84/423/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 ('), as last amended by Directive 83/91/EEC (3, and in particular Article 15 thereof, Whereas Commission Decision  81/987/EEC () granted the Member States the option of authorizing imports into their territory, under certain conditions and from certain regions, of fresh meat from 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 Commission Decision 82/903/EEC (*) extended the disease-free area to include the sector of district Central bordered to the west by the Makoba fence, to the north by the Sese- Tlaiemabele fence and the Serule-Zanzibar fence ; Whereas the situation concerning foot-and-mouth disease in Botswana continues to improve, no outbreak of the disease having occurred since September 1980 ; whereas it is now possible to further extend the disease-free area by including a sector north of the Serule-Zanzibar fence known as control zone No 7 ; Whereas strict measures, in particular the prohibition of movements of livestock from the northern districts Ngamiland, Chobe, North-East and parts of Central to the disease-free districts Ghanzi, Kweneng, Kgatlend, South-East, Southern, Kgalagadi and parts of Central, are applied, except in the case of livestock for imme- diate slaughter; whereas the northern regions are clearly demarcated and separated from the disease-free areas ; whereas measures are applied throughout the country to monitor the movements of livestock and to detect any outbreak of the disease; Whereas the central veterinary authorities of Botswana have confirmed that Botswana has remained free of N OJ No L 302, 31. 12. 1972, p. 28. ) O] No L 59, 5. 3. 1983, p. 34. ) O No L 361, 16. 12. 1981, p. 29. 9 O] No L 381, 31. 12. 1982, p. 6. foot-and-mouth disease since September 1980 and have undertaken to inform the Member States and the Commission of any new outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease therein ; whereas during the period of produc- tion of meat for export to the Community and for seven days beforehand no cattle may be moved from northern Botswana to the remainder of the country; whereas the competent authority of Botswana has given an assurance that the Commission and the Member States will be informed before the com- mencement of slaughtering of cattle from northern Botswana ; Whereas the veterinary authorities of Botswana have repeated their assurances concerning buffer zones, non-vaccination, control of movement and other measures ; whereas the situation in Botswana will continue to be kept under review ; Whereas Botswana may now be authorized to export under new conditions to the Community fresh meat and certain offal obtained from animals coming from regions which have been free of foot-and-mouth disease for a number of years ; whereas the competent authorities of Botswana have given assurances that meat and offal intended for the Community will be produced, handled and stored entirely separately from meat and offal which do not fulfil the terms of this Decision ; Whereas this Decision will be reviewed in the light of the developing animal health situation in Botswana, and in particular of the appearance of foot-and-mouth disease, of the vaccination policy employed, of the designation of buffer zones and of the designation of zones from which animals whose meat is intended for export to the Community are acceptable ; Whereas the animal health requirements of Member States, pursuant to Article 16 of Directive 72/462/EEC relating to imports of meat and offal from Botswana, have not yet been laid down at Community level; whereas, pending the entry into force of such require- ments, the Member States may continue to apply their national animal health rules on imports of fresh meat and offal from Botswana; Whereas the measures provided for in this Decision are in accordance with the opinion of the Standing Veterinary Committee,