17. 1. 97 Official Journal of the European Communities No L 14/61 COMMISSION DECISION of 18 December 1996 setting specific public health requirements for imports of egg products for human consumption (Text with EEA relevance) (97/38/EC) THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES, Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, 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 Commission Decision 96/405/EC (3, and in particular the first indent of Chapter 2 of Annex II, Having regard to Council Directive 89/437/EEC of 20 June 1989 on hygiene and health problems affecting the production and the placing on the market of egg products (*), as last amended by Directive 96/23/EC (), and in particular Article 11 (4) thereof, Whereas Chapter III of Directive 92/118/EEC lays down general provisions applying to imports into the Com- munity; whereas specific public health requirements should be laid down for egg product imports; whereas these must be at least as stringent as those in force for placing on the market; Whereas at this first stage a standard public health certifi- cate that must accompany imported egg products should be specified, whereas the Community list of third country establishments and the treatments approved at Com- munity level will be determined at a later date; whereas pending these decisions it is for the competent authority of each third country to certify that the egg products come from an approved establishment and have under- gone treatment enabling them to meet the analytical specifications set out in Chapter VI of the Annex to Directive 89/437/EEC; Whereas, in addition, where it is possible to recognize conditions offering equivalent guarantees, a third country o L 62, 15. 3. 1993, p. 49. o L 165, 4. 7. 1996, p. 40. o L 212, 22. 7. 1989, p. 87. o L 125, 23. 5. 1996, p. 10. may submit a proposal for such recognition to the Commission for appropriate consideration; Whereas the requirements set by this Decision are in accordance with the opinion of the Standing Veterinary Committee; HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION: Article 1 This Decision sets specific public health requirements for egg products for direct human consumption or manufac- ture of foodstuffs. Article 2 For the purposes of this Decision the definitions set out in Article 2 of Directive 89/437/EEC shall apply. Article 3 Importation of egg products is subject to the requirement that they: 1. were obtained from hen, duck, goose, turkey, guinea fowl or quail eggs but not from a mixture of eggs of different species; 2. were treated and prepared in an establishment/ establishments approved by the competent authority and meeting the requirements of Chapters I and II of the Annex to Directive 89/437/EEC; 3. were prepared in observance of the hygiene require- ments of Chapters III and V of the Annex to Directive 89/437/EEC and from eggs meeting the requirements of Chapter IV of that Annex; 4. were treated so as to enable them to meet the ana- Iytical specifications of Chapter VI of the Annex to Directive 89/437/EEC; 5. meet the analytical specifications of Chapter VI of the Annex to Directive 89/437/EEC;