31.1.77 Official Journal of the European Communities No L 26781 COUNCIL DIRECTIVE of 21 December 1976 amending Directives 64/432/EEC, 72/461/EEC and 72/462/EEC on health and veterinary problems (77/98/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), N Having regard to the opinion of the Economic and Social Committee (2), Whereas, on the occasion of the enlargement of the Community, Denmark, Ireland and the United Kingdom were - authorized, by way of derogation from the existing Community Regulations, to retain to some extent their national rules relating to veterinary matters; Whereas the special arrangements applying to these three Member States were incorporated into the provisions of Articles 104 and 105 of the Act of Accession (3); whereas similar provisions, which were the logical extension of the original provisions have been introduced in Council Acts subsequently adopted; whereas Article 13 of Council Directive 72/461/EEC of 12 December 1972 on health problems affecting intra-Community trade in fresh meat (*) and Article 33 of 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 (°) were adopted to this end, the two aforementioned Directives having been last amended by Directive 75/379/EEC {5); Whereas Article 106 of the Act of Accession and the other abovementioned provisions laid down that the N (1) O No C 6, 10. 1. 1977, p. 141, (®) Opinion delivered on 27 October 1976 (not vet published in the Official Journal). (3) OJ No L 73, 27. 3. 1972, p. 14. (4) OJ No L 302, 31. 12. 1972, p. 24. (3) O] No L 302, 31. 12. 1972, p. 28. (%) O] No L 172, 3. 7. 1975, p. 17. 3 4 Commission should submit to the Council, by 1 July 1976 at the latest, a report, and in so far as is necessary appropriate proposals, with a view to finding a solution to the problem of- these derogations; ’ Whereas the solutions adopted must not be such as to compromise the health standard -already attained and must ensure, as far as possible, the free movement of animals and meat; . Whereas, as far as fresh beef-and veal-is concerned, the risk of spreading disease is undeniably less than is involved in trade in- live animals;  whereas, in addition, the conditions governing trade in meat under existing Directives are such that further special guarantees are UnNNeccessary; Whereas,  as far as live animals are concerned, a system common  to all the Member States should gradually be introduced, making a distinction between the various types of animals according to the danger they represent and taking into account the need to expand trade on the basis of existing patterns; whereas appropriate amendments should be made to Council Directive 64/432/EEC of 26 June 1964 on animal- health problems affecting intra-Community trade in bovine animals and swine (7), as last amended by Directive 75/379/EEC; Whereas it must be possible for imports into certain Member States from third countries to remain subject to arrangements which are at léast as strict as those cutrently applied in those Member States; Whereas the Community Regulations relating, in particular, to foot-and-mouth disease and swine fever should make it possible to find a common and complete solution for all these problems; Whereas it would be justified to make provision for a " special transitional period for Ireland and the United (1) O] No 121, 29. 7. 1964, p. 1977/64.