No L 73/16 Official Journal of the European Communities 14. 3. 97 (Acts whose publication is not obligatory) COMMISSION COMMISSION DECISION of 18 December 1996 laying down the methods of control for maintaining the officially brucellosis free status of bovine herds in certain Member States and regions of Member States (Text with EEA relevance) (97/175/EQ) THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES, Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, Having regard to Council Directive 64/432/EEC of 26 June 1964 on animal health problems affecting intra- Community trade in bovine animals and swine ('), as last amended by Council Directive 95/25/EC (3, and in par- ticular Article 3 (13) thereof; Whereas more than 99,8 % of bovine herds in the Member States and regions mentioned in the Annexes have been declared officially brucellosis free within the meaning of Article 2 (e) of Directive 64/432/EEC and as having fulfilled the conditions for this qualification for at least 10 years; whereas no case of abortion due to a brucella infection has been recorded for at least three years; Whereas in order to maintain the qualification of of- ficially brucellosis free it is necessary to lay down control measures ensuring its efficiency and which are adapted to the special health situation of bovine herds in those Member States and regions mentioned in the Annexes; Whereas in order to consilidate and simplify the situation pertaining to this matter, a number of previous Commis- sion Decisions must be withdrawn; Whereas the measures provided for in this Decision are in accordance with th opinion of the Standing Veterinary Committee, () OJ No 121, 29. 7. 1964, p. 1977/64. () O] No L 243, 11. 10. 1995, p. 16. HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION: Article 1 The Member States and regions referred to respectively in Annexes I and II satisfy the conditions laid down in Directive 64/432/EEC, Article 3 (13), in so far as that at least 99,8 % of the bovine herds have been declared of- ficially brucellosis free within the meaning of Article 2 (e) of Directive 64/432/EEC for at least 10 years and where no case of abortion due to a brucella infection has been recorded for at least three years. Article 2 All of the bovine herds situated in the Member States and regions referred to respectively in Annexes I and II are recognized as officially free of brucellosis providing, at least, the conditions laid down in Articles 3, 4 and 5 continue to be fulfiled. Article 3 1.  An identification system making it possible to trace, for each bovine animal, the herds of origin and transit shall be set up. 2. All cases and suspected cases of brucellosis must be notified to the competent authorities who will arrange for an official investigation to include serological testing according to a method laid down in Annex C of Directive 64/432/EEC.