19.5.2001 Official Journal of the European Communities L 137/29 COMMISSION DECISION of 3 May 2001 amending Decision 2000/418/EC as regards imports from Brazil and Singapore (notified under document number C(2001) 1170) (Text with EEA relevance) (2001/384/EC) THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES, Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, Having regard to Council Directive 97/78/EC of 18 December 1997 laying down the principles governing the organisation of veterinary checks on products entering the Community from third countries ('), and in particular Article 22 thereof, Whereas: 1) Commission Decision 2000/418/EC of 29 June 2000 regulating the use of material presenting risks as regards transmissible  spongiform  encephalopathies  and amending Decision 94/474[EC (3), as last amended by Decision 2001/270/EC (’), provides for the removal and destruction of certain specified risk materials. It also imposes restrictions on the production of certain mate- rials, for certain slaughter techniques, and on related imports. It is to be reviewed in the light of new scientific evidence. In its opinion of 30 March 2001 on the Geographic BSE Risk of certain third countries, the Scientific Steering Committee (SSC) concluded that, in addition to previ- ously evaluated countries, the occurrence of BSE in native cattle is only highly unlikely in Brazil and Singa- pore. For all other countries for which the evaluation by the SSC has been finalised during this session, it concluded that the occurrence of BSE in native cattle is at best unlikely but no excluded. Decision 2000/418/EC imposes restrictions on import from 31 March 2001. Therefore this Decision shall take effect from 1 April 2001. Decision 2000/418/EC should therefore be amended accordingly. The measures provided for in this Decision are in accordance with the opinion of the Standing Veterinary Commiittee, 24, 30.1.1998, p. 9. oj L 0] L 158, 30.6.2000, p. 76. oj L 94, 4.4.2001, p. 29. HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION: Article 1 Annex III to Decision 2000/418/EC is replaced by the following: ‘ANNEX III Third countries referred to in Article 6(3) Australia Argentina Botswana Brazil Chile Namibia New-Zealand Nicaragua Paraguay Uruguay Singapore Swaziland’. Article 2 It shall apply with effect from 1 April 2001. Article 3 This Decision is addressed to the Member States. Done at Brussels, 3 May 2001. For the Commission David BYRNE Member of the Commission