15. 1. 97 Official Journal of the European Communities No L 12/33 COMMISSION DECISION of 17 December 1996 establishing health conditions and public health certification for the importation of minced meat and meat preparations from third countries (Text with EEA relevance) (97/29/EC) THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES, Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, Having regard to Council Directive 94/65/EC of 14 December 1994 laying down the requirements for the production and placing on the market of minced meat and meat preparations ('), and in particular Article 13 thereof, Whereas specific conditions relating to the requirements of Directive 94/65/EC must be established for the import- ation into the Community of minced meat and meat preparations; whereas these conditions may not be less stringent than those laid down in Articles 3 and § of that Directive; Whereas a form of public health certificate must be estab- lished, supplemented by a declaration signed by the of- ficial veterinarian to the effect that the minced meat and meat preparations fulfil respectively the requirements laid down in Articles 3 and 5 of Directive 94/65/EC, come “from establishments offering the guarantees provided for in Annex I of that Directive, and have been deep-frozen at the production plant of origin; Whereas, in addition, where it is possible to recognise conditions offering equivalent guarantees, a third country may submit a proposal for such recognition to the Commission for appropriate consideration; Whereas the conditions and certificate established by this Decision are in accordance with the opinion of the Stand- ing Veterinary Committee, HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION: Article 1 This Decision lays down the public health conditions for the importation of minced meat and meat preparations. Article 2 The importation of minced meat is subject to the fol- lowing conditions: () OJ No L 368, 31. 12. 1994, p. 10. 1. it has been produced in accordance with the require- ments laid down in Articles 3 and 7 of Directive 94/65/EC; 2. it comes from an establishment or establishments of- fering the guarantees provided for in Annex I of Direc- tive 94/65/EC; 3. it has been deep-frozen at the production plant or plants of origin. Article 3 The importation of meat preparations is subject to the following conditions: 1. they have been produced in accordance with the re- quirements laid down in Articles 5 and 7 of Directive 94/65/EC; 2. they come from an establishment or establishments offering the guarantees provided for in Annex I of Directive 94/65/EC; 3. they have been deep-frozen at the production plant or plants of origin. Article 4 1. Each consignment of minced meat shall be accom- panied by an original, numbered public health certificate, completed, signed and dated, composed of a single sheet and conforming to the model laid down in Annex L 2. Each consignment of meat preparations shall be accompanied by an original, numbered public health certificate, completed, signed and dated, composed of a single sheet and conforming to the model laid down in Annex IL 3. The certificates shall be drawn up in at least one of the official languages of the Member State of introduction into the Community. Article 5 This Decision shall apply from 1 January 1957.