No L 84/36 Official Journal of the European Communities 26. 3. 97 COMMISSION DECISION of 25 March 1997 laying down the animal health requirements and the veterinary certification for the import of processed animal protein from certain third countries which use alternative heat treatment systems and amending Decision 94/344/EC (Text with EEA relevance) (97/198/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, in Directive 90/425/EEC (), as last amended by Directive 96/90/EC (3, and in particular Article 10 (2) (c) and (3) (a) thereof, Whereas Chapter 6 of Annex I to Directive 92/118/EEC lays down requirements for the importation of processed animal protein; Whereas Commission Decision 94/278/EC (%), as last amended by Decision 96/344/EC (%), has laid down a list of third countries from which Member States shall au- thorize the importation of processed animal protein not intended for human consumption; Whereas Commission Decision 94/344/EC (%} has laid down the import requirements for processed animal protein including products containing these proteins intended for animal consumption; Whereas the implementation of the latter Decision was last postponed by Commission Decision 96/106/EC () because the application would have led to difficulties as regards the importation of processed animal protein that has been produced by using alternative heat-treatment systems; Whereas following scientific results on the inactivation of the agent of BSE and scrapie, Commission Decision No L 62, 15. 3. 1993, p. 49. No L 13, 16. 1. 1997, p. 24. No L 120, 11. 5. 1994, p. 44. No L 133, 4. 6. 1996, p. 28. No L 154, 21. 6. 1994, p. 54. No L 24, 31. 1. 1996, p. 34. 96/449/EC (") has laid down rules of approval of alterna- tive heat-treatment systems for the processing of mam- malian waste in the Community; whereas it is appropriate to apply these rules to processed mammalian protein imported from third countries; Whereas it is appropriate to authorize the imports of processed animal protein, derived form high risk material produced by using alternative heat-treatment systems; Whereas Decision 96/449/EC, amongst others, requires animal protein derived from mammalian waste to be subjected to a heat-treatment of at least 133°C throughout its substance for a minimum of 20 minutes at a pressure of 3 bar, with a particle size prior to processing of not more than 5 cm; whereas it is therefore appropriate to limit the import of processed animal protein to those derived from non-mammalian waste only; Whereas Decision 94/344/EC has to be amended ac- cordingly; Whereas the measures provided for in this Decision are in accordance with the opinion of the Standing Veterinary Committee, HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION: Article 1 1.  Member States shall authorize the importation of processed animal protein, and products containing these proteins, intended for animal consumption from third countries listed in Annex A, if it is accompanied by a health certificate as set out in Annex B. The first subparagraph shall not apply to: — petfood in hermetically sealed containers containing processed animal protein, and — processed non-mammalian protein derived from low risk material and products containing this protein. () O] No L 184, 24. 7. 1996, p. 43.