No L 294/18 Official Journal of the European Communities 19. 11. 96 COMMISSION DECISION of 30 October 1996 concerning animal health conditions and veterinary certificates for the importation of domestic animals of the porcine species from the Republic of Cyprus (Text with EEA relevance) (96/650/EC) THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES, Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, Having regard to Council Directive 72/462/EEC of 12 December 1972 on health and veterinary inspection problems upon importation of bovine, ovine and caprine animals and swine, fresh meat or meat products from third countries ('), as last amended by the Act of Acces- sion of Austria, Finland and Sweden, and in particular Article 8 thereof, Whereas Member States are required to import domestic animals of the bovine and porcine species in accordance with the provisions of Council Directive 91/496/EEC (3), as last amended by Directive 96/43/EC (}), which lays down the principles governing the organization of vet- erinary checks on animals entering the Community from third countries; Whereas following Community veterinary missions it appears that the animal health situation in the Republic of Cyprus is controlled by veterinary services which can offer satisfactory guarantees concerning diseases which might be transmitted through the importation of domestic animals of the porcine species; Whereas the responsible veterinary authorities of the Republic of Cyprus have confirmed that the Republic of Cyprus has during the last 24 months been free from foot-and-mouth disease and during the last 12 months been free from classical swine fever, African swine fever, porcine enteroviral encephalomyelitis (Teschen disease), swine vesicular disease and vesicular exanthema and during the last six months been free from vesicular stomatitis; whereas no vaccinations have been carried out against any of those diseases during the past 12 months; Whereas the responsible veterinary authorities of the Republic of Cyprus have undertaken to notify the Commission and the Member States, by telex or telefax, within 24 hours of confirmation of the occurrence of any o L 302, 31. 12. 1972, p. 28. o L 268, 24. 9. 1991, p. 56. oL 162, 1. 7. 1996, p. 1. ZZZ of the abovementioned diseases or of the adoption of vaccination against any of them or, within an appropriate period, of any proposed changes in the Cypriot import rules concerning swine or the semen or embryos thereof; Whereas the responsible veterinary authorities of the Republic of Cyprus have undertaken to supervise offici- ally the issue of certificates arising from this Decision and to ensure that all relevant certificates, declarations and statements on which export certification may have been based remain on official file for at least 12 months fol- lowing the dispatch of the animals to which they refer; Whereas the responsible veterinary authorities of the Republic of Cyprus have undertaken not to permit the issue of the certificates described in the Annexes to this Decision in respect of animals which have been imported unless such animals were imported in accordance with veterinary conditions at least as strict as the relevant requirements of Directive 72/462/EEC, including any subsidiary decisions; 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. Without prejudice to paragraph 2, Member States shall authorize the importation from the Republic of Cyprus of the following animals: (a) domestic animals of the porcine species for breeding or production which meet the requirements set out in the health certificate of which a model is shown in Annex A and which are accompanied by such a certificate; (b) domestic animals of the porcine species for slaughter which meet the requirements set out in the health certificate of which a model is shown in Annex B and which are accompanied by such a certificate.