2.3.1999 Official Journal of the European Communities L 54/19 COMMISSION COMMISSION DECISION of 17 February 1999 laying down protection measures concerning trichinosis (notified under document number C(1999) 331) (Text with EEA relevance) (1999/163/EC) THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES, Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, Having regard to Council Directive 91/496/EEC of 15 July 1991 laying down the principles governing the organisation of veterinary checks on animals entering the Community from third countries and amending Direct- ives 89/662/EEC, 90/425/EEC and 90/675/EEC ("), as last amended by Directive 96/43/EC (%), and in particular Article 18 thereof, Having regard to Council Directive 90/675/EEC of 10 December 1990 laying down the principles governing the organisation of veterinary checks on products entering the Community from third countries (%), as last amended by Directive 96/43/EC, and in particular Article 19 thereof, (1)  Whereas recently cases of human trichinosis have appeared in the territory of the Community; whereas epidemiological investigations have shown that these cases were related to imports of slaughter horses originating in the Federal Republic of Yugo- slavia; (2)  Whereas Community legislation lays down that horse meat must be submitted to a systematic control for the detection of the possible presence of larvae of Trichinella spiralis; (3)  Whereas, according to information collected and brought to the attention of the Commission during a Community inspection carried out on the spot, doubts might be raised with regard to the appro- () OJ L 268, 24. 9. 1991, p. S6. () OJ L 162, 1. 7. 1996, p. 1. () OJ L 373, 31. 12. 1990, p. 1. priateness of the methods of detection and their application; (4)  Whereas, awaiting a scientific opinion on this question, measures should be taken in order to ensure that horses intended for slaughter and horse meat originating in the Federal Republic of Yugo- slavia do not constitute a hazard to human health; (5)  Whereas this can be ensured by ensuring that horse meat has been submitted to a cold treatment suffi- cient to destroy larvae, possibly present; (6)  Whereas Council Directive 77/96/EEC of 21 December 1976 on the examination for trichinae (Trichinella spiralis) upon importation from third countries of fresh meat derived from domestic swine (¥), as last amended by the Act of Accession of Austria, Finland and Sweden lays down the detection methods and methods of destruction of Trichinella spiralis in swine meat and horse meat; (7)  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 Member States shall ensure that meat from horses which are imported from the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia for being slaughtered in the Community, is submitted to a cold treatment as referred to in Annex IV to Directive 77/96/EEC before it is placed on the market for human consumption. () OJ L 26, 31. 1. 1977, p. 67.