11. 10. 95 Official Journal of the European Communities No L 243/21 COUNCIL DECISION of 22 June 1995 laying down the rules for the microbiological testing by sampling of fresh beef and veal and pigmeat intended for Finland and Sweden (95/409/EC) THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION, Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, Having regard to Council Directive 64/433/EEC of 26 June 1964 on health conditions for the production and marketing of fresh meat ('), and in partcular Article 5 (3) (a) and (b) thereof, Whereas the Commission has approved the operational programmes submitted by Finland and Sweden regarding salmonella controls; whereas those programmes comprise specific measures for fresh beef and veal and pigmeat; Whereas the implementation of microbiological tests by an establishment constitutes one of the additional guarantees to be given to Finland and Sweden and provides equivalent guarantees to those obtained under the Finnish and Swedish operational programmes, as recognized by the relevant Commission decisions; Whereas  Finland and  Sweden must apply to consignments from third countries import requirements at least as stringent as those laid down in this Decision; Whereas, as far as the sampling methods to be applied are concerned, it is appropriate to make a distinction between carcases and half-carcases, on the one hand, and quarters, cuts and smaller pieces on the other; Whereas it is appropriate to take into account international  methods for the  microbiological examination of samples; Whereas microbiological tests are not to be required for fresh meat from an establishment which is subject to a () O] No 121, 29. 7. 1964, p. 2012/64. Directive as last amended by Decision 95/1/EC, Euratom, ECSC (O] No L 1, 1. 1. 1995, p. 1). programme recognized as equivalent to that implemented by Finland or Sweden; Whereas the provisions of this Decision are without prejudice to any provisions which might be adopted in implementation of Article 5§ (2) of Directive 64/433/EEC, HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION: Article 1 Pursuant to Article § (3) (a) of Directive 64/433/EEC, consignments of fresh beef and veal and pigmeat intended for Finland and Sweden shall be subject to the rules laid down in Articles 2, 3 and 4. Article 2 Fresh beef and veal and pigmeat intended for Finland and Sweden shall be subjected to microbiological testing for salmonella, as provided for in Article 5 (3) (a) of Directive 64/433/EEC, by sampling in the establishment of origin of such meat. These microbiological tests shall be carried out as laid down in the Annex. Article 3 Fresh beef and veal and pigmeat from an establishment subject to a programme recognized, in accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 16 of Directive 64/433/EEC, as equivalent to that implemented by Finland or Sweden, shall not be subjected to the microbiological tests laid down in this Decision. Article 4 The Council, acting on a Commission proposal drawn up in the light of a report established on the basis of the