11. 10. 95 Official Journal of the European Communities No L 243/29 COUNCIL DECISION of 22 June 1995 laying down the rules for the microbiological testing for salmonella by sampling of fresh poultrymeat intended for Finland and Sweden (95/411/EC) THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION, Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, Having regard to Council Directive 71/118/EEC of 15 February 1971 on health problems affecting trade in fresh poultrymeat ('), and in particular Article 5 (3) (a) 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 poultrymeat; 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 of fresh poultrymeat from third countries import requirements as least as stringent as those laid down in this Decision; Whereas rules for the microbiological testing by sampling should be laid down by determining the sampling method, the number of samples to be taken and the microbiological method for the examination of the samples; Whereas as far as the sampling methods to be applied are concerned, it is appropriate to make a distinction between whole carcases, on the one hand, and parts of carcases and offal on the other; Whereas, it is appropriate to take Into account international  methods  for  the  microbiological examination of samples; {') O] No L 55, 8. 3. 1971, p. 23. Directive as last amended by Decision 91/1/EC, Euratom, ECSC (O] No L 1, 1. 1. 1995, p. 1. Whereas microbiological tests are not to be required for fresh poultrymeat from an establishment which is subject to a programme recognized as equivalent to that implemented by Finland or Sweden; Whereas the provisions of this Decision are without prejudice to amendments to the Annexes to Directive 71/118/EEC  which might be adopted pursuant to Article 19 of that Directive, HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION: Article 1 Pursuant to Article 5 (3) (a) of Directive 71/118/EEC, consignments of fresh poultrymeat intended for Finland and Sweden shall be subject to the rules laid down in Articles 2 and 3. Article 2 Fresh poultrymeat intended for Finland and Sweden shall be subject to microbiological testing for salmonella by sampling carried out in accordance with the Annex at the establishment of origin of such meat, Article 3 Poultrymeat from an establishment subject to a programme recognized, in accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 21 of Directive 71/118/EEC, as equivalent to that implemented by Finland or Sweden, shall not be subject to the microbiological testing provided for 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