27.3.1999 Official Journal of the European Communities L 83/77 COMMISSION DECISION of 5§ March 1999 amending Council Decision 79/542/EEC and Decisions 92/160/EEC, 92/260/EEC and 93/195/EEC and 93/197/EEC with regard to the animal health conditions for the temporary admission, re-entry and imports into the Community of registered horses from certain parts of Saudi Arabia (notified under document number C(1999) 496) (Text with EEA relevance) (1999/228/EC) THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES, Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, Having regard to Council Directive 90/426/EEC of 26 June 1990 on animal health conditions governing the movement and imports from third countries of equidae ('), as last amended by the Act of Accession of Austria, Finland and Sweden, and in particular Articles 12, 13, 15, 16 and 19(ii) thereof, Whereas by Council Decision 79/542/EEC (?), as last amended by Commission Decision 98/622/EC (%), a list of third countries from which Member States authorise imports of bovine animals, swine, equidae, sheep and goats, fresh meat and meat products has been established; Whereas by Commission Decision 92/160/EEC (*), as last amended by Decision 97/685/EC (°), the Commission has established the regionalisation of certain third countries for imports of equidae; Whereas the health conditions and veterinary certification for the temporary admission, re-entry and imports of registered horses are laid down respectively in Commis- sion Decisions 92/260/EEC (°), 93/195/EEC (') and 93/ 197/EEC (), all as last amended by Decision 98/594/ EC () Whereas following a Commission veterinary inspection mission to Saudi Arabia the animal health situation appears to be under the satisfactory control of the veter- inary services and in particular the movement of equidae from certain parts of the territory into the rest of the country appears to be well controlled; 224, 18. 8. 1990, p. 42. 146, 14. 6. 1979, p. 15. 296, 5. 11. 1998, p. 16. 71, 18. 3. 1992, p. 27. 287, 21. 10. 1997, p. 54. 130, 15. 5. 1992, p. 67. 86, 6. 4. 1993, p. 1. 86, 6. 4. 1993, p. 16. 286, 23. 10. 1998, p. 53. N Lol P} By 3 000000000 B e e e L | onll ol onll onll anl ol ol ol O T S P O T = Whereas the veterinary authorities of Saudi Arabia have provided a written undertaking to notify within 24 hours by fax, telegram, or telex to the Commission and the Member States the confirmation of any infectious or contagious disease in equidae mentioned in Annex A to Directive 90/426/EEC, which are compulsorily notifiable in the country, and within due time any change in the vaccination or import policy in respect of equidae; Whereas following a serological survey carried out over the entire territory of Saudi Arabia, the country should be considered free of glanders and dourine for at least six months; Venezuelan equine encephalomyelitis and vesicular stomatitis have never occured, however serolo- gical evidence was found for equine viral arteritis; Whereas taking account of the results of the above survey, parts of Saudi Arabia have been free from African horse sickness for more than two years and vaccination against this disease has not been carried out in the country during the last 12 months and is officially banned; whereas, however, certain parts of Saudi Arabia cannot be considered free of the disease; Whereas the competent authorities of Saudi Arabia have notified to the Commission the official approval of an insect-protected quarantine station near Riyadh and the specimen signatures of the official veterinarians entitled to sign international export certificates; Whereas for reason of the health situation in certain parts of Saudi Arabia it appears appropriate to regionalise the country concerned, so as to allow importation into the Community of registered horses only from the disease- free part of the territory of Saudi Arabia; Whereas the animal health conditions and veterinary certification must be adopted according to the animal health situation of the third country concerned; whereas the present case relates only to registered horses;