8. 3. 96 Official Journal of the European Communities No L 59/41 COMMISSIGN DECISION of 16 February 1996 concerning animal health conditions and veterinary certificates for the importation of domestic animals of the bovine and porcine species from the Czech Republic and revoking Decision 92/324/EEC (Text with EEA relevance) (96/186/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 Atrticles 7, 8 and 11 thereof, Whereas Commission Decision 92/324/EEC (?) esta- blishes the animal health conditions and veterinary certi- ficates for the import of domestic animals of the bovine and porcine species from Czechoslovakia; Whereas following partition of this country it is necessary to lay down animal health conditions and veterinary certi- ficates for importation of domestic animals of the bovine and porcine species from the Czech Republic and to revoke the abovementioned Decision; Whereas Member States shall import domestic animals of the bovine and porcine species in accordance with the provisions of Council Directive 91/496/EEC (°), as last amended by the Act of Accession of Austria, Finland and Sweden, which lays down the principles governing the organisation of veterinary checks on animals entering the Community from third countries and in accordance with the provisions of Commission Decision 93/242/EEC (¥, as last amended by Decision 95/295/EC (%); Whereas the geographical proximity of the Czech Repu- blic to the Community has implications for trade in live animals; Whereas it appears that the animal health situation in the Czech Republic has improved especially in respect of classical swine fever and import of live pigs may now be authorized; whereas, however, classical swine fever still () OJ No L 302, 31. 12. 1972, p. 28. () OJ No L 177, 30. 6. 1992, p. 35. () OJ No L 268, 24. 9. 1991, p. 56. () OJ No L 110, 4. 5. 1993, p. 36. () OJ No L 182, 2. 8. 1995, p. 30. occurs in certain areas and the Czech authorities have submitted a plan to control classical swine fever; Whereas following Community veterinary missions it appears that the animal health situation in the Czech Republic is controlled by veterinary services which, although currently in the process of re-organization, can nevertheless offer satisfactory guarantees concerning diseases which might be transmitted through the importa- tion of domestic animals of the bovine or porcine species; Whereas the responsible veterinary authorities of the Czech Republic have confirmed that the Czech Republic has during the last 24 months been free from foot-and- mouth disease and during the last 12 months been free from rinderpest, contagious bovine pleuro-pneumonia, vesicular stomatitis, bluetongue, African swine fever, porcine enteroviral encephalomyelitis (Teschen disease), swine vesicular disease and vesicular exanthema; whereas no vaccinations have been carried out against any of those diseases and classical swine fever during the past 12 months; whereas classical swine fever has occurred in parts of the country and therefore imports of domestic pigs should be authorized only from those districts which are free of the disease; Whereas the responsible veterinary authorities of the Czech Republic have undertaken to notify the Commis- sion of the European Communities and the Member States, by telex or telefax, within 24 hours of the confir- mation of the occurrence of any of the abovementioned diseases or of the adoption of vaccination against any of them or, within an appropriate period, of any proposed changes in their import rules concerning bovine animals or swine or the semen or embryos thereof; Whereas bovine tuberculosis and brucellosis have been eradicated from the Czech Republic; whereas vaccination against bovine brucellosis is not permitted; whereas the measures taken by the responsible authorities of the Czech Republic to prevent a recrudescence of these diseases are sufficient to equate the status of their herds, other than those under official restriction, with that of herds in the European Community having the status of Officially Tuberculosis Free or Officially Brucellosis Free; Whereas the responsible veterinary authorities of the Czech Republic have undertaken to supervise officially the issue of certificates arising from this Decision and to