L 181/36 Official Journal of the European Communities 16.7.1999 COMMISSION DECISION of 15 July 1999 establishing the officially tuberculosis-free status of bovine herds of certain Member States or regions of Member States and repealing Decision 97/76/EC (notified under document number C(1999) 2124) (Text with EEA relevance) (1999/467 [EC) THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES, Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, Having regard to Council Directive 64/432/EEC of 26 June 1964 on animal health problems affecting intra-Community trade in bovine animals and swine ('), as last amended by Council Directive 98/99/EC (3), and in particular Annex Al(4) thereof, (1) ~ Whereas Member States or regions of Member States may be declared officially tuberculosis-free if they meet certain conditions set up in Directive 64/432EEC; (2)  Whereas, Commission Decision 97/76/EC (}) of 17 December 1996 laying down the methods of control for maintaining the officially tuberculosis-free status of bovine herds in certain Member States and regions of Member States, specifies the Member States and regions within Member States that fulfil these criteria; (3)  Whereas this Decision will not be adapted to the legal situation on 1 July 1999 since Directive 64/432[EEC was amended by Directive 98/46/EC (*); whereas more- over certain provisions for the recognition as officially tuberculosis-free Member State or region have been modified by Directive 98/46/EC; whereas it is necessary to repeal Decision 97/76/EC; (4)  Whereas in accordance with the provisions of Directive 64/432[/EEC Member States or regions may be declared officially tuberculosis-free if they meet the conditions of Annex Al(4) and they retain their status as long as the conditions of Annex AI(5) are fulfilled; (5)  Whereas the Commission may decide to suspend or revoke the officially tuberculosis-free status of Member States in accordance with the provisions in Annex AI(5) of that Directive; (6)  Whereas in accordance with Annex Al(4)(b) an identi- fication system allowing the identification of herds of origin and transit for each bovine animal in accordance () O] 121, 29.7.1964, p. 1977/64. () O] L 358, 31.12.1998, p. 107. () O] L 19, 22.1.1997, p. 34. (% O] L 198, 15.7.1998, p. 22. with Council Regulation (EC) No 820/97 (%) is a pre- requisite for granting the officially free status for bovine tuberculosis; (7)  Whereas the measures provided for in this Decision are in accordance with the opinion of the Standing Veter- inary Committee, HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION: Article 1 The Member States and regions thereof referred to respectively in Annexes I and II are declared officially free of bovine tuber- culosis. Article 2 The Decision shall be reviewed by 31 December 1999. Article 3 Decision 97/76/EC is hereby repealed. Atrticle 4 This Decision shall apply from 1 July 1999. Atticle 5 This Decision is addressed to the Member States. Done at Brussels, 15 July 1999. For the Commission Franz FISCHLER Member of the Commission () O] L 117, 7.5.1997, p. 1.