8. 3. 96 Official Journal of the European Communities No L 59/23 (Acts whose publication is not obligatory) COMMISSION COMMISSION 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 Slovak Republic (Text with EEA relevance) (96/185/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 Articles 8 and 11 thereof, Whereas Commission Decision 92/324/EEC() of 10 June 1992 establishes the animal health conditions and veterinary certificates for the import of domestic animals of the bovine and porcine species from Czechoslovakia; Whereas following partition of this country and revoca- tion of the abovementioned Decision by Commission Decision 96/186/EC (), it is necessary to lay down animal health conditions and veterinary certificates for importa- tion of domestic animals of the bovine and porcine species from the Slovak Republic; 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 () OJ No L 302, 31. 12. 1972, p. 28. () O No L 177, 30. 6. 1992, p. 35. (%) See page 41 of this Official Journal. (9 OJ No L 268, 24. 9. 1991, p. 56. organization 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 (5 Whereas the geographical proximity of the Slovak Repu- blic to the Community has implications for trade in live animals; Whereas following Community veterinary missions it appears that the animal health situation in the Slovak 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 Slovak Republic have confirmed that the Slovak 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 and that no vaccinations have been carried out against any of those diseases during the past 12 months; Whereas the responsible veterinary authorities of the Slovak 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- () OJ No L 110, 4. 5. 1993, p. 36. (% OJ No L 182, 2. 8. 1995, p. 30.