11. 10. 95 Official Journal of the European Communities No L 243/25 COUNCIL DECISION of 22 June 1995 laying down the rules for the microbiological testing by sampling in the establishment of origin of poultry for slaughter intended for Finland and Sweden {95/410/EC) THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION, Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, Having regard to Council Directive 90/539/EEC of 15 October 1990 on animal health conditions governing intra-Community trade in, and imports from third countries of, poultry and hatching eggs ('), and in particular Article 10b (1) thercof, Whereas the Commission has approved the operational programmes submitted by Finland and Sweden regarding salmonella controls; whereas those programmes comprise specific measures for poultry for slaughter; 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 poultry for slaughter from third countries import requirements at 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 regards the scope of the test and the methods to be adopted, it is necessary to refer to the opinion of the Scientific Veterinary Committee in its report of 10 June 1994, Whereas microbiological tests are not to be required for poultry for slaughter from an establishment which is (—'—F)J No L 303, 31. 10. 1990, p. 6. Directive as last amended by Decision 95/1/EC, Euratom, ECSC (O) No L 1, 1. 1. 1995, p. 1). subject to a programme recognized as equivalent to that implemented by Finland or Sweden; Whereas, in accordance with Article 10b (2) of Directive 90/539/EEC, the provisions of this Decision must take account of the operational programmes adopted and implemented by Finland and Sweden, HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION: Article 1 Pursuant to Article 10b of Directive 90/539/EEC, consignments of poultry for slaughter intended for Finland and Sweden shall be subject to the rules laid down in Articles 2 and 3. Article 2 The microbiological test for salmonella, laid down in Article 10b of Directive 90/539/EEC, shall be carried out as laid down in Annex A. Article 3 1. Poultry for slaughter to be sent to Finland and Sweden shall be accompanied by the certificate shown in Annex B. 2. The certificate provided for in paragraph 1 may: — either be accompanied by the model § certificate in Annex IV to Directive 90/539/EEC, — or be incorporated in the certificate referred to in the first indent. Article 4 The Council, acting on a Commission proposal drawn up in the light of a report drafted on the basis of the results of the operational programmes implemented by Finland