11. 9. 96 Official Journal of the European Communities No L 230/23 COMMISSION DECISION of 4 September 1996 on animal health requirements and veterinary certification for imports into the Community of semen of the equine species (Text with EEA relevance) (96/539/EC) THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES, Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, Having regard to Council Directive 92/65/EEC of 13 July 1992, laying down animal health requirements governing trade in and imports into the Community of animals, semen, ova and embryos not subjected to animal health requirements laid down in specific Community rules referred to in Annex A (I) to Dirctive 90/425/EEC ('), as last amended by Commission Decision 95/176/EC (3, and in particular Articles 11 (2), 17 and 18 thereof, Whereas by Decision 94/63/EC °) the Commission drew up a provisional list of third countries from where Member States authorize the imports of semen, ova and embryos of the ovine, caprine and equine species, ova and embryos of the porcine species; Whereas the animal health condition and the veterinary certification must be established for imports into the Community of fresh, chilled and frozen semen of the equine species in accordance with the requirements of Council Directive 92/65/EEC; Whereas certain infectious diseases of equidae are trans- missible via semen; whereas therefore specific animal health tests are required to identify such diseases which must be carried out according to specific test programmes reflecting the movement of the donor stallions prior to and during the period of semen collection; () OJ No L 268, 14. 9. 1992, p. 54. () O] No L 117, 24. 5. 1995, p. 23. () OJ No L 28, 2. 2. 1994, p. 47. Whereas the measures provided for in this Decision are in accordance with the opinion of the Standing Veterinary Committee, HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION: Article 1 Member States shall authorize the imports of fresh, chilled or frozen semen of the equine species complying with the requirements set up in the specimen animal health certificate in the Annex and accompanied by such a certificate duly completed. Article 2 The Decision is applicable from 1 October 1996. Article 3 The Decision is addressed to all Member States. Done at Brussels, 4 September 1996. For the Commission Franz FISCHLER Member of the Commission