THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Economic Community, and in particular Article 43 thereof,

Having regard to the proposals from the Commission1,

Having regard to the opinions of the European Parliament2,

Having regard to the opinions of the Economic and Social Committee3,

Whereas products of animal origin are included in the list of products in Annex II to the Treaty; whereas the placing on the market of such products constitutes an important source of income for part of the farming population;

Whereas in order to ensure rational development in this sector and increase productivity, animal health and public health rules for the products in question should be laid down at Community level;

Whereas the Community must adopt the measures intended progressively to establish the internal market consisting of an area without internal frontiers, over a period expiring on 31 December 1992;

Whereas in view of the abovementioned objectives the Council has laid down animal health rules applicable to fresh meat, poultrymeat, meat products, game meat, rabbit meat and milk products;

Whereas, save where otherwise provided, trade in products of animal origin must be liberalized, without prejudice to recourse to possible safeguard measures;

Whereas, given the significant risk of the spread of diseases to which animals are exposed, for certain products of animal origin particular requirements should be specified to be imposed when they are placed on the market for the purposes of trade, particularly when intended for regions with a high health status;

Whereas, when Directive 92/65/EEC was adopted, the Commission agreed to disassociate the animal health aspects applicable to animals from those applicable to products;

Whereas, so as to allow checks at borders between Member States to be abolished on 1 January 1993, animal health and public health rules should be fixed to apply to all products subject to such checks trade in and imports of which have not yet been harmonized at Community level;

Whereas, to achieve this objective, certain existing rules should be adapted for the adoption of the aforesaid measures;

Whereas a system of approval should be introduced for the third countries and establishments which meet the requirements laid down by this Directive, together with a Community inspection procedure to ensure that the conditions for such approval are observed;

Whereas the accompanying document for products is the best way of satisfying the competent authority of the place of destination that a consignment complies with the provisions of this Directive; whereas the public health or animal health certificate should be maintained for the purposes of verifying the destination of certain imported products;

Whereas the rules, principles and safeguard measures established by Council Directive 90/675/EEC of 10 December 1990 laying down the principles governing the organization of veterinary checks on products entering the Community from third countries4 should apply here;

Whereas, in the context of intra-Community trade, the rules laid down in Directive 89/662/EEC should also be applied;

Whereas the Commission should be entrusted with the task of adopting certain measures for implementing this Directive; whereas, to that end, procedures should be laid down establishing close and effective cooperation between the Commission and the Member States within the Standing Veterinary Committee;

Whereas, in view of the particular supply difficulties arising from its geographical situation, special derogations should be permitted for the Hellenic Republic;

Whereas the adoption of specific rules for the products covered by this Directive is without prejudice to the adoption of rules on food hygiene and safety in general, on which the Commission has submitted a proposal for a framework Directive,

HAS ADOPTED THIS DIRECTIVE: