THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,

Having regard to 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 countries, as last amended by Directive 96/43/EC, and in particular Article 19,

Whereas, upon importation of cooked crawfish tailmeat originating in a processing establishment in China, the presence of Vibrio cholerae has been detected;

Whereas the presence of Vibrio cholerae on food is a result of bad hygienic practices before and/or after processing of food and it presents a potential risk for human health;

Whereas imports of products from the establishment concerned in China must not therefore be further allowed;

Whereas Community inspections in China and the results of checks at the Community border inspection posts have shown that potential health risks with regard to the production and processing of fishery products exist;

Whereas Commission Decision 97/368/EC concerning certain protective measures with regard to certain fishery products originating in China, as amended by Decision 97/587/EC, provides for a ban of importation of fresh fishery products originating in China and for a requirement that frozen or processed fishery products originating in China must be systematically submitted to a microbiological examination;

Whereas Decision 97/368/EC should be reviewed before 30 September 1997 and on the ground of the current findings it should be necessary to extend the measures provided in this Decision until 28 February 1998;

Whereas the measures provided for in this Decision are in conformity with the opinion of the Standing Veterinary Committee,

HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION: