THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,
Having regard to Council Directive 89/662/EEC of 11 December 1989 concerning veterinary checks in intra-Community trade with a view to the completion of the internal market, and in particular Article 9(4) thereof,
Having regard to Council Directive 90/425/EEC of 26 June 1990 concerning veterinary and zootechnical checks applicable in intra-Community trade in certain live animals and products with a view to the completion of the internal market, and in particular Article 10(4) thereof,
Whereas:
(1)
Following recent outbreaks of foot-and-mouth disease in Cyprus, Commission Decision 2007/718/EC of 6 November 2007 concerning certain protection measures against foot-and-mouth disease in Cyprus was adopted to reinforce the control measures against foot-and-mouth disease taken by that Member State in the framework of Council Directive 2003/85/EC of 29 September 2003 on Community measures for the control of foot-and-mouth disease, repealing Directive 85/511/EEC and Decisions 84/531/EEC and 91/665/EEC and amending Directive 92/46/EEC.
(2)
In Decision 2007/718/EC, the Commission laid down rules for the dispatch of certain categories of meat from certain areas listed in Annex III to that Decision that have not recorded any outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease for a period of at least 90 days prior to slaughter and which comply with certain specified conditions.
(3)
On the basis of the evolution of the animal health situation in Cyprus, and in particular the favourable results of the completed surveillance, it is now possible to remove the high risk area listed in Annex I and to declare Cyprus a low risk area to be detailed in Annex II to Decision 2007/718/EC.
(4)
Decision 2007/718/EC should therefore be amended accordingly.
(5)
The measures provided for in this Decision are in accordance with the opinion of the Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health,
HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION: