. /.WORLD TRADE
ORGANIZATIONG/SPS/N/EEC/115
26 March 2001
(01-1489)
Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures Original:  English
NOTIFICATION OF EMERGENCY MEASURES
1. Member to Agreement notifying:  EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES
If applicable, name of local government involved:           
2. Agency responsible:  European Commission, General Directorate for Health and Consumer
Protection
3. Products covered (provide tariff item number(s) as specified in national schedules
deposited with the WTO; ICS numbers may be provided in addition, where
applicable).  All categories of fresh meat from species susceptible to foot-and-mouth
disease (FMD)  Regions or countries likely to be affected, to the extent relevant or
practicable:  Argentina (whole country)
4. Title and number of pages of the notified document:  Draft Commission Decision
amending Commission Decision 93/402/EEC concerning animal health conditions and
veterinary certification for imports of fresh meat from South American countries to take
account of the animal health situation in Argentina  (SANCO/1065/2001-Rev.1) (7 pages)
5. Description of content:
• After a cessation of vaccination since 1997, on 2 March 2001 the authorities of
Argentina informed the Commission that vaccination of cattle against FMD is
being re-introduced  in the northern buffer area and on a separate central area. In
addition, an outbreak of FMD was notified to the OIE on 13 March 2001.
Moreover, information from Argentina indicates that it has suspended exports of
meat to Canada, Chile and the USA but not to the European Communities.
• From the above it follows that the status of the country should be temporarily
reviewed and the importation into the European Communities of fresh meat from
bovines and ovines should no longer be authorized until the new situation is re-examined.  Therefore Decision 93/402/EEC must be amended as to clarify the tables
listing the countries.
• It will be necessary to review this decision in the light of the results of the next
Commission veterinary inspection mission and/or any change in the heath situation in
Argentina notified to the Commission in the meantime.
• The decision will be reviewed by 15
 April 2001.
6. Objective and rationale:  [     ] food safety,  [  X ] animal health,  [     ] plant protection,
[    ] protect humans from animal/plant pest or disease, [     ] protect territory from
other damage from pests           
7. Nature of the urgent problem(s):  To control introduction of FMDG/SPS/N/EEC/115
Page 2
8. An international standard, guideline or recommendation does not exist [     ].
If an international standard, guideline or recommendation exists, give its appropriate
reference and briefly identify deviations:  Chapter 2.1.1 of the International Animal health
Code (I.A.H.C.) adopted by the Office Internati onal des Epizooties (OIE)
9. Relevant documents and language(s) in which these are available:  SANCO/1065/2001-
Rev.1 (Available in all EC languages)
10. Date of entry into force/period of application (as applicable):  14 March 2001
11. Texts available from/and agency or authority designated to handle comments:
[    ] National notification authority, [  X ] National enquiry point or address, fax
number and E-mail address (if available) of other body:           