THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,

Having regard to Council Directive 90/426/EEC of 26 June 1990 on animal health conditions governing the movement and imports from third countries of equidae ( 1 ), as last amended by the Act of Accession of Austria, Finland and Sweden, and in particular Articles 12, 13, 15, 16 and 19 (ii) thereof,

Whereas by Council Decision 79/542/EEC ( 2 ), as last amended by Commission Decision 96/624/EC ( 3 ), a list of third countries from which Member States authorize imports of bovine animals, swine, equidae, sheep and goats, fresh meat and meat products has been established;

Whereas the health conditions and veterinary certification for the temporary admission, the re-entry of registered horses after temporary export and imports of registered horses are laid down respectively in Commission Decisions 92/260/EEC ( 4 ), 93/195/EEC ( 5 ) and 93/197/EEC ( 6 ), all as last amended by Commission Decision 96/279/EC ( 7 );

Whereas following a Commission veterinary inspection mission to Lebanon the animal health situation initially appeared insufficiently under control of the veterinary services; whereas however substantial improvements have been made since, including a comprehensive sero-epidemiological survey for African horse sickness, glanders, dourine and infectious anaemia, carried out on equidae all over the territory of the country with negative result in each case;

Whereas Lebanon has been free from African horse sickness for more than thirty years and vaccination against this disease has not been carried out during that period of time;

Whereas Lebanon is free from glanders and dourine for more than six months and Venezuelan equine encephalomyelitis and vesicular stomatitis have never occurred;

Whereas the veterinary authorities of Lebanon have guaranteed to notify within 24 hours by telefax, telegram or telex to the Commission and the Member States the confirmation of any infectious or contagious disease in equidae mentioned in Annex A of Directive 90/426/EEC and any change in the vaccination or import policy in respect of equidae;

Whereas the animal health conditions and veterinary certification must be adopted according to the animal health situation of the third country concerned; whereas the present case relates only to registered horses;

Whereas Decision 79/542/EEC and Decisions 92/260/EEC, 93/195/EEC and 93/197/EEC must be amended accordingly;

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

HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:

1. ‘Lebanon’ is added in alphabetical order of the ISO code to the list of third countries in Group E of Annex I;

2. ‘Lebanon’ is added in alphabetical order of the ISO code to the list of third countries in the title of the health certificate set out in Annex II E.

1. ‘Lebanon’ is added in alphabetical order of the ISO code to the list of third countries in Group E of Annex I;

2. ‘Lebanon’ is added in alphabetical order of the ISO code to the list of third countries under Group E in the title of the health certificate set out in Annex II.

1. ‘ ►C1  Lebanon (2) ◄ ’ is added in alphabetical order of the ISO code to the list of third countries in Group E of Annex I;

2. ‘Lebanon’ is added in alphabetical order of the ISO code to the list of third countries in the first half sentence of the title relating to registered horses of the health certificate set out in Annex II E.