(1)

Directive 2002/99/EC lays down the general animal health rules governing all stages of the production, processing and distribution of products of animal origin in the Union, including their introduction into the Union from third countries.

(2)

Article 4 of Directive 2002/99/EC provides that Member States may authorise, subject to compliance with certain conditions, the production, processing and distribution of products of animal origin which come from a territory or part thereof subject to animal health restrictions. Annex III to that Directive sets out a table listing treatments that can be applied to products of animal origin in order to eliminate the animal health risks linked to meat and milk. Those treatments are in line with the treatments recommended in the relevant chapters of the Terrestrial Animal Health Code of the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE Terrestrial Code).

(3)

In the Chapter on foot-and-mouth disease of the OIE Terrestrial Code, a treatment has been included which ensures the inactivation of the foot-and-mouth disease virus in meat.

(4)

That treatment should therefore be included in the list of treatments in the Table set out in Annex III to Directive 2002/99/EC as effective to eliminate the risk of foot-and-mouth disease in meat.

(5)

In addition, the reference to ‘sheep and goat plague’ in the Table set out in Annex III to Directive 2002/99/EC should be replaced by ‘peste des petits ruminants’ in order to reflect the official denomination of that disease in the OIE Terrestrial Code. Furthermore, the number ‘1’ in the title of the table should be deleted and the mention ‘MEAT’ before the treatments for milk should be replaced by ‘MILK’.

(6)

Annex III to Directive 2002/99/EC should therefore be amended accordingly.

(7)

The measures provided for in this Decision are in accordance with the opinion of the Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health,