Products of animal origin intended for human consumption: animal health rules (amend. Directives 90/426/EEC and 92/65/EEC; repeal. Directive 72/462/EEC)

PURPOSE : to repeal Directive 72/462/EEC. PROPOSED ACT : Council Directive. CONTENT : The animal health requirements for the importation of meat and meat products have been updated by Council Directive 2002/99/EC which lays down the animal health rules governing the production, processing, distribution and introduction of products of animal origin for human consumption. This must be implemented in Member States by 1 January 2005. The public health requirements and official controls for meat and meat products will be recast and updated by the new Regulation laying down the specific hygiene rules for food of animal origin, which should be implemented in Member States by 1 January 2006. The public health rules concerning those products referred to in 72/462/EEC are superseded by the above provisions with effect from 1 January 2006. The remaining conditions concerning the import requirements for live animals are being recast by a proposal for a Directive laying down animal health rules for the importation into the Community of certain live animals, and amending Directives 90/426/EEC and 92/65/EEC. It is therefore appropriate to repeal Directive 72/462/EEC and some Decisions which are no longer relevant. However, the proposal provides for certain implementing rules to remain in force pending the taking of necessary measures under the new legal framework.�