19. 10. 89 Official Journal of the European Communities No L 302/1 (Acts whose publication.is not obligatory) COUNCIL COUNCIL DIRECTIVE of 25 September 1989 on animal health conditions governing intra-Community trade in and importation-from third countries of embryos of domestic animals of the bovine species (89/556/EEC) THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES, Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Economic Community, and. in particular Article 43 thereof, : Having regard to the proposal from the Commission (1), Having regard - to the opinion of the European Parliament (2), Having regard to the opinion of the Economic and Social Committee (3), Whereas - the use of embryos of domestic animals of the bovine species is part of an efficient breeding policy which leads to better productivity and increased margins in this sector; whereas, in addition, the free movement of such embryos should encourage a rational development by taking into account the use of optimum production factors; Whereas the provisions relating to animal health problems in intra-Community trade in bovine animals and swine appear in Directive 64/432/EEC (*), aslast amended by Directive 89/360/EEC (°); whereas in addition, Directive 72/462/ EEC (%), as last amended by Directive 89/227/EEC (7) contains provisions relating to veterinary inspection problems upon importation of bovine animals and swine from third countries; () OJ No C 76, 28. 3.-1989, p: 1. (2) O] No C-120, 16. 5. 1989, p. 313. (3) OJ No C 139, 5. 6. 1989, p. S6. {4) O] No 121, 29. 7. 1964, p. 1977/64. (5) O] No L 153, 6. 6. 1989, p. 29. {) OJ No L 302, 31. 12. 1972, p. 28. (7) O] No L 93, 6. 4. 1989, p. 25. Whereas the abovementioned provisions have ensured, with regard to intra-Community trade and imports into the Community of bovine animals and swine from third countries, that the country of provenance guarantees that animal health criteria have béen fulfilled, so that the risk of animal disease spreading has been virtually eliminated; whereas there is nevertheless a certain risk of the spread of such disease in the case of trade in embryos; Whereas in -the context of the Community policy of harmonizing national animal health provisions governing intra-Community trade in animals and animal products, it is now necessary to create a harmonized system for intra-Community trade and imports into the Community of embryos of bovine animals; Whereas in the context of intra-Community trade in embryos, the Member State where the embryos are collected should be under an obligation to ensure that such embryos have been. collected and processed by approved and supervised ‘embryo collection teams, that they have been obtained from -animals whose health status is such as to ensure that the risk of spread of animal disease is eliminated, that they have been- collected, processed, stored and transported in accordance with the rules which preserve their health status and are accompanied during transport to- the country of destination by an animal health certificate in order to ensure that this obligation has been fulfilled; Whereas the difference in the policies pursued within the Community with regard to vaccination against foot-and-mouth disease justifies the maintenance, for fresh embryos, of derogations, limited in time, authorizing the requirement by the Member States of additional protection against that disease;