3.6.89 Official Journal of the European Communities No L 151/39 COMMISSION  DECISION of 23 May 1989 laying  down measures for the application of Article 8 of Council Directive 85/358/EEC (89/358/EEC) THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES, Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Economic Community, Having regard to Council Directive 85/358/EEC of 16 July. 1985 supplementing Directive 81/602/EEC concerning the prohibition of certain substances having a hormonal action and of any substances having a thyrostatic action ('), as last amended . by Directive - 88/146/EEC (?),.and in particular Article 8. thereof, Whereas pursuant to Article 8 of Directive 857/358/EEC it is the responsibility of the Commission to establish, in accordance with Article 10 of that Directive, detailed rules to be followed when the results of controls carried out in a Member State indicate the need for investigation in one or more other Member States or third contries ; Whereas the Member States must inform each other and the Commission of positive findings made in the course of the control of hormonal or thyrostatic substances where these findings have implications for other Member States or third countries; whereas the information exchanged should give the maximum possibility of identifying ‘any animals, meat or substances- involved ; Whereas. Member States should act wupon such information in the same way as they act upon- information which they obtain themselves in their own territory ; whereas they should inform the other Member States and the Commission of the measures which they take- and the results of those measures; Whereas in -the case of a problem arising in a third country the Commission should inform:the third country and request an explanation of the reason for the problem as well as measures to be taken to prevent a recurrence ; Whereas the Commission may send a mission to a Member State or third country in order to obtain supple- mentary information or to investigate the application of Community veterinary provisions relating to the information supplied ; whereas such a mission must be afforded all practical assistance necessary for achieving its purpose ; Whereas the results of on-the-spot investigations, along with any consequent requests for further measures to be taken should be communicated as rapidly as possible to the Member State or third country involved ; o L 191, 23. 7. 1985, p. 46. o L 70, 16. 3. 1988, p. 16. [t ZZ Whereas it is necessary to lay down certain administrative . rules for the veterinary experts performing missions of inspection ; . Whereas the measures provided for in this Decision are in accordance with the-opinion of the Standing Veterinary Committee,- HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION : Article 1 For the purpose of this Decision, ‘competent authority’ means the central department or body assigned by each Member. State in accordance with Article 3 of Council Directive 86/469/EEC of 16 September 1986 concerning the examination of animals and fresh meat for the presence of residues (°). Article 2 1. The information referred to in the first paragraph of Article 8 of Directive 85/358/EEC shall be communicated, without delay, by the competent authority of the Member State concerned to the competent authorities -of the other Member States concerned and to the Commission. 2. The competent authority communicating the information referred to in paragraph 1 shall give details of its findings and the reasons for requesting further investi- gations, and in particular: — the substance -or: substances and quantities found, — the type of sample and place and date of sampling, — the method and date of examination; ™ — where appropriate, the species of animal and, if known, the sex, age and identification, — any other information relevant to an investigation of the source of the substance in question. 3. Information which is communicated in any form by Member States in compliance with this Decision shall be treated as confidential. It shall be covered by the obligation of professional secrecy and shall enjoy the () OJ No L 275, 26. 9. 1986, p. 36.