19.2.2004 Official Journal of the European Union L 49/11 COMMISSION REGULATION (EC) No 282/2004 of 18 February 2004 introducing a document for the declaration of, and veterinary checks on, animals from third countries entering the Community (Text with EEA relevance) THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES, (7)  The measures provided for in this Regulation are in Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, Having regard to Council Directive 91/496/EEC of 15 July 1991 laying down the principles governing the organisation of veterinary checks on animals entering the Community from third countries and amending Directives 89/662/EEC, 90/425/ EEC and 90/675[EEC ("), and in particular Article 3(2) and Article 7(2) thereof, Whereas: (1) The prior notification of the arrival of animals from third countries requires, in the interests of smooth operations at the border inspection posts, the adoption of a formal document containing the information rele- vant to the customs declaration. (2)  The procedures for the declaration of, and veterinary checks on, animals at the border must be harmonised with the procedures applicable to products of animal origin. (3)  As part of this harmonisation the definition of the person responsible for the load as laid down in Article 2(2)(e) of Council Directive 97/78/EC (3 should be used. (4)  The development of the integrated computerised veter- inary system Traces, provided for by Commission Deci- sion 2003/623(EC (), involves the standardisation of documents relating to the declaration and checks so that the data gathered can be properly managed and processed in order to improve health safety in the Com- munity. (5)  The provisions of Commission Decision 92/527[EEC of 4 November 1992 laying down the model for the certifi- cate referred to in Article 7(1) of Directive 91/496/ EEC (*) should accordingly be updated and Decision 92/ 527[EEC repealed. (6)  Since the border inspection posts between the existing Member States and the new Member States are to be abolished upon accession, a transitional measure should be adopted to save them having to introduce new administrative procedures for one month. (") OJ L 268, 24.9.1991, p. 56. Directive as last amended by Directive 96/43[EC (O] L 162, 1.7.1996, p. 1). () OJL 24, 30.1.1998, p. 9. () OJ L 216, 28.8.2003, p. 58. () OJL 332, 18.11.1992, p. 22. accordance with the opinion of the Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health, HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION: Atrticle 1 Notification of arrival of animals by means of the common veterinary entry document 1. Where any animal referred to in Directive 91/496/EEC enters the Community from a third country, the person respon- sible for the load within the meaning of Article 2(2)(e) of Direc- tive 97/78/EC shall give notice of such entry at least one working day before the expected arrival of the animal(s) on Community territory. Such notification shall be made to the inspection staff of the border inspection post using a document drawn up in accordance with the model common veterinary entry document (CVED) set out in Annex I. 2. The CVED shall be issued in accordance with the general rules of certification laid down in relevant Community legisla- tion. 3. The CVED shall consist of an original and as many copies as required by the competent authority to comply with this Regulation. The person responsible for the load shall complete part 1 of the requisite number of copies of the CVED and transmit them to the official veterinarian responsible for the border inspection post. 4. Without prejudice to paragraphs 1 and 3, the information contained in the document may, with the agreement of the competent authorities of the Member State concerned by the consignment, be the subject of prior notification via a telecom- munications system or other data transmission system. Where this is the case, the information transmitted in electronic form must be exactly the same as required in part 1 of the model CVED. Atticle 2 Veterinary checks Veterinary checks and laboratory analyses shall be carried out in accordance with Commission Decision 97/794/EC (°). () OJ L 323, 26.11.1997, p. 31.