31.3.2004 Official Journal of the European Union L 94/63 COMMISSION DECISION of 30 March 2004 on the introduction of the Traces system and amending Decision 92/486/EEC (notified under document number C(2004) 1282) (Text with EEA relevance) (2004/292/EC) THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES, Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, Having regard to Council Decision 90/424/EEC of 26 June 1990 on expenditure in the veterinary field (), and in particular Articles 37 and 37a thereof, Having regard to Council Directive 90/425[/EEC of 26 June 1990 concerning veterinary and zootechnical checks applicable in intra-Community trade in certain live animals and products with a view to the completion of the internal market (3, and in particular Article 20(3) thereof, Having regard to Council Decision 92[438/EEC of 13 July 1992 on computerisation of veterinary import procedures (Shift project), amending Directives 90/675/EEC, 91/496/EEC, 91/628/EEC and Decision 90/424/EEC, and repealing Decision 88/192[EEC (}), and in particular Article 12 thereof, Whereas: (1)  Commission Decision 91/398 of 19 July 1991 on a computerised network linking veterinary authorities (Animo) (*) defines the principles governing the commu- nications network linking the veterinary units listed in Decision 2002/459/EC (). (2)  Commission Decision 2003/24/EC (°) lays down that the Traces computer system integrating the functions of the Animo and Shift systems into a single architecture is to be developed. (") OJ L 224, 18.8.1990, p. 19. Decision as last amended by Decision 2001/572/EC (O] L 203, 28.7.2001, p. 16). () OJ L 224, 18.8.1990, p. 29. Directive as last amended by Directive 2002/33[EC of the European Parliament and of the Council (O] L 315, 19.11.2002, p. 14). () OJ L 243, 25.08.1992, p. 27. Decision as last amended by Decision 95/1/EC (OJ L 1, 1.1.1995, p. 113). () OJL 221, 9.8.1991, p. 30. () OJ L 159, 17.6.2002, p. 27. Decision as last amended by Decision 2003/831/EEC (O] L 313, 28.11.2003, p. 61). (9 OJ L 8, 14.1.2003, p. 44. (3)  Commission Decision 92[486/EEC of 25 September 1992 establishing the form of cooperation between the Animo host centre and Member States () lays down that the contracts between Member States and the Animo host centre are to lapse on 31 March 2004. That date should therefore serve as the starting point for Traces to avoid the need for contracts to be renewed. (4 Some Member States are not able to use Traces from the date set by the Commission, i.e. 1 April 2004, as they are not yet ready to make the switch from Animo to Traces. Provision should therefore be made for a transi- tion period to allow those Member States to complete their migration to Traces. (5)  Decision 92[486/EEC should be amended to enable contracts between those Member States availing them- selves of a transition period and the Animo host centre to be renewed. (6)  The contracts between the Animo host centre and the border inspection posts located in Germany, Austria and Italy listed in Annex II to Commission Regulation (EC) No 282/2004 of 18 February 2004 introducing a docu- ment for the declaration of, and veterinary checks on, animals from third countries entering the Community (%) will have to be adapted to take account of the scheduled disappearance of those border inspection posts in connection with the accession of new Member States. (7)  To enable the first group of Member States migrating to Traces to adjust to it, the functions of the new system should be introduced in stages, while ensuring that as soon as it is introduced the level of information is the same as that achieved by the Animo system. (8)  All the information contained in the common veterinary entry documents provided for in Commission Regulation (EC) No 136/2004 (°) for products, in the common veterinary entry documents provided for in Regulation (EC) No 282/2004 for animals and in the certificates for intra-Community trade as harmonised by Commission Regulation (EC) No 599/2004 (*) must be transmitted via the Traces system. () OJ L 291, 7.10.1992, p. 20. Decision as amended by Decision 2003/236/EC (O] L 87, 4.4.2003, p. 12). () OJ L 49, 19.2.2004, p. 11. () OJ L 21, 28.1.2004, p. 11. (1% See page 44 of this Official Journal.