21. 12. 93 Official Journal of the European Communities No L 319/49 COMMISSION DECISION of 17 December 1993 concerning certain protection measures with regard to foot and mouth disease in Italy and repealing Decision 93/180/EEC (93/687/EC) THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES, Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, 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 (), as last amended by Council Direc- tive 92/118/EEC (%), and in particular Article 10 thereof, Having regard to Council Directive 89/662/EEC of 11 December 1989, concerning veterinary checks in intra- Community trade with a view to the completion of the internal market (%), as last amended by Council Directive 92/118/EEC and, in particular, Article 9, Whereas since 28 February 1993 several outbreaks of foot and mouth disease have been declared in several regions in Italy; Whereas following the outbreaks of foot and mouth disease the Commission adopted several Decisions, parti- cularly 93/180/EEC of 26 March 1993, concerning certain protective measures with regard to foot and mouth disease in Italy and repealing Decision 93/168/EEC (%), as last amended by Commission Decision 93/419/EEC () ; Whereas the outbreaks have, as a result of the measures introduced and the action taken by the Italian authorities, been confined to certain parts of Italy’s territory ; Whereas as a result of serological testing and clinical examinations required by Decision 93/663/EC (%), restric- tions can be removed from the province of Caserta; Whereas it is necessary to retain certain restrictions on buffalo holdings and certain animal movement controls in Caserta due to the possibility of illegal vaccination ; Whereas the Italian authorities have given guarantees that all animal products from susceptible species produced No L 224, 18. 8. 1990, p. 29. (» OJ No L 62, 15. 3. 1993, p. 49. N (9 OJ No L 303, 10. 12. 1993, p. 24. during the periods of restriction within the restricted areas have been consumed or destroyed ; whereas, therefore, it is unnecessary to maintain additional specific certification for animal products from Italy; 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 1. Italy shall not send live animals of the bovine, ovine, caprine and porcine species and other biungulates from the province of Caserta to other Member States before 31 December 1993. 2. Furthermore, Italy shall not permit live animals of the bovine, ovine, caprine and porcine species and other biungulates to leave holdings in the province of Caserta on which, at any time after 1 February 1993, animals of the species Bubalus bubalis have been kept. 3. The prohibitions provided for in paragraph 2 shall not apply to animals which move directly to an abattoir for immediate slaughter where : — all animals on the holding have been subjected to a clinical examination by an authorized veterinarian within 10 days prior to movement, — the animals to be moved are permanently identified, — the movement has been authorized by the competent veterinary authorities. Such animals shall be slaughtered separately from other animals. Their heads and necks including the tonsils must be destroyed under official supervision and strict hygienic precautions must be applied. 4. Movements of biungulate animals, which are not subject to the restrictions of paragraph 2, from holdings in the province of Caserta to other holdings shall not be permitted unless : (a) all animals in the herd of origin are subjected to a clinical examination by an authorized veterinarian within 10 days prior to movement ;