. /.WORLD TRADE
ORGANIZATIONG/SPS/N/EEC/111
8 February 2001
(01-0616)
Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures Original:  English
NOTIFICATION
1. Member to Agreement notifying:  EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES
If applicable, name of local government involved:           
2. Agency responsible:  European Commission, General Directorate for Health and Consumer
Protection
3. Products covered (provide tariff item number(s) as specified in national schedules
deposited with the WTO; ICS numbers may be provided in addition, where
applicable).  Specified pathogen free (SPF) embryonated eggs to be used as a diagnostic aid
in laboratories, for vaccine production – testing,  research and pharmaceutical purposes.
Regions or countries likely to be affected, to the extent relevant or practicable:  EC
member States and countries exporting to the European Communities
4. Title and number of pages of the notified document:  Draft Commission Decision laying
down animal health conditions and veterinary certification for the import of specified
pathogen free eggs from third countries and drawing up a list of third countries from which
member States authorize imports of such eggs.
5. Description of content:  The objective of this draft Decision is to draw up an animal health
certificate for specified pathogen free eggs and to lay down a third country list from which
member States may authorize the importation of such eggs.  Furthermore special provisions
have to be applied for SPF-eggs after importation by member States. These particular
characteristics should prevent the introduction of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza,
Newcastle Disease and other relevant poultry diseases into the European Communities.
6. Objective and rationale: [     ] food safety,  [  X ] animal health,  [     ] plant protection,
[    ] protect humans from animal/plant pest or disease, [     ] protect territory from
other damage from pests           
7. An international standard, guideline or recommendation does not exist [  x ].
If an international standard, guideline or recommendation exists, give the appropriate
reference and briefly identify deviations:  SPF eggs must fulfill the specifications and
should be clinically examined as established by the European Pharmacopoeia (3rd edition,
Council of Europe, 1997).  The requirements established are stricter than those of the
International Animal Health Code of the OIE, Chapter 2.1.14 and 2.1.15 because of the EC
country's policy of not vaccinating.
8. Relevant documents and language(s) in which these are available:  European
Commission Document SANC O/4006/2000 Rev. 5 (Available in all EC languages)
9. Proposed date of adoption:  Around 30 March 2001G/SPS/N/EEC/111
Page 2
10. Proposed date of entry into force:  30 April 2001
11. Final date for comments:  30 February 2001
Agency or authority designated to handle comments:  [     ] National notification
authority, [     ] EC enquiry point, or address, fax number and E-mail address (if
available) of other body:           
12. Texts available from: [     ] National notification authority, [  X ] EC enquiry point or
address, fax number and E-mail address (if available) of other body:           