2003/459/EC: Commission Decision of 20 June 2003 on certain protection measures with regard to monkey pox virus (Text with EEA relevance) (notified under document number C(2003) 1953)

• Articles: 6

Article 1

Member States shall prohibit the importation of prairie dogs (Cynomys sp.) originating in or coming from the United States of America.

Article 2

Member States shall prohibit the importation of rodents of non-domestic species and squirrels originating in or coming from third countries of the African sub-Saharan region.

Article 3

Derogations to the prohibition provided for in Articles 1 and 2 may be authorised by the competent authorities of a Member State in the framework of imports between establishments as defined in Article 2 of Council Directive 92/65/EEC.

Article 4

The Member States shall amend the measures they apply to imports to bring them into compliance with this Decision and they shall give immediate appropriate publicity to the measures adopted. They shall immediately inform the Commission thereof.

Article 5

This Decision shall be reviewed in the light of the evolution of the disease situation in the United States of America.

Article 6

This Decision is addressed to the Member States

Done at Brussels, 20 June 2003.

For the Commission

David Byrne

Member of the Commission

(1) OJ L 268, 24.9.1991, p. 56.

(2) OJ L 16, 22.1.1996, p. 3.

(3) OJ L 268, 14.9.1992, p. 54.

(4) OJ L 187, 16.7.2002, p. 3.