Article 19

1. If, in the territory of a third country, a disease referred to in Directive 82/894/EEC (1), a zoonosis or other disease or phenomenon liable to present a serious threat to animal or public health, or if any other serious animal health or public health reason so warrants in particular in the light of the findings of its veterinary experts, the Commission may, acting on its own initiative or at the request of a Member State, adopt one of the following measures without delay and depending on the gravity of the situation: suspend imports coming from part or all of the third country concerned, and where appropriate from the transit third country, set special conditions in respect of imports coming from part or all of the third country concerned. 2. If one of the checks provided for in this Directive indicates that a consignment of products is likely to constitute a danger for animal or human health, the competent veterinary authority shall immediately take the following measures: it shall seize and destroy the consignment, it shall immediately inform the other border inspection posts and the Commission of the findings and of the origin of the products, in accordance with Article 16 (5). 3. In the case provided for in paragraph 1, the Commission may take provisional protective measures in respect of products covered by Article 12. 4. Representatives of the Commission may make an immediate visit to the third country concerned. 5. As regards products the rules on imports of which have not yet been harmonized, and in the case where a Member State informs the Commission officially of the need to take safeguard measures and the Commission has not invoked the provisions of paragraphs 1 and 3 or made a referral to the Standing Veterinary Committee in accordance with paragraph 6, that Member State may take interim protective measures in respect of the products in question. Where a Member State takes provisional protective measures in respect of a third country or third country establishment under the terms of this paragraph, it shall inform the other Member States and the Commission in accordance with Article 16 (5). 6. Without delay the Commission shall review the situation within the Standing Veterinary Committee. It may adopt the necessary decisions in accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 23, including those relating to intra-Community movements of products and to transit. 7. Decisions to modify, repeal or extend measures decided on by virtue of paragraphs 1, 2, 3 and 6 shall be taken in accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 23. 8. Detailed rules for the application of this Chapter shall be adopted, where necessary, in accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 24. CHAPTER III Inspection

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Source: EUR-Lex (Cellar) · retrieved 2026-11-06 · Text as adopted (Official Journal); later amendments are not incorporated in this text.