
Article 1 
The appropriate authority  shall prohibit the importation of prairie dogs (Cynomys sp.) originating in or coming from the United States of America.
In this Decision,  “appropriate authority” means the Secretary of State (in relation to England), the Welsh Ministers (in relation to Wales) and the Scottish Ministers (in relation to Scotland); but the  “appropriate authority” is the Secretary of State if consent is given by: 
(a) in relation to Wales, the Welsh Ministers;
(b) in relation to Scotland, the Scottish Ministers.
Article 2 
The appropriate authority  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  appropriate authority  in the framework of imports between establishments  , and for this purpose  “establishment” means any permanent, geographically limited establishment, approved in accordance with legislation, where one or more species of animal are habitually kept or bred, whether or not for commercial ends, and exclusively for one or more of the following purposes:
 — display of the animals and education of the public
 — conservation of the species;
 — basic or applied scientific research or breeding of animals for the purposes of such research.
Article 4 
The appropriate authority 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. ...
Article 5 
This Decision shall be reviewed by the appropriate authority in the light of the evolution of the disease situation in the United States of America.
Article 6 
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Done at Brussels, 20 June 2003.For the Commission
David BYRNE
Member of the Commission
