Brussels, 21/02/2002 (Agence Europe) - The Standing Veterinary Committee (SVC) took a stance, on Thursday, in favour of lifting certain restrictive measures imposed by the Union on exports of fresh deboned meat from Botswana and Argentina. Thus: - Botswana: from 7 March, imports from the regions not affected by the epizootic (south-west) will be authorised again, as the authorities of the country have given the necessary guarantees that preventive measures have been taken to allow relaxation of the embargo on a regional basis. Imports from the infected area (north-west) and from a buffer zone between the high-risk and the healthy zone will remain banned. Imports of meat from animals slaughtered before 7 February, already authorised, will remain so. - Argentina: the latest embargo measures will be lifted (they will concern exports of meat from animals slaughtered after 8 March from the three provinces: La Pampa, Santiago del Estero, and after 26 March 2002 for the province of Cordoba.