Brussels, 30/11/2004 (Agence Europe) - On Monday, the European Commission decided to prohibit Member States of the European Union from importing horses for slaughter and for breeding and production from Romania. The Commission has taken this protective measure in the light of the conclusions of several reports from the EU's Food and Veterinary Office (FVO), which confirmed that there were major shortcomings in Romania regarding both health and welfare conditions of horses transported to the EU. The measures do not, however, concern the temporary admission of: - registered horses for races and cultural events; - or batches of equidae for immediate slaughter. This special import regime above all provides for better identification of the horses and compulsory testing on horses imported to the Community from Romania. In order to follow up the situation continuously and withdraw the measures as soon as possible (a decision to be taken by the Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health), Member States must provide regular information on the results of inspections carried out at border inspection posts.