COMMISSION IMPLEMENTING DECISION (EU) 2015/250
of 13 February 2015
amending Annexes I and II to Decision 2004/558/EC as regards the infectious bovine rhinotracheitis-free status of the Federal States of Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt, Brandenburg, Berlin and Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania in Germany
(notified under document C(2015) 706)
(Text with EEA relevance)
THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION,
Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,
Having regard to Council Directive 64/432/EEC of 26 June 1964 on animal health problems affecting intra-Community trade in bovine animals and swine (1), and in particular Articles 9(2) and 10(2) thereof,
Whereas:
(1)
Directive 64/432/EEC lays down rules for trade within the Union in bovine animals. Article 9 thereof provides that where a Member State has a compulsory national control programme for one of the contagious diseases listed in Annex E(II) thereto, it may submit its programme to the Commission for approval. That list includes infectious bovine rhinotracheitis. Infectious bovine rhinotracheitis is the description of the most prominent clinical signs of the infection with the bovine herpesvirus type 1 (BHV1). Article 9 of Directive 64/432/EEC also provides for the definition of the additional guarantees which may be required in intra-Union trade.
(2)
In addition, Article 10 of Directive 64/432/EEC provides that where a Member State considers that its territory or part thereof is free from one of the diseases listed in Annex E(II) to that Directive, it is to present appropriate supporting documentation to the Commission. That Article also provides for the definition of the additional guarantees which may be required in intra-Union trade.
(3)
Commission Decision 2004/558/EC (2) approves the programmes for the control and eradication of BHV1 presented by the Member States listed in Annex I thereto for the regions listed in that Annex and for which additional guarantees apply in accordance with Article 9 of Directive 64/432/EEC.
(4)
In addition, Annex II to Decision 2004/558/EC lists the regions of the Member States that are considered free of BHV1 and to which additional guarantees apply in accordance with Article 10 of Directive 64/432/EEC.
(5)
All regions of Germany, with the exception of the Federal States of Bavaria and Thuringia, are currently listed in Annex I to Decision 2004/558/EC. The Federal States of Bavaria and Thuringia are free of BHV1 and are therefore listed in Annex II to that Decision.
(6)
Germany has now submitted to the Commission documentation supporting the request for the additional guarantees in accordance with Article 10 of Directive 64/432/EEC for the Federal States of Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt, Brandenburg, Berlin and Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania to be considered free of BHV1.
(7)
Following the evaluation of the supporting documentation submitted by that Member State, the Federal States of Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt, Brandenburg, Berlin and Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania in Germany should no longer be listed in Annex I to Decision 2004/558/EC, but instead be listed in Annex II thereto and the application of the additional guarantees in accordance with Article 10 of Directive 64/432/EEC should be extended to them. Annexes I and II to Decision 2004/558/EC should therefore be amended accordingly.
(8)
Decision 2004/558/EC should therefore be amended accordingly.
(9)
The measures provided for in this Decision are in accordance with the opinion of the Standing Committee on Plants, Animals, Food and Feed,
HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:
Article 1
Annexes I and II to Decision 2004/558/EC are replaced by the text in Annex to this Decision.
Article 2
This Decision is addressed to the Member States.
Done at Brussels, 13 February 2015.