COMMISSION IMPLEMENTING DECISION
of 29 September 2014
on measures to prevent the introduction into the Union of the foot-and-mouth disease virus from Algeria, Libya, Morocco and Tunisia
(notified under document C(2014) 6868)
(Text with EEA relevance)
(2014/689/EU)
THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION,
Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,
Having regard to Council Directive 91/496/EEC of 15 July 1991 laying down the principles governing the organization of veterinary checks on animals entering the Community from third countries and amending Directives 89/662/EEC, 90/425/EEC and 90/675/EEC (1), and in particular Article 18(7) thereof,
Having regard to Council Directive 97/78/EC of 18 December 1997 laying down the principles governing the organisation of veterinary checks on products entering the Community from third countries (2), and in particular Article 22(6) thereof,
Whereas:
(1)
Directive 91/496/EEC lays down the principles of veterinary checks on animals entering the Union from third countries. It lays down the measures which can be adopted by the Commission, if a disease liable to present a serious threat to animal or public health manifests itself or spreads in the territory of a third country.
(2)
Directive 97/78/EC lays down the principles of veterinary checks on products entering the Union from third countries. It lays down the measures which can be adopted by the Commission, if a disease liable to present a serious threat to animal or public health manifests itself or spreads in the territory of a third country.
(3)
Foot-and-mouth disease is endemic in Libya and has been confirmed in Tunisia since 25 April 2014 and in Algeria since 23 July 2014.
(4)
Foot-and-mouth disease is one of the most contagious diseases of cattle, sheep, goats and pigs. The virus causing the disease has the potential for rapid spread, notably through products obtained from infected animals and contaminated inanimated objects including means of transport like livestock vehicles. The virus can also persist in a contaminated environment outside the host animal for several weeks depending on the temperature.
(5)
The presence of foot-and-mouth disease in Algeria, Libya and Tunisia is liable to constitute a serious risk to the livestock population of the Union.
(6)
Although foot-and-mouth disease has not been confirmed in Morocco, that third country is a potential country of transit for the livestock vehicles returning from Algeria, Libya and Tunisia to the Union.
(7)
The drastic deterioration of the foot-and-mouth disease situation in Libya and its spread to and within Tunisia and Algeria require to adopt certain protection measures at the Union level which take into account the survival of the foot-and-mouth disease virus in the environment and potential transmission routes of that virus.
(8)
Livestock vehicles and vessels used for the transport of live animals to Algeria, Libya or Tunisia may be contaminated with the foot-and-mouth disease virus in those infected countries and therefore constitute a risk of introducing the disease upon their return to the Union.
(9)
Appropriate cleansing and disinfection of livestock vehicles and vessels is the most appropriate way to reduce the risk of rapid virus transmission over large distances.
(10)
It is therefore appropriate to ensure that all livestock vehicles and vessels which have transported live animals to destinations in Algeria, Libya or Tunisia are appropriately cleansed and disinfected and that such cleansing and disinfection is properly documented in the declaration submitted by the operator or driver to the competent authority at the point of entry.
(11)
The operator or driver should ensure that for each livestock vehicle and vessel a cleansing and disinfection certificate is retained for a minimum period of three years.
(12)
Member States should have the possibility to subject vehicles which transport feed from or have transported feed to infected countries and for which a significant risk of introduction of foot-and-mouth disease into the territory of the Union cannot be excluded to on-the-spot disinfection of the wheels or any other part of the vehicle deemed necessary to mitigate that risk.
(13)
In addition, although imports of live animals of species susceptible to foot-and-mouth disease are not authorised from any country in Africa, the importation of certain categories of equidae is authorised from Algeria, Libya and Tunisia in accordance with Council Directive 2009/156/EC (3) and equidae from those third countries may transit the Union on their way to another third country in accordance with Commission Decision 2010/57/EU (4). Therefore, Member States should have the possibility to subject livestock vehicles carrying equidae coming from those third countries to on-the-spot disinfection of the wheels or any other part of the vehicle deemed necessary to mitigate the risk of introduction of foot-and-mouth disease into the Union.
(14)
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
For the purpose of this Decision, ‘livestock vehicle’ or ‘livestock vessel’ means any vehicle or vessel being used or which has been used for the transport of live terrestrial animals.
Article 2
1. Member States shall ensure that the operator or driver of a livestock vehicle or livestock vessel on arrival from Algeria, Morocco, Libya or Tunisia provides to the competent authority of the Member State at the point of entry in the Union information showing that the livestock or loading compartment, where applicable the truck body, the loading ramp, the equipment having been in contact with animals, the wheels and the driver's cabin and protective clothes/boots used during unloading have been cleansed and disinfected after the last unloading of animals.
2. The information referred to in paragraph 1 shall be included in a declaration completed in accordance with the model set out in Annex I or in any other equivalent format which includes at least the information set out in that model.
3. The original of the declaration referred to in paragraph 2 shall be kept by the competent authority for a period of three years.
Article 3
1. The competent authority of the Member State of the point of entry into the Union shall visually check livestock vehicles coming from Algeria, Libya, Morocco or Tunisia in order to determine whether they have been satisfactorily cleansed and disinfected.
2. The competent authority responsible for the issuing of the animal health certificate for imports into Algeria, Libya, Morocco or Tunisia of live animals to be loaded shall visually check livestock vessels in order to determine whether they have been satisfactorily cleansed and disinfected prior to loading the animals.
3. Where the checks referred to in paragraphs 1 and 2 show that cleansing and disinfection have been satisfactorily carried out or where the competent authorities have in addition to the measures provided for in paragraph 1 ordered, organised and carried out additional disinfection of previously cleansed livestock vehicles or vessels, the competent authority shall attest that fact by issuing a certificate in accordance with the model set out in Annex II.
4. Where the checks referred to in paragraph 1 and 2 show that cleansing and disinfection of the livestock vehicle or vessel have not been satisfactorily carried out, the competent authority shall take one of the following measures:
(a)
subject the livestock vehicle or vessel to proper cleansing and disinfection at a place designated by the competent authority, as close as possible to the point of entry into the Member State concerned and issue the certificate referred to in paragraph 3;
(b)
where there is no suitable facility for the cleansing and disinfection in the vicinity of the point of entry or where there is a risk that residual animal products may escape from the uncleansed livestock vehicle or vessel:
(i)
refuse the entry into the Union of the livestock vehicle or vessel; or
(ii)
perform a preliminary on-the-spot disinfection of the livestock vehicle or vessel not satisfactorily cleansed and disinfected pending the application of the measures provided for in point (a).
5. The original of the certificate referred to in paragraph 3 shall be kept by the operator or driver of the livestock vehicle for a period of three years. A copy of that certificate shall be kept by the competent authority for a period of three years.
Article 4
The competent authority of the Member State of the point of entry into the Union may subject any vehicle having transported feed, coming from Algeria, Libya, Morocco or Tunisia for which a significant risk of introduction of foot-and-mouth disease into the Union cannot be excluded to on-the-spot disinfection of the wheels or any other part of the vehicle deemed necessary to mitigate that risk.
Article 5
The competent authority of the Member State of the border inspection post of entry may subject livestock vehicles carrying equidae from Algeria, Libya or Tunisia to be introduced into the Union in accordance with the provisions of Directive 2009/156/EC and in case of transit in accordance with Decision 2010/57/EU, for which a significant risk of introduction of foot-and-mouth disease into the territory of the Union cannot be excluded, to on-the-spot disinfection of the wheels or any other part of the vehicle deemed necessary to mitigate that risk.
Article 6
This Decision shall apply until 1 October 2015.
Article 7
This Decision is addressed to the Member States.
Done at Brussels, 29 September 2014.