COMMISSION DECISION
of 15 September 2005
concerning a financial contribution by the Community in the context of the emergency measures taken to combat bluetongue in Portugal in 2004 and 2005
(notified under document number C(2005) 3446)
(Only the Portuguese text is authentic)
(2005/660/EC)
THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,
Having regard to Council Directive 2000/75/EC of 20 November 2000 laying down specific provisions for the control and eradication of bluetongue (1), and in particular Article 9(2) thereof,
Having regard to Council Decision 90/424/EEC of 26 June 1990 on expenditure in the veterinary field (2), and in particular Article 3(3), (4) and (5), second indent, and Article 5(3) thereof,
Whereas:
(1)
On 24 November 2004, outbreaks of bluetongue appeared in Portugal. The emergence of this disease represents a serious risk to the Community’s livestock population.
(2)
In order to prevent the spread of the disease as rapidly as possible, the Community must contribute financially to the eligible expenditure incurred by the Member State in the context of the emergency measures taken to combat the disease, as provided for in Decision 90/424/EEC.
(3)
Various decisions, notably the latest one, Decision 2005/393/EC of 23 May 2005 on protection and surveillance zones in relation to bluetongue and conditions applying to movements from or through these zones (3), have been adopted by the Commission in order to demarcate the protection and surveillance zones and to set out the conditions governing movements of animals from these zones.
(4)
Bluetongue is a disease transmitted exclusively by ‘mosquitoes’, therefore the only measures which are apposite, of all those provided for in Article 3(2) of Decision 90/424/EEC, are those aimed either at protecting animals against attacks from the vectors (treatment with insecticides, confining the animals indoors at the times when the vectors are active) or at preventing the spread of the epidemic through movements of animals (Decision 2005/393/EC). The slaughter of animals of susceptible species is not an apposite measure except in the case of animals clinically affected with bluetongue.
(5)
Due to the evolution of the disease, it is advisable to implement a vaccination campaign in the protection zones established around outbreaks of bluetongue.
(6)
Vaccination is a measure which, employed in combination with apposite eradication measures, makes it possible to:
(a)
reduce mortality in sheep;
(b)
prevent viraemia in cattle and thus enable cattle to be moved from restricted zones.
(7)
In accordance with Article 3(2) of Council Regulation (EC) No 1258/1999 of 17 May 1999 on the financing of the common agricultural policy (4), veterinary and plant health measures undertaken in accordance with Community rules are financed by the ‘Guarantee’ section of the European Agricultural Guidance and Guarantee Fund. The auditing of these measures comes under Articles 8 and 9 of the said Regulation.
(8)
The payment of the financial contribution from the Community must be subject to the condition that the actions planned have actually been carried out and that the authorities supply all the necessary information within the time limits laid down.
(9)
On 28 December 2004 Portugal submitted an initial estimation of the costs incurred in the context of the emergency measures taken to combat the disease. This estimation, updated on 25 February 2005, amounts to EUR 9 005 320.
(10)
Pending checks by the Commission, it is now necessary to set the amount for payment of the first instalment of the Community financial assistance. This first instalment must be equal to 50 % of the Community contribution, established on the basis of the estimated costs of compensating livestock farmers for the slaughter of animals and other costs.
(11)
The terms ‘swift and adequate compensation of the livestock farmers’ used in Article 3 of Decision 90/424/EEC, ‘reasonable payments’ and ‘justified payments’ and the categories of eligible expenditure under ‘other costs’ associated with compulsory slaughter must all be defined.
(12)
The Portuguese authorities have fulfilled all their technical and administrative obligations with regard to the measures provided for in Article 3 of Decision 90/424/EEC.
(13)
The measures provided for in this Decision are in accordance with the opinion of the Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health,
HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:
Article 1
Approval of the vaccination campaign
The bluetongue vaccination campaign implemented by Portugal in the zones listed in Annex I to Decision 2005/393/EC is approved.
Article 2
Granting of a financial contribution from the Community to Portugal
In the context of the emergency measures taken to combat bluetongue in 2004 and 2005, Portugal is entitled to a financial contribution from the Community:
1.
amounting to 50 % of the expenditure incurred in:
(a)
the swift and adequate compensation of livestock farmers forced to slaughter their animals as part of the measures to combat the outbreaks of bluetongue that occurred in 2004, pursuant to Article 3(2), seventh indent of Decision 90/424/EEC and this Decision;
(b)
the destruction of infected animals, disinsectisation and the implementation of the vaccination programme, under the conditions provided for in, respectively, Article 3(2), first and third indents, and Article 3(4) and (5), second indent, of Decision 90/424/EEC and this Decision;
2.
amounting to 100 % of the cost of supply of vaccines, under the conditions provided for in Article 3(4) and (5), second indent, of Decision 90/424/EEC and this Decision.
Article 3
Definitions
The following definitions apply to this Decision:
(a)
‘swift and adequate compensation’: payment, within 90 days of the slaughter of the animals, of compensation corresponding to the market value (the commercial price which the owner would normally have been able to obtain for the animal immediately before it became infected or was slaughtered, taking account of its fitness, quality and age) they had immediately prior to their infection, slaughter or destruction;
(b)
‘reasonable payments’: payments for the purchase of materials or services at proportionate prices compared to the market prices before the outbreak of bluetongue;
(c)
‘justified payments’: payments made for the purchase of equipment or services in accordance with Article 3(2) of Decision 90/424/EEC, where their nature and direct link to the compulsory slaughter of animals on holdings have been demonstrated.
Article 4
Payment arrangements
1. Subject to the results of the inspections referred to in Article 7, an initial instalment of EUR 1 000 000 shall be paid, as part of the Community financial contribution mentioned in Article 2, on the basis of supporting documents submitted by Portugal relating to the swift and adequate compensation of owners for the compulsory slaughter of animals, the destruction of animals, disinsectisation of the holding and, where applicable, vaccination of animals.
2. The balance of the Community financial contribution mentioned in Article 2 shall be fixed in a subsequent decision to be adopted in accordance with the procedure established in Article 41 of Decision 90/424/EEC.
Article 5
The eligible expenditure covered by the financial contribution from the Community
1. The financial contribution from the Community as referred to in Article 2 shall only be made in respect of justified and reasonable payments for the eligible costs as set out in Annex I.
2. Non-compliance by the Portuguese authorities with the payment deadline referred to in Article 3(a) shall lead to a reduction in the eligible amounts, in accordance with the rules below:
-
25 % reduction for payments made between 91 and 105 days after slaughter of the animals;
-
50 % reduction for payments made between 106 and 120 days after slaughter of the animals;
-
75 % reduction for payments made between 121 and 135 days after slaughter of the animals;
-
100 % reduction for payments made later than 136 days after slaughter of the animals.
However, the Commission may apply a different scale and/or lower reduction rates (or a zero reduction rate) if specific management conditions can be demonstrated for certain measures or if Portugal provides a well grounded justification for the delay.
3. The financial contribution from the Community as referred to in Article 2 shall exclude:
(a)
value added tax;
(b)
remunerations of civil servants or public employees;
(c)
the use of public equipment, except consumables;
(d)
compensation for non-compulsory slaughter;
(e)
compensation paid in addition to other Community support, such as slaughter premiums, in contravention of Community rules;
(f)
compensation linked to the destruction or renovation of farm buildings, infrastructure costs and costs linked to financial losses or unemployment associated with the presence of the disease or a ban on restocking.
Article 6
Payment conditions and supporting documents
1. The financial contribution from the Community as referred to in Article 2 shall be paid on the basis of:
(a)
an application submitted, in accordance with Annexes II, IIIa and IIIb, within the time limit laid down in paragraph 2;
(b)
the supporting documents referred to in Article 2, including an epidemiological report on each holding where animals have been slaughtered and destroyed, as well as a financial report;
(c)
the results of any in situ inspections carried out by the Commission, as referred to in Article 7.
The documents referred to in (b) shall be made available for on-the-spot audits by the Commission.
2. The application referred to in paragraph 1(a) must be submitted in computerised form, in accordance with Annexes II, IIIa and IIIb, within 60 calendar days of the date of notification of this Decision. If this time limit is not observed, the financial contribution from the Community shall be reduced by 25 % for every month of delay.
Article 7
Commission in situ inspections
The Commission, in collaboration with the competent Portuguese authorities, may conduct in situ inspections relating to the implementation of the measures referred to in Article 2 and the associated costs.
Article 8
Recipients
This Decision is addressed to the Portuguese Republic.
Done at Brussels, 15 September 2005.