Commission Decision
of 23 December 2002
amending for the second time Decision 2002/308/EC establishing the lists of approved zones and approved farms with regard to one or more of the fish diseases viral haemorrhagic septicaemia (VHS) and infectious haematopoietic necrosis (IHN)
(notified under document number C(2002) 5204)
(Text with EEA relevance)
(2002/1005/EC)
THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,
Having regard to Council Directive 91/67/EEC of 28 January 1991 concerning the animal health conditions governing the placing on the market of aquaculture animals and products(1), as last amended by Directive 98/45/EC(2), and in particular Articles 5 and 6 thereof,
Whereas:
(1) In order to obtain, for one or more of the fish diseases viral haemorrhagic septicaemia (VHS) and infectious haematopoietic necrosis (IHN), the status of approved zone and of approved fish farm situated in a non-approved zone, Member States shall submit the appropriate justifications and the national rules ensuring compliance with the conditions laid down in Directive 91/67/EEC.
(2) Commission Decision 2002/308/EC(3), as amended by Decision 2002/536/EC(4), establishes the lists of approved zones and approved farms with regard to one or more of the fish diseases VHS and IHN.
(3) Several Member States have submitted justifications for the status of approved zones, and approved farms in non-approved zones, all of which have been scrutinised by the Commission with the assistance of experts in the Member States.
(4) France has submitted the justifications for obtaining the status of two approved zones in the Région Aquitaine with regard to VHS and IHN, as well as the national rules ensuring compliance with the requirements for maintenance of the approved status.
(5) Italy has submitted the justifications for obtaining the status of one approved zone in the Autonomous province of Veneto with regard to VHS and IHN, as well as the national rules ensuring compliance with the requirements for maintenance of the approved status. A programme applied in this province was approved by Commission Decision 2002/304/EC(5).
(6) Austria has submitted the justifications for obtaining the status of approved farm in non-approved zone for one farm in Lower Austria with regard to VHS and IHN, as well as the national rules ensuring compliance with the requirements for maintenance of the approved status.
(7) Germany has submitted the justifications for obtaining the status of approved farm in non-approved zone for farms in Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg with regard to VHS and IHN, as well as the national rules ensuring compliance with the requirements for maintenance of the approved status.
(8) France has submitted the justifications for obtaining the status of approved farm in non-approved zone for farms in Aquitaine, and Artois-Picardie with regard to VHS and IHN, as well as the national rules ensuring compliance with the requirements for maintenance of the approved status.
(9) Italy has submitted the justifications for obtaining the status of approved farm in non-approved zone for farms in the Autonomous provinces of Veneto, Trento, Valle D'Aosta and Friuli-Venezia Giulia with regard VHS and IHN, as well as the national rules ensuring compliance with the requirements for maintenance of the approved status.
(10) The documentation provided by France and Italy for the zones concerned, shows that those zones meet the requirements of Article 5 of Directive 91/67/EEC. They therefore qualify for the status of approved zone and should be added to the list of approved zones. Annex I of Decision 2002/308/EC should therefore be amended accordingly.
(11) The documentation provided by Austria, Germany, France and Italy for the farms concerned, shows that those farms meet the requirements of Article 6 of Directive 91/67/EEC. They therefore qualify for the status of approved farm in a non-approved zone and should be added to the list of approved farms. Annex II of Decision 2002/308/EC should therefore be amended accordingly.
(12) Denmark and Germany have informed the Commission about the need for a corrigendum in Annex I and Annex II to Decision 2002/308/EC, due to typing errors in the name of the approved zone, and the postal code of the approved farm respectively.
(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
1. Annex I to Decision 2002/308/EC is hereby replaced by the Annex I hereto.
2. Annex II to Decision 2002/308/EC is hereby replaced by the Annex II hereto.
Article 2
This Decision is addressed to the Member States.
Done at Brussels, 23 December 2002.