2003D0218 — EN — 12.08.2003 — 001.001 — 1
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►B COMMISSIONDECISION
of27March2003
on protection and surveillance zones in relation to bluetongue, and on rules applicable to move-
mentsofanimalsinandfromthosezonesandrepealingDecision2001/783/EC
(notified under document number C(2003) 864)
(TextwithEEArelevance)
(2003/218/EC)
(OJ L 82, 29.3.2003, p. 35)
Amended by:
Official Journal
No page date
►M1Commission Decision 2003/535/EC of 22 July 2003 L 184 40 23.7.2003
▼B
COMMISSIONDECISION
of27March2003
onprotection andsurveillance zones inrelation tobluetongue,and
on rules applicable to movements of animals in and from those
zonesandrepealing Decision2001/783/EC
(notified under document number C(2003) 864)
(TextwithEEArelevance)
(2003/218/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 (1) laying down specific provisions for the control and eradication
of bluetongue and in particular Article 8(2)(d) and (3), Article 9(1)(c)and Article 12, first paragraph, thereof,
Whereas:
(1)In the light of the evolution of the bluetongue situation in four
Member States in 2001, Commission Decision 2001/783/EC of
9 November 2001 on protection and surveillance zones in rela-
tion to bluetongue and on rules applicable to movements ofanimals in and from those zones (
2), as last amended by Decision
2003/14/EC (3), was adopted, establishing three geographical
zones corresponding to specific epidemiological situations. This
Decision also provides for the conditions under which exemp-
tions to the restrictions applicable to animal movements laiddown by the Directive can be implemented.
(2)As regards Greece, the surveillance programme carried on by
Greek authorities has demonstrated no seroconversion on
sentinel animals during the year 2002.
(3)Therefore provisions can be made to relax, under certain condi-
tions, the restrictions on movements of live animals of
susceptible species from the Greek territory, with the exceptionof areas which are under threat of direct reinfestation from thirdcountries.
(4)As regards Italy and France, the surveillance programmes carriedout in Italy and France have demonstrated that in areas wherethe vaccination has been correctly implemented, virus circulationhas been reduced to a negligible level before the winter season.
(5)Therefore provisions can be made to relax, under certain condi-tions, restrictions on movements of vaccinated live animals fromthose areas.
(6)However, the main condition for implementing these relaxationmeasures should be that the surveillance programme in placedoes not show that bluetongue virus activity has recommenced
in that area, and it is further appropriate to distinguish areas of
higher and lower epidemiological risks respectively.
(7)Technical amendments should also be introduced to facilitatemovements of live animals inside the territory of the same
Member State, in particular for immediate slaughter.
(8)For the sake of clarity it is appropriate to repeal Decision 2001/
783/EC and to replace it by the present Decision.
(9)The measures provided for in this Decision are in accordancewith the opinion of the Standing Committee on the Food Chainand Animal Health,2003D0218 — EN — 12.08.2003 — 001.001 — 2
(1) OJ L 327, 22.12.2000, p. 74.
(2) OJ L 293, 10.11.2001, p. 42.
(3) OJ L 7, 11.1.2003, p. 87.
▼B
HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:
Article 1
The purpose of this Decision is to establish restricted zones to prevent
the extension of bluetongue (BT), comprising protection and surveil-lance zones in accordance with Article 8 of Directive 2000/75/EC,
and to lay down rules on movements in and from those zones of
animals of species susceptible to bluetongue.
Article 2
Movementrestrictions
The dispatch and transit of live animals of species susceptible to blue-
tongue and their sperm, ova and embryos, are prohibited:
— from or through the territory corresponding to the administrative
units listed in Annex IA,
— from or through the territory corresponding to the administrative
units listed in Annex IB,
— from or through the territory corresponding to the administrative
units listed in Annex IC section 1,
— from or through the territory corresponding to the administrative
units listed in Annex IC section 2.
Article 3
Exemptionsfortrade
1. By way of derogation from Article 2:
(a) dispatches of animals susceptible to bluetongue, their sperm, ova
and embryos shall be authorised from the restricted zones set outin Annex I, provided that they comply with the conditions laid
down in Annex II;
(b) dispatches of animals susceptible to bluetongue may be authorised
from the lower risk areas set out in section 1 of Annex IA, IB, and
IC respectively, subject to the approval of the Member State ofdestination in case of Intra-Community trade, provided that thesurveillance programme in place does not show that bluetonguevirus activity has recommenced in an epidemiological relevant
area of origin and,
(i) as regards Italy and France, provided that the animals have
been vaccinated for more than 30 days and less than six
months;
or
(ii) as regards Greece, provided that the animals have been serolo-
gically tested (BT ELISA or AGID) with negative result within
72 hours prior to departure and sprayed at the time thesampling for the test is done with insect repellent with a rema-nent effect of more than four days.
2. In intra-Community trade, the Member State of origin availing
itself of the derogations provided for in paragraph 1 shall ensure thatthe following additional wording is added to the corresponding certifi-cates laid down in Council Directives 64/432/EEC (
1), 88/407/EEC (2),
89/556/EEC (3), 91/68/EEC (4) and 92/65/EEC (5):
‘animals/semen/ova/embryos in compliance with Decision 2003/
218/EC (*)
(*) Delete as necessary.’2003D0218 — EN — 12.08.2003 — 001.001 — 3
(1) OJ 121, 29.7.1964, p. 1977/64.
(2) OJ L 194, 22.7.1988, p. 10.
(3) OJ L 302, 19.10.1989, p. 1.
(4) OJ L 46, 19.2.1991, p. 19.
(5) OJ L 268, 14.9.1992, p. 54.
▼B
Article 4
Exemptionsfordomesticmovements
By way of derogation from Article 2, movements within the territory of
the same Member State of live animals susceptible to bluetongue maybe authorised by the national competent authorities from the higher riskareas set out in section 2 of Annex IA, IB, and IC respectively:
(a) as regards Italy and France, provided that:
— the surveillance and monitoring programme in an epidemiolo-
gical relevant area of origin has proved the cessation of
bluetongue virus (BTV) transmission for more than 100 daysand/or,
— the vector surveillance programme in an epidemiological rele-
vant area of destination has proved the cessation of adultCulicoïdes activity;
(b) as regards Greece, provided that:
— the animals have been serologically tested (BT ELISA or
AGID) with negative result within 72 hours before departure
and sprayed at the time the sampling for the test is done withinsect repellent with a remanant effect of more than four days,provided that the surveillance programme in place does notshow that bluetongue virus activity has recommenced in anepidemiological relevant area of origin.
When they use this derogation, Member States shall set upa channel-
ling procedure, under the control of competent authorities of origin and
destination, in order to prevent any further movement to anotherMember State of animals moved under the conditions provided in thisArticle.
Article 5
Exemptionsforslaughtering
By way of derogation from Article 2, movements of animals suscep-
tible to bluetongue for immediate slaughter within the territory of the
same Member State may be authorised by the national competentauthorities from the lower risk areas set out in section 1 of AnnexesIA and IB respectively, provided that:
(a) a case-by-case risk assessment on the possible contact between
animals and the vectors during transport to the slaughterhouse ismade, taking into consideration:
(i) the data available through the surveillance programme on the
vector's activity;
(ii) the distance from the point of entry in the non-restricted zone
to the slaughterhouse, and the entomological data on this
route;
(iii) the period of the day during which the transport takes place in
relation with the hours of activity of the vectors;
(iv) the possible use of insecticides in compliance with Council
Directive 96/23/EC of 29 April 1996 on measures to monitorcertain substances and residues thereof in live animals and
animal products and which repeal Directives 85/358/EEC and
86/469/EEC and Decisions 89/187/EEC and 91/664/EEC (
1).
(b) the animals to be moved do not show any sign of bluetongue on
the day of transport;
(c) the animals are transported in vehicles sealed by the competent
authority without delay and directly to the slaughterhouse, under
official supervision;
(d) the competent authority responsible for the slaughterhouse is
informed of the intention to send animals to it and notifies thedispatching competent authority of their arrival.2003D0218 — EN — 12.08.2003 — 001.001 — 4
(1) OJ L 125, 23.5.1996, p. 10.
▼B
Article 6
The transit of animals dispatched from an area of the Community
outside the restricted zones set out in Annex I through a restricted
zone set out in Annex I, shall be authorised provided that:
(a) an insecticide treatment of the animals and the means of transport
shall be carried out at the place of loading or in any case prior toentering the restricted zone. When during transit through arestricted zone, a rest period is foreseen in a staging post, insecti-cide treatment shall be carried out in order to protect animals fromany attack by vectors;
(b) in case of intra Community trade, the transit shall be subject to the
authorisation of the competent authorities of the Member States oftransit and destination, and the following additional wording shallbe added to the corresponding certificates laid down in Directives
64/432/EEC, 91/68/EEC and 92/65/EEC:
‘Insecticide treatment with (name of the product) on (date) at
(time) in conformity with Decision 2003/218/EC.’
Article 7
The Member States shall ensure that the measures they apply to trade
are in compliance with this Decision and shall inform the Commissionthereof.
Article 8
Decision 2001/783/EC is repealed. References made to the repealed
Decision shall be construed to be made to the present Decision.
Article 9
This Decision shall apply from 18 April 2003.
Article 10
This Decision is addressed to the Member States.2003D0218 — EN — 12.08.2003 — 001.001 — 5
▼M1
ANNEX I
(protectionzonesandsurveillancezones)
ANNEX I A
Section1
Sicilia: Catania, Enna, Messina
Basilicata: Matera, PotenzaPuglia: Brindisi, Foggia
Section2
Sicilia: Agrigento, Caltanisetta, Palermo, Ragusa, Siracusa, Trapani
Calabria: Catanzaro, Cosenza, Crotone, Reggio Calabria, Vibo ValentiaPuglia: Bari, Lecce, Taranto
Campania: Avellino, Benevento, Caserta, Napoli, Salerno
ANNEX I B
Section1
France:
Corse du sud, Haute Corse
Italy:
Sardegna: Cagliari, Nuoro, Sassari, Oristano
Lazio: Viterbo, RomaToscana: Grosseto, Livorno, Pisa, Massa-Carrara
Molise: Isernia, Campobasso
Abruzzo: l'Aquila, Chieti
Section2
Lazio: Latina, Frosinone
ANNEX I C
Section 1: the entire Greek territory with the exception of prefectorates listed in
section 2.
Section 2: Dodekanisi, Samos, Chios and Lesvos prefectorates.2003D0218 — EN — 12.08.2003 — 001.001 — 6
▼B
ANNEX II
A. Live animals must have been:
1. protected from culicoïdes attack for at least 100 days prior to shipment;
or
2. protected from culicoïdes attack for at least 28 days prior to shipment,
and subjected during that period to a serological test to detect antibody
to the BTV group, such as the BT competition ELISA or the BT AGID
test, with negative results on two occasions, with an interval of not less
than seven days between each test, the first test being carried out at least
21 days after introduction into the quarantine station; or
3. protected from culicoïdes attack for at least 14 days prior to shipment,
and subjected during that period to a BTV isolation test or polymerase
chain reaction test, with negative results, on blood samples taken on two
occasions, with an interval of not less than seven days between each test,
the first test being carried out at least seven days after introduction into
the quarantine station; and
4. protected from culicoïdes attack during transportation to the place of
shipment.
B. Semen must have been obtained from donors which have been:
1. protected from culicoïdes attack for at least 100 days before commence-
ment of, and during, collection of the semen; or
2. subjected to a serological test to detect antibody to the BTV groupsuch
as the BT competition ELISA or the BT AGID test, with negative results,
at least every 60 days throughout the collection period and between 28
and 60 days after the final collection for this consignment; or
3. subjected to a virus isolation test or polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test
on blood samples collected at commencement and conclusion of, and at
least every seven days (virus isolation test) or at least every 28 days
(PCR test) during, semen collection for this consignment, with negative
results.
C. Ovas and embryos must have been obtained from donors which have been:
1. protected from culicoïdes attack for at least 100 days before commence-
ment of and during, collection of the embryos/ovas; or
2. subjected to a serological test to detect antibody to the BTV groupsuch
as the BT competition ELISA or the BT AGID test, between 28 and 60
days after collection with negative results; or
3. subjected to a BTV isolation test or polymerase chain reaction test on a
blood sample taken on the day of collection, with negative results.2003D0218 — EN — 12.08.2003 — 001.001 — 7