1999D0507 — EN — 16.09.1999 — 001.001 — 1
This document is meant purely as a documentation tool and the institutions do not assume any liability for its contents
►B COMMISSION DECISION
of 26 July 1999
on certain protection measures with regard to certain fruit bats, dogs and cats coming from
Malaysia (Peninsula) and Australia
(notified under document number C(1999) 2467)
(Text with EEA relevance)
(1999/507/EC)
(OJ L 194, 27.7.1999, p. 66)
Amended by:
OfficialJournal
No page date
►M1 Commission Decision 1999/643/EC of 15 September 1999 L 255 38 30.9.1999
1999D0507 — EN — 16.09.1999 — 001.001 — 2
▼B
COMMISSION DECISION
of 26 July 1999
on certain protection measures with regard to certain fruit bats,
dogs and cats coming from Malaysia (Peninsula) and Australia
(notified under document number C(1999) 2467)
(Text with EEA relevance)
(1999/507/EC)
THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,
Having regard to Council Directive 91/496/EEC of 15 July 1991 laying
down the principles governing the organisation of veterinary checks onanimals entering the Community from third countries and amendingDirectives 89/662/EEC, 90/425/EEC and 90/675/EEC (
1), as last
amended by Directive 96/43/EC (2), and in particular Article 18 (1)
thereof,
(1) Whereas the principle animal health conditions to be compliedwith by Member States when importing from third countriesdogs, cats and other animals susceptible to rabies are laid downin Directive 92/65/EEC (
3); whereas however the veterinary certi-
fication is not yet harmonized;
(2) Whereas fatalcases of Hendra disease and Nipah disease inhuman have been declared respectively in Australia and inMalaysia;
(3) Whereas fruit bats of the genus Pteropus are considered the
naturalhost of Hendra disease virus and incriminated in being thevirus reservoir for Nipah disease; whereas however thesemammals do not show clinical signs of disease and may harbourthe virus in the presence of neutralising antibodies;
(4) Whereas fruit bats are occasionally imported from third coun-tries; whereas pending Community animalheal th conditions forimports from third countries of fruit bats, it appears necessary tointroduce certain protection measures with regard to Hendra andNipah diseases;
(5) Whereas Hendra disease may be transmitted by cats, and dogsand cats contract Nipah disease; whereas the exposure to therespective viruses stimulates seroconversion in diseased andreconvalescent animals, which can be detected by laboratorytesting,
(6) Whereas the presence of this zoonotic disease in the above coun-tries is liable to constitute a danger for persons and susceptibleanimals in the Community;
(7) Whereas it is necessary to adopt protection measures atCommunty level with regard to imports of fruit bats, dogs andcats from Malaysia (Peninsula) and Australia;
(8) Whereas this decision is in accordance with the opinion of theStanding Veterinary Committee,
(1) OJ L 268, 24.9.1991, p. 56.
(2) OJ L 162, 1.7.1996, p. 1.
(3) OJ L 268, 14.9.1992, p. 54.
1999D0507 — EN — 16.09.1999 — 001.001 — 3
▼B
HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:
Article 1
1. The imports of fruit bats of the genus Pteropus from Malaysia
(Peninsula) and Australia are prohibited.
2. Derogation from paragraph 1 and without prejudice to the provi-
sions of CouncilDirective 92/65/EEC, fruit bats of the genus Pteropus
may be imported under the following conditions:
— the animals originate from captive colonies, and— the animals have been isolated in quarantine premises for at least 60
days, and
— the animals have been subjected with negative results to a serum
neutralisation or approved ELISA test for antibody agains Hendraand Nipah disease viruses, carried out in a laboratory approved forthese tests by the competent anthorities on samples of blood takenon two occasions with an intervalof 21 to 30 days, the secondsample to be taken within 10 days of export.
Article 2
1. The imports of dogs and cats from Malaysia (Peninsula) are
prohibited.
2. Derogating from paragraph 1 dogs and cats may be imported
under the following conditions:
— the animals had no contact with pigs during at least the past 60 days
prior to export, and
— the animals have not been resident on holdings where during the
past 60 days cases of Nipah disease have been confirmed, and
— the animals have been subjected with negative result to an IgM and
IgG capture ELISA test carried out in a laboratory approved fortesting for antibody against the Nipah disease viruses by thecompetent veterinary authorities on a sample of blood taken within10 days of export.
Article 3
1. The imports of cats from Australia are prohibited.2. Derogating from paragraph 1 cats may be imported under the
following conditions:
— the animals have not been resident on holdings where during the
past 60 days cases of Hendra disease have been confirmed, and
— the animals have been subjected with negative result to a
►
M1serum neutralisation test ◄carried out in a laboratory
approved for testing for antibody against the Hendra disease virusesby the competent veterinary authorities on a sample of blood takenwithin►
M114 days ◄of export.
Article 4
Member States shall amend the measures they apply with regard to
Malaysia (Peninsula) and Australia to bring them into line with thisDecision.
They shall inform the Commission thereof.
Article 5
This Decision is addressed to Member States.