COMMISSION DECISION

of 15 July 1999

establishing the officially brucellosis free status of bovine herds of certain Member States or regions of Member States and repealing Decision 97/175/EC

(notified under document number C(1999) 2092)

(Text with EEA relevance)

(1999/466/EC)

THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,

Having regard to Council Directive 64/432/EEC of 26 June 1964 on animal health problems affecting intra-Community trade in bovine animals and swine(1), as last amended by Directive 98/99/EC(2), and in particular Annex AII(7) thereof,

(1) Whereas Member States or regions of Member States may be declared officially brucellosis-free if they meet certain conditions set up in Directive 64/432/EEC;

(2) Whereas Commission Decision 97/175/EC(3) of 18 December 1996 laying down the methods of control for maintaining the officially brucellosis-free status of bovine herds in certain Member States and regions of Member States, specifies the Member States and regions within Member States that fulfil these criteria;

(3) Whereas this Decision will not be adapted to the legal situation on 1 July 1999 since Directive 64/432/EEC was amended by Directive 98/46/EC(4); whereas moreover certain provisions for the recognition as officially brucellosis-free Member State or region have been modified by Directive 98/46/EC; whereas it is necessary to repeal Decision 97/175/EC;

(4) Whereas in accordance with the provisions of Directive 64/432/EEC Member States or regions may be declared officially brucellosis-free if they meet the conditions of Annex AII(7) and they retain their status as long as the conditions of Annex AII(8) are fulfilled;

(5) Whereas Member States and regions officially free of bovine brucellosis are to report the occurrence of all cases of brucellosis to the Commission, which may propose a decision to suspend or revoke the status in accordance with the provisions of Annex AII(9) of that Directive;

(6) Whereas in accordance with Annex AII(7)(b) an identification system allowing the identification of herds of origin and transit for each bovine animal in accordance with Council Regulation (EC) No 820/97(5) is a prerequisite for granting the officially free status for bovine brucellosis;

(7) Whereas the measures provided for in this Decision are in accordance with the opinion of the Standing Veterinary Committee,

HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:

Article 1

The Member States and regions thereof referred to respectively in Annexes I and II are declared officially free of bovine brucellosis.

Article 2

The Decision shall be reviewed by 31 December 1999.

Article 3

Decision 97/175/EC is hereby repealed.

Article 4

This Decision shall apply from 1 July 1999.

Article 5

This Decision is addressed to the Member States.

Done at Brussels, 15 July 1999.

For the Commission

Franz FISCHLER

Member of the Commission

(1) OJ 121, 29.7.1964, p. 1977/64.

(2) OJ L 358, 31.12.1998, p. 107.

(3) OJ L 73, 14.3.1997, p. 16.

(4) OJ L 198, 15.7.1998, p. 22.

(5) OJ L 117, 7.5.1997, p. 1.

ANNEX I

MEMBER STATES DECLARED OFFICIALLY FREE OF BOVINE BRUCELLOSIS UNTIL 31 DECEMBER 1999

Denmark

Germany

Luxembourg

Netherlands(1)

Austria

Finland

Sweden

(1) As from 1 August 1999.

ANNEX II

REGIONS OF MEMBER STATES DECLARED OFFICIALLY FREE OF BOVINE BRUCELLOSIS UNTIL 31 DECEMBER 1999

Great Britain (United Kingdom)

Province Bolzano (Italy)