EN Official Journal of the European Union L 203/32

COMMISSION IMPLEMENTING DECISION

of 5 August 2011

approving the plan for the eradication of foot-and-mouth disease in wild animals in Bulgaria

(notified under document C(2011) 5625)

(Only the Bulgarian text is authentic)

(2011/493/EU)

THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION,

Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,

Having regard to Council Directive 2003/85/EC of 29 September 2003 on Community measures for the control of foot-and-mouth disease repealing Directive 85/511/EEC and Decisions 89/531/EEC and 91/665/EEC and amending Directive 92/46/EEC (1), and in particular paragraph 2 of Part B of Annex XVIII thereto,

Whereas:

(1) Directive 2003/85/EC (‘the Directive’) introduces Union measures for the control of foot-and-mouth disease, including those to be applied in case of confirmation of the presence of foot-and-mouth disease in wild animals.

(2) A case of foot-and-mouth disease in wild boar and a total of 11 outbreaks of that disease in livestock were confirmed in the region of Burgas in Bulgaria between 5 January and 7 April 2011. As a consequence, Bulgaria has taken measures in the framework of the Directive.

(3) In accordance with Article 85(4) of the Directive, as soon as the competent authority of Bulgaria had confirmation of the primary case of foot-and-mouth disease in wild animals, it applied the measures provided for in Part A of Annex XVIII to the Directive in order to reduce the spread of disease.

(4) In addition, Bulgaria drew up a plan for the eradication of foot-and-mouth disease in wild animals in the area defined as infected and specified the measures applied on the holdings in that area in accordance with Part B of Annex XVIII to the Directive.

(5) On 4 April 2011, within 90 days following the confirmation of foot-and-mouth disease in wildlife, Bulgaria submitted a plan for the eradication of foot-and-mouth disease in wildlife in parts of the regions of Burgas, Yambol and Haskovo.

(6) Following evaluation by the Commission, the plan submitted by Bulgaria complies with the requirements laid down in Part B of Annex XVIII to the Directive and appears to permit the desired objectives to be attained. The plan should therefore be approved.

(7) In addition, in parts of the regions of Burgas and Yambol the measures provided for in the eradication plan are reinforced by the measures provided for in Commission Decision 2011/44/EU of 19 January 2011 concerning certain protection measures against foot-and-mouth disease in Bulgaria (2).

(8) 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 plan for the eradication of foot-and-mouth disease in wild animals

The plan submitted by Bulgaria to the Commission on 4 April 2011 for the eradication of foot-and-mouth disease in wild animals susceptible to that disease in the areas set out in the Annex is approved.

Article 2

Compliance

Bulgaria shall take the necessary measures to comply with this Decision and publish those measures.

It shall immediately inform the Commission thereof.

Article 3

Addressee

This Decision is addressed to the Republic of Bulgaria.

Done at Brussels, 5 August 2011. For the Commission John DALLI Member of the Commission

(1) OJ L 306, 22.11.2003, p. 1.

(2) OJ L 19, 22.1.2011, p. 20.