EN Official Journal of the European Union L 22/10

COMMISSION REGULATION (EU) 2017/140

of 26 January 2017

designating the EU reference laboratory for diseases caused by capripox viruses (lumpy skin disease and sheep and goat pox), laying down additional responsibilities and tasks for this laboratory and amending Annex VII to Regulation (EC) No 882/2004 of the European Parliament and of the Council

(Text with EEA relevance)

THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION,

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

Having regard to Regulation (EC) No 882/2004 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 29 April 2004 on official controls performed to ensure the verification of compliance with feed and food law, animal health and animal welfare rules (1), and in particular Article 32(5) and (6) thereof,

Whereas:

(1) Regulation (EC) No 882/2004 lays down the general tasks, duties and requirements for European Union (EU) reference laboratories for food and feed and for animal health. The EU reference laboratories for animal health and live animals are listed in Section II of Annex VII to that Regulation.

(2) An EU reference laboratory for diseases caused by capripox viruses (lumpy skin disease and sheep and goat pox) does not yet exist. EU reference laboratories should cover the areas of feed and food law and animal health where precise analytical and diagnostic results are needed. The outbreaks of diseases caused by capripox viruses call for precise analytical and diagnostic results.

(3) On 30 June 2016 the Commission launched a call for applications to select and designate an EU reference laboratory in the field of diseases caused by capripox viruses (lumpy skin disease and sheep and goat pox). The selected laboratory ‘Veterinary and Agrochemical Research Centre — CODA-CERVA’ should be designated as EU reference laboratory in the field of diseases caused by capripox viruses (lumpy skin disease and sheep and goat pox).

(4) In addition to the general functions and duties laid down in Article 32(2) of Regulation (EC) No 882/2004, the selected laboratory should be assigned certain specific tasks and responsibilities.

(5) Section II of Annex VII to Regulation (EC) No 882/2004 should therefore be amended accordingly.

(6) The measures provided for in this Regulation are in accordance with the opinion of the Standing Committee on Plants, Animals, Food and Feed,

HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION:

Article 1

Veterinary and Agrochemical Research Centre — CODA-CERVA, Brussels, Belgium is hereby designated as the Union (EU) reference laboratory in the field of diseases caused by capripox viruses (lumpy skin disease and sheep and goat pox).

The additional responsibilities and tasks for that laboratory are laid down in the Annex.

Article 2

In Section II of Annex VII to Regulation (EC) No 882/2004, the following point 19 is added:

‘19. EU reference laboratory for diseases caused by capripox viruses (lumpy skin disease and sheep and goat pox) Veterinary and Agrochemical Research Centre — CODA-CERVA Operational Directorate Viral Diseases Unit Vesicular and Exotic Diseases Groeselenberg 99 1180 Brussels Belgium’.

Article 3

This Regulation shall enter into force on the 20th day following that of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.

This Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States. Done at Brussels, 26 January 2017. For the Commission The President Jean-Claude JUNCKER

(1) OJ L 165, 30.4.2004, p. 1.