COMMISSION IMPLEMENTING DECISION (EU) 2020/1663

of 6 November 2020

amending Annexes I and II to Decision 2004/558/EC as regards the disease-free status of Czechia and the approval of the eradication programme in several regions of France regarding infectious bovine rhinotracheitis

(notified under document number C(2020) 7578)

(Text with EEA relevance)

THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION,

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

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), and in particular Articles 9(2) and 10(2) thereof,

Whereas:

(1) Directive 64/432/EEC lays down animal health rules in respect of trade within the Union in bovine animals. Article 9 of that Directive provides that a Member State which has a compulsory national control programme for one of the diseases listed in Annex E (II) thereto may submit its programme to the Commission for approval. It also provides that additional guarantees may be required for intra-Union trade in bovine animals. Infectious bovine rhinotracheitis, a disease caused by bovine herpes virus type 1 (BHV1), is listed for bovine animals in Annex E (II) to Directive 64/432/EEC.

(2) In February 2020, France submitted to the Commission supporting documentation for approval of its national programme for the control and eradication of infectious bovine rhinotracheitis covering the French metropolitan departments, except for Corsica, and requested approval to apply additional guarantees for infectious bovine rhinotracheitis in accordance with Article 9 of Directive 64/432/EEC.

(3) Article 10 of Directive 64/432/EEC provides for Member States that consider their territory or parts thereof to be free of one of the diseases listed in Annex E (II) thereto to present appropriate supporting documentation to the Commission. It also provides that additional guarantees may be required for intra-Union trade in bovine animals.

(4) In January 2020, Czechia submitted to the Commission supporting documentation in order for the whole of its territory to be considered free of BHV1, and requested approval to apply additional guarantees for infectious bovine rhinotracheitis in accordance with Article 10 of Directive 64/432/EEC.

(5) Commission Decision 2004/558/EC (2) lists the Member States and regions thereof authorised to apply additional guarantees for infectious bovine rhinotracheitis in accordance with Articles 9 and 10 of Directive 64/432/EEC. Annex I to Decision 2004/558/EC lists the Member States and regions thereof in which additional guarantees for infectious bovine rhinotracheitis apply in accordance with Article 9 of Directive 64/432/EEC, while Annex II to Decision 2004/558/EC lists the Member States and regions thereof in which additional guarantees for infectious bovine rhinotracheitis apply in accordance with Article 10 of Directive 64/432/EEC.

(6) Following the evaluation of the supporting documentation submitted by France, the metropolitan departments of that Member State, except for Corsica, should be listed in Annex I to Decision 2004/558/EC, and the additional guarantees for infectious bovine rhinotracheitis should apply in accordance with Article 9 of Directive 64/432/EEC.

(7) In addition, following the evaluation of the supporting documentation submitted by Czechia, it should no longer be listed in Annex I to Decision 2004/558/EC, but instead it should be listed in Annex II thereto, and the additional guarantees for infectious bovine rhinotracheitis should apply in accordance with Article 10 of Directive 64/432/EEC.

(8) Annexes I and II to Decision 2004/558/EC should therefore be amended accordingly.

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

HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:

Article 1 Annexes I and II to Decision 2004/558/EC are replaced by the text in the Annex to this Decision.

Article 2 This Decision is addressed to the Member States.

Done at Brussels, 6 November 2020. For the Commission Stella KYRIAKIDES Member of the Commission

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

(2) Commission Decision 2004/558/EC of 15 July 2004 implementing Council Directive 64/432/EEC as regards additional guarantees for intra-Community trade in bovine animals relating to infectious bovine rhinotracheitis and the approval of the eradication programmes presented by certain Member States (OJ L 249, 23.7.2004, p. 20).