Commission Decision

of 24 February 2003

on financial aid from the Community for the operation of certain Community reference laboratories in the field of animal health and live animals in 2003

(notified under document number C(2003) 562)

(Only the Danish, English, French, German, Spanish and Swedish texts are authentic)

(2003/125/EC)

THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,

Having regard to Council Decision 90/424/EEC of 26 June 1990 on expenditure in the veterinary field(1), as last amended by Decision 2001/572/EC(2), and in particular Article 28(2) thereof,

Whereas:

(1) Community financial aid should be granted to the Community reference laboratories designated by the Community to assist them in carrying out the functions and duties laid down in the following Directives and Decisions:

- Council Directive 2001/89/EC of 23 October 2001 on Community measures for the control of classical swine fever(3),

- Council Directive 92/66/EEC of 14 July 1992 introducing Community measures for the control of Newcastle disease(4), as last amended by the Act of Accession of Austria, Sweden and Finland,

- Council Directive 92/40/EEC of 19 May 1992 introducing Community measures for the control of avian influenza(5), as last amended by the Act of Accession of Austria, Sweden and Finland,

- Council Directive 92/119/EEC of 17 December 1992 introducing general Community measures for the control of certain animals diseases and specific measures relating to swine vesicular disease(6), as last amended by Directive 2002/60/EC(7),

- Council Directive 93/53/EEC of 24 June 1993 introducing minimum Community measures for the control of certain fish diseases(8), as last amended by Commission Decision 2001/288/EC(9),

- Council Directive 95/70/EC of 22 December 1995 introducing minimum Community measures for the control of certain diseases affecting bivalve molluscs(10), as last amended by Commission Decision 2001/293/EC(11),

- Council Directive 92/35/EEC of 29 April 1992 laying down control rules and measures to combat African horse sickness(12), as last amended by the Act of Accession of Austria, Sweden and Finland,

- Council Directive 2000/75/EC of 20 November 2000 laying down specific provisions for the control and eradication of bluetongue(13),

- Council Decision 2000/258/EC of 20 March 2000 designating a specific institute responsible for establishing the criteria necessary for standardising the serological tests to monitor the effectiveness of rabies vaccines(14),

- Council Directive 2002/60/EC of 27 June 2002 laying down specific provisions for the control of African swine fever and amending Directive 92/119/EEC as regards Teschen disease and African swine fever(15),

- Council Decision 96/463/EC of 23 July 1996 designating the reference body responsible for collaborating in rendering uniform the testing methods and the assessment of the results for pure-bred breeding animals of the bovine species(16).

(2) The financial contribution from the Community shall be granted provided that the actions planned are efficiently carried out and that the authorities supply all the necessary information within the time limits laid down.

(3) For budgetary reasons, Community assistance should be granted for a period of one year.

(4) Additional financial assistance for the organisation of a yearly workshop in the area of responsibility of the Community reference laboratories should be granted during the same period in one case.

(5) Pursuant to Article 3, paragraph 2, of Council Regulation (EC) No 1258/1999(17), veterinary and plant health measures undertaken in accordance with Community rules shall be financed under the Guarantee Section of the European Agricultural Guidance and Guarantee Fund; for financial control purposes, Articles 8 and 9 of Regulation (EC) No 1258/1999 apply.

(6) Commission Regulation (EC) No 324/2003(18), establishes the eligible expenditures of the Community reference laboratories receiving financial assistance under Article 28 of Decision 90/424/EEC and the procedures for the submission of expenditures and audits.

(7) 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

For classical swine fever, the Community shall grant financial assistance to Germany for the functions and duties referred to in Annex IV to Directive 2001/89/EC, to be carried out by the Institut für Virologie der Tierärztlichen Hochschule, Hanover, Germany.

The Community's financial assistance shall amount to a maximum of EUR 190000 for the period from 1 January to 31 December 2003. The Community's financial assistance for organisation of a technical workshop on classical swine fever diagnostic techniques shall amount to a maximum of EUR 20000.

Article 2

For Newcastle disease, the Community shall grant financial assistance to the United Kingdom for the functions and duties referred to in Annex V to Directive 92/66/EEC, to be carried out by the Central Veterinary Laboratory, Addlestone, United Kingdom.

The Community's financial assistance shall amount to a maximum of EUR 60000 for the period from 1 January to 31 December 2003.

Article 3

For avian influenza, the Community shall grant financial assistance to the United Kingdom for the functions and duties referred to in Annex V to Directive 92/40/EEC, to be carried out by the Central Veterinary Laboratory, Addlestone, United Kingdom.

The Community's financial assistance shall amount to a maximum of EUR 120000 for the period from 1 January to 31 December 2003.

Article 4

For swine vesicular disease, the Community shall grant financial assistance to the United Kingdom for the functions and duties referred to in Annex III to Directive 92/119/EEC to be carried out by the Pirbright Laboratory, United Kingdom.

The Community's financial assistance shall amount to a maximum of EUR 95000 for the period from 1 January to 31 December 2003.

Article 5

For fish diseases, the Community shall grant financial assistance to Denmark for the functions and duties referred to in Annex C to Directive 93/53/EEC, to be carried out by the Danish Veterinary Institute, Aarhus, Denmark.

The Community's financial assistance shall amount to a maximum of EUR 135000 for the period from 1 January to 31 December 2003.

Article 6

For diseases of bivalve molluscs, the Community shall grant financial assistance to France for the functions and duties referred to in Annex B to Directive 95/70/EC, to be carried out by the IFREMER, La Tremblade, France.

The Community's financial assistance shall amount to a maximum of EUR 85000 for the period from 1 January to 31 December 2003.

Article 7

For African horse sickness, the Community shall grant financial assistance to Spain for the functions and duties referred to in Annex I to Directive 92/35/EEC, to be carried out by the Laboratorio de sanidad y producción animal, Algete, Spain.

The Community's financial assistance shall amount to a maximum of EUR 45000 for the period from 1 January to 31 December 2003.

Article 8

For bluetongue, the Community shall grant financial assistance to the United Kingdom for the functions and duties referred to in Annex II to Directive 2000/75/EC, to be carried out by the Pirbright Laboratory, United Kingdom.

The Community's financial assistance shall amount to a maximum of EUR 120000 for the period from 1 January to 31 December 2003.

Article 9

For rabies serology, the Community shall grant financial assistance to France for the functions and duties referred to in Annex II to Council Decision 2000/258/EC, to be carried out by the laboratory of the AFSSA Nancy, France.

The Community's financial assistance shall amount to a maximum of EUR 130000 for the period from 1 January to 31 December 2003.

Article 10

For African swine fever, the Community shall grant financial assistance to Spain for the functions and duties referred to in Annex V to Directive 2002/60/EC, to be carried out by the Centro de Investigación en Sanidad Animal, Valdeolmos, Madrid, Spain.

The Community's financial assistance shall amount to a maximum of EUR 100000 for the period from 1 January to 31 December 2003.

Article 11

For the assessment of the results of the methods of testing pure-bred breeding animals of the bovine species, and the harmonisation of the various methods of testing, the Community shall grant financial assistance to Sweden for the functions and duties referred to in Annex II to Decision 96/463/EC to be carried out by the Interbull Centre, Upsala, Sweden.

The Community's financial assistance shall amount to a maximum of EUR 60000 for the period from 1 January to 31 December 2003.

Article 12

This Decision is addressed to the Kingdom of Denmark, the Federal Republic of Germany, the Kingdom of Spain, the French Republic, the Kingdom of Sweden and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

Done at Brussels, 24 February 2003.

For the Commission

David Byrne

Member of the Commission

(1) OJ L 224, 18.8.1990, p. 19.

(2) OJ L 203, 28.7.2001, p. 16.

(3) OJ L 316, 1.12.2001, p. 5.

(4) OJ L 260, 5.9.1992, p. 1.

(5) OJ L 167, 22.6.1992, p. 1.

(6) OJ L 62, 15.3.1993, p. 69.

(7) OJ L 192, 20.7.2002, p. 27.

(8) OJ L 175, 19.7.1993, p. 23.

(9) OJ L 99, 10.4.2001, p. 11.

(10) OJ L 332, 30.12.1995, p. 33.

(11) OJ L 100, 11.4.2001, p. 30.

(12) OJ L 157, 10.6.1992, p. 19.

(13) OJ L 327, 22.12.2000, p. 74.

(14) OJ L 79, 30.3.2000, p. 40.

(15) OJ L 192, 20.7.2002, p. 27.

(16) OJ L 192, 2.8.1996, p. 19.

(17) OJ L 160, 26.6.1999, p. 103.

(18) OJ L 47, 21.2.2003, p. 14.