COMMISSION DECISION

of 20 July 1999

amending Decision 95/125/EC on the status of France as regards infectious hematopoietic necrosis and viral haemorrhagic septicaemia

(notified under document number C(1999) 2156)

(Text with EEA relevance)

(1999/550/EC)

THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,

Having regard to Council Directive 91/67/EEC of 28 January 1991 concerning the animal health conditions governing the placing on the market of aquaculture animals and products(1), as last amended by Directive 98/45/EC(2), and in particular Article 5(2) thereof,

(1) Whereas the Member States may obtain for one or more regions the status of approved zones free of infectious hematopoietic necrosis (IHN) and viral haemorrhagic septicaemia (VHS);

(2) Whereas the list of approved zones in France was established by Commission Decision 95/125/EC(3), as last amended by Decision 95/481/EC(4);

(3) Whereas France has submitted to the Commission suitable justifications for obtaining for other zones the status of zones approved in respect of IHN and VHS, as well as the national provisions ensuring compliance with the rules on maintenance of approval;

(4) Whereas the Commission and the Member States have examined the justifications submitted by France for those zones;

(5) Whereas that examination has shown that the zones concerned meet the requirements of Article 5 of Directive 91/67/EEC;

(6) Whereas, when the approval concerns only part of a catchment area, additional checks are carried out in a buffer zone neighbouring the part of the catchment area covered by the approval;

(7) Whereas, therefore, such zones may be eligible for the status of approved zones with regard to IHN and VHS,

(8) Whereas those zones should be added to the list of approved zones;

(9) 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 Annex to Decision 95/125/EC is replaced by the Annex hereto.

Article 2

This Decision is addressed to the Member States.

Done at Brussels, 20 July 1999.

For the Commission

Franz FISCHLER

Member of the Commission

(1) OJ L 46, 19.2.1991, p. 1.

(2) OJ L 189, 3.7.1998, p. 12.

(3) OJ L 84, 14.4.1995, p. 8.

(4) OJ L 275, 18.11.1995, p. 26.

ANNEX

List of approved zones with regard to IHN and VHS in France

1. ADOUR-GARONNE

Catchment areas

- The Charente basin

- The Seudre basin

- The basins of the coastal rivers in the Gironde estuary in the department of Charente-Maritime

- The catchment areas of the Nive and the Nivelles (Pyrenées Atlantiques)

- The Forges basin (Landes)

- The catchment area of the Dronne (Dordogne), from the source to the Eglisottes dam at Monfourat

- The catchment area of the Beauronne (Dordogne), from the source to the Faye dam

- The catchment area of the Valouse (Dordogne), form the source to the Etang des Roches Noires dam

- The catchment area of the Paillasse (Gironde), from the source to the Grand Forge dam

- The catchment area of the Ciron (Lot et Garonne, Gironde), from the source to the Moulin de Castaing dam

- The catchment of the Petite Leyre (Landes), from the source to the Pont de l'Espine dam at Argelouse

- The catchment area of the Pave (Landes), from the source to the Pave dam

- The catchment area of the Escource (Landes), from the source to the Moulin de Barbe dam

- The catchment area of the Geloux (Landes), from the source to the D38 dam at Saint Martin d'Oney

- The catchment area of the Estrigon (Landes), from the source to the Campet et Lamolère dam

- The catchment are of the Estampon (Landes), from the source to the Ancienne Minoterie dam at Roquefort

- The catchment area of the Gélise (Landes, Lot et Garonne), from the source to the dam downstream of the confluence of the Gélise and the Osse

- The catchment area of the Magescq (Landes), from the source to the mouth

- The catchment area of the Luys (Pyrénées Atlantiques), from the source to the Moulin d'Oro dam

- The catchment area of the Neez (Pyrénées Atlantiques), from the source to the Juearançon dam

- The catchment area of the Beez (Pyrénées Atlantiques), form the source to the Nay dam

- The catchment area of the Gave de Cauterets (Hautes Pyrénées), from the source to the Calypso dam of the Soulom power station

Coastal areas

The whole of the Atlantic coast between the northern boundary of the department of Vendée and the southern boundary of the department of Charente-Maritime.

2. LOIRE-BRETAGNE

Catchment areas

- All catchment areas in the region of Brittany with the exception of the following:

- Vilaine

- Aven

- Ster-Goz

- the downstream part of the catchment area of the Elorn

- The Sèvre Niortaise basin

- The Lay basin

- The upstream part of the Vienne basin to the Nouâtre dam (department of Indre)

- The basins of the Atlantic coastal rivers in the department of Vendée

- The part of the Loire basin comprising the upstream part of the Huisne catchment area from the source of the water courses ot the Ferté-Bernard dams

Coastal areas

The entire coast of Brittany with the exception of the following:

- Rade de Brest

- Anse de Camaret

- The coastal zone between the "pointe de Trévignon" and the mouth of the river Laïta

- The coastal zone between the mouth of the river Tohon up to the border of the department.