Commission Decision

of 11 April 2001

amending Decision 2001/263/EC concerning restrictions to the movement of animals of susceptible species in all Member States with regard to foot-and-mouth disease

(notified under document number C(2001) 1105)

(Text with EEA relevance)

(2001/302/EC)

THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,

Having regard to Council Directive 90/425/EEC of 26 June 1990 concerning veterinary and zootechnical checks applicable in intra-Community trade in certain live animals and products with a view to the completion of the internal market(1), as last amended by Directive 92/118/EEC(2), and in particular Article 10 thereof,

Whereas:

(1) The animal health conditions for trade in bovine animals and swine are laid down in Council Directive 64/432/EEC on animal health problems affecting intra-Community trade in bovine animals and swine(3), as last amended by Directive 2000/20/EC(4).

(2) The animal health conditions for trade in ovine and caprine animals are laid down in Council Directive 91/68/EEC of 28 January 1991 on animal health conditions governing intra-Community trade in ovine and caprine animals(5), as last amended by Commission Decision 94/953/EC(6).

(3) The animal health conditions for trade in biungulates other than those referred to in Directive 64/432/EEC and 91/68/EEC are laid down in Council Directive 92/65/EEC of 13 July 1992 laying down animal health requirements governing trade in and imports into the Community of animals, semen, ova and embryos not subject to animal health requirements laid down in specific Community rules referred to in Annex A(I) to Directive 90/425/EEC(7), as last amended by Commission Decision 95/176/EC(8).

(4) The welfare conditions for transport of animals within the Community are laid down in Council Directive 91/628/EEC of 19 November 1991 on the protection of animals during transport and amending Directives 90/425/EEC and 91/496/EEC(9), as last amended by Directive 95/29/EC(10).

(5) Council Regulation (EC) No 1255/97 of 25 June 1997 concerns Community criteria for staging points and amends the route plan referred to in the Annex to Directive 91/628/EEC(11).

(6) Following the reports of outbreaks of foot-and-mouth disease in the United Kingdom, France, the Netherlands and Ireland, the Commission adopted Decisions 2001/172/EC(12), 2001/208/EC(13), 2001/223/EC(14) and 2001/234/EC(15) concerning certain protection measures with regard to foot-and-mouth disease in the respective Member State.

(7) The foot-and-mouth disease situation in certain parts of the Community is liable to endanger the herds in other parts of the Community in view of the placing on the market and trade in live biungulate animals.

(8) All Member States have implemented the restrictions to the movement of animals of susceptible species laid down in Decision 2001/263/EC(16).

(9) In the light of the disease evolution and the findings of the epidemiological investigations carried out in the affected Member States in close cooperation with the other Member States, it appears appropriate to ease the restrictions on movement of susceptible animals within the Community.

(10) The situation shall be reviewed at the meeting of the Standing Veterinary Committee scheduled for 12 April 2001 and the measures adapted where necessary.

(11) The measures provided for in this Decision are in accordance with the opinion of the Standing Veterinary Committee,

HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:

Article 1

Commission Decision 2001/263/EC is amended as follows:

1. Article 1(1)(a) is replaced by the following: "(a) during transport such animals do not come into contact with animals not of the same holding of dispatch, unless

- either such animals are consigned for slaughter, or

- originate in and come from holdings situated in areas of a Member State as defined in Article 2(p) of Directive 64/432/EEC in which no restrictions in accordance with Article 9 of Directive 85/511/EEC have been in place during the residence period referred to in paragraph 2 first indent."

2. The words "during the past 15 days in the case of pigs, or" are added at the end of the first indent of Article 1(2).

3. The date in Article 3 is replaced by "18 May 2001".

Article 2

This Decision is addressed to the Member States.

Done at Brussels, 11 April 2001.

For the Commission

David Byrne

Member of the Commission

(1) OJ L 224, 18.8.1990, p. 29.

(2) OJ L 62, 15.3.1993, p. 49.

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

(4) OJ L 163, 4.7.2000, p. 35.

(5) OJ L 46, 19.2.1991, p. 19.

(6) OJ L 371, 31.12.1994, p. 14.

(7) OJ L 268, 14.9.1992, p. 54.

(8) OJ L 117, 24.5.1995, p. 23.

(9) OJ L 340, 11.12.1991, p. 17.

(10) OJ L 148, 30.6.1995, p. 52.

(11) OJ L 174, 2.7.1997, p. 1.

(12) OJ L 62, 2.3.2001, p. 22.

(13) OJ L 73, 15.3.2001, p. 38.

(14) OJ L 82, 22.3.2001, p. 29.

(15) OJ L 84, 23.3.2001, p. 62.

(16) OJ L 93, 3.4.2001, p. 59.