Commission Decision

of 12 February 2004

on financial aid from the Community for the operation of certain Community reference laboratories in the field of animal health and live animals in 2004

(notified under document number C(2004) 343)

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

(2004/147/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 Regulation (EC) No 806/2003(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),

- Council Directive 92/40/EEC of 19 May 1992 introducing Community measures for the control of avian influenza(5),

- Council Directive 92/119/EEC of 17 December 1992 introducing general Community measures for the control of certain animals diseases and specific measures relating swine vesicular disease(6),

- Council Directive 93/53/EEC of 24 June 1993 introducing minimum Community measures for the control of certain fish diseases(7),

- Council Directive 95/70/EC of 22 December 1995 introducing minimum Community measures for the control of certain diseases affecting bivalve molluscs(8),

- Council Directive 92/35/EEC of 29 April 1992 laying down control rules and measures to combat African horse sickness(9),

- Council Directive 2000/75/EC of 20 November 2000 laying down specific provisions for the control and eradication of bluetongue(10),

- 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(11),

- 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(12),

- 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(13).

(2) The financial contribution from the Community should 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) The work programmes and corresponding budget estimates submitted by the Community reference laboratories for 2004 have been assessed by the Commission.

(6) Pursuant to Article 3(2) of Council Regulation (EC) No 1258/1999(14), 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.

(7) Commission Regulation (EC) No 156/2004(15) establishes the eligible expenditures of the Community reference laboratories receiving financial assistance pursuant to Article 28 of Decision 90/424/EEC and the procedures for the submission of expenditures and audits.

(8) 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 grants 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 210000 for the period from 1 January to 31 December 2004.

The Community's financial assistance for organisation of a technical workshop on classical swine fever diagnostic techniques shall amount to a maximum of EUR 30000.

Article 2

For Newcastle disease, the Community grants 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 65000 for the period from 1 January to 31 December 2004.

Article 3

For avian influenza, the Community grants 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 135000 for the period from 1 January to 31 December 2004.

Article 4

For swine vesicular disease, the Community grants 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 2004.

Article 5

For fish diseases, the Community grants 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 140000 for the period from 1 January to 31 December 2004.

Article 6

For diseases of bivalve molluscs, the Community grants 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 90000 for the period from 1 January to 31 December 2004.

Article 7

For African horse sickness, the Community grants 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 50000 for the period from 1 January to 31 December 2004.

Article 8

For bluetongue, the Community grants 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 125000 for the period from 1 January to 31 December 2004.

Article 9

For rabies serology, the Community grants 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 150000 for the period from 1 January to 31 December 2004.

Article 10

For African swine fever, the Community grants 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 105000 for the period from 1 January to 31 December 2004.

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 grants 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, Uppsala, Sweden.

The Community's financial assistance shall amount to a maximum of EUR 65000 for the period from 1 January to 31 December 2004.

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, 12 February 2004.

For the Commission

David Byrne

Member of the Commission

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

(2) OJ L 122, 16.5.2003, p. 1.

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

(4) OJ L 260, 5.9.1992, p. 1. Directive as last amended by Regulation (EC) No 806/2003.

(5) OJ L 167, 22.6.1992, p. 1 Directive as last amended by Regulation (EC) No 806/2003.

(6) OJ L 62, 15.3.1993, p. 69. Directive as last amended by Regulation (EC) No 806/2003.

(7) OJ L 175, 19.7.1993, p. 23. Directive as last amended by Regulation (EC) No 806/2003.

(8) OJ L 332, 30.12.1995, p. 33. Directive as last amended by Regulation (EC) No 806/2003.

(9) OJ L 157, 10.6.1992, p. 19. Directive as last amended by Regulation (EC) No 806/2003.

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

(11) OJ L 79, 30.3.2000, p. 40. Decision as amended by Commission Decision 2003/60/EC (OJ L 23, 28.1.2003, p. 30).

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

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

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

(15) OJ L 27, 30.1.2004, p. 5.