Commission Decision

of 29 June 2001

concerning certain protection measures relating to classical swine fever in Spain and repealing Decision 2001/457/EC

(notified under document number C(2001) 1734)

(Text with EEA relevance)

(2001/491/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(3) thereof,

Whereas:

(1) Outbreaks of classical swine fever have occurred in Spain.

(2) In view of the trade in live pigs, these outbreaks are liable to endanger the herds of other Member States.

(3) Spain has taken measures within the framework of Council Directive 80/217/EEC of 22 January 1980, introducing Community measures for the control of classical swine fever(3), as last amended by the Act of Accession of Austria, Finland and Sweden.

(4) Pending the meeting of the Standing Veterinary Committee and in collaboration with the Member State concerned the Commission took interim protection measures by Decision 2001/457/EC(4) concerning certain protection measures relating to classical swine fever in Spain.

(5) In the light of the evolution of the situation and following results of the epidemiological enquiries, it is necessary to adapt the interim measures and, forthwith, to repeal Decision 2001/457/EC.

(6) This Decision is in accordance with the opinion of the Standing Veterinary Committee,

HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:

Article 1

1. Spain shall not dispatch pigs unless the pigs:

(a) come from an area outside the areas described in Annex I, and

(b) have been resident on the holding of origin for at least 30 days prior to loading, or since birth if less than 30 days of age, and

(c) come from a holding where no live pigs have been introduced during the 30-day period immediately prior to the dispatch of the pigs in question, and

(d) are transported directly to the holding or slaughterhouse of destination in officially sealed vehicles, without passing through an assembly centre. Transit through the area described in Annex I may only occur via major roads or railways, without any stopping of the vehicle.

2. Movements of pigs coming from areas outside the areas described in Annex I shall only be allowed following three days advance notification dispatched by the competent veterinary authority to the central and local veterinary authorities of the place of destination and any Member State of transit.

Article 2

1. Spain shall not dispatch porcine semen unless the semen originates from boars kept at a collection centre referred to in Article 3(a) of Council Directive 90/429/EEC(5) and situated outside the areas described in Annex I.

2. Spain shall not dispatch ova and embryos of swine unless the ova and embryos originate from swine kept at a holding situated outside the areas described in Annex I.

Article 3

1. The health certificate provided for in Council Directive 64/432/EEC(6) accompanying pigs sent from Spain must be completed by the following: "Animals in accordance with Commission Decision 2001/491/EC(7) of 29 June 2001 concerning certain protection measures relating to classical swine fever in Spain".

2. The health certificate provided for in Directive 90/429/EEC accompanying boar semen sent from Spain must be completed by the following: "Semen in accordance with Commission Decision 2001/491/EC of 29 June 2001 concerning certain protection measures relating to classical swine fever in Spain".

3. The health certificate provided for in Commission Decision 95/483/EEC(8) accompanying embryos and ova of swine sent from Spain must be completed by the following: "Embryos/ova(9) in accordance with Commission Decision 2001/491/EC(10) of 29 June 2001 concerning certain protection measures relating to classical swine fever in Spain".

Article 4

Spain shall ensure that vehicles which have been used for the transport of pigs are cleaned and disinfected after each operation and the transporter shall furnish proof to the competent veterinary authority of such disinfection.

Article 5

Spain shall at eight day intervals provide to the Commission, for examination by the Standing Veterinary Committee, data on the classical swine fever situation in the format indicated in Annex II.

Article 6

The Member States shall amend the measures they apply to trade so as to bring them into compliance with this Decision. They shall immediately inform the Commission thereof.

Article 7

This Decision is applicable until 15 July 2001.

Article 8

Decision 2001/457/EC is repealed.

Article 9

This Decision is addressed to the Member States.

Done at Brussels, 29 June 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 L 47, 21.2.1980, p. 11.

(4) OJ L 159, 15.6.2001, p. 41.

(5) OJ L 224, 18.8.1990, p. 62.

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

(7) OJ L 177, 30.6.2001, p. 90.

(8) OJ L 275, 18.11.1995, p. 30.

(9) Delete as appropriate.

(10) OJ L 177, 30.6.2001, p. 90.

ANNEX I

In the Comunidad Autonoma de Cataluña: the Provinces of Lerida, Barcelona and Tarragona.

In the Comunidad Autonoma de Aragon: the comarcas of Binefar, Fraga, Tamarite de Litera in the Province of Huesca.

In the Comunidad Autonoma de Valencia: the Province of Castellón.

ANNEX II

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