Brussels, 29.4.2005

COM(2005) 176 final

2005/0065 (ACC)

Proposal for a

COUNCIL DECISION

on a Community position within the EC-Faroe Islands Joint Committee on the amendments to Decision No 1/2001 as regard the approval of the Faroese contingency plan for fish diseases and the inclusion of the Faroe Islands in the Animal Disease Notification System

(presented by the Commission)

EXPLANATORY MEMORANDUM

1. At its meeting in Brussels on 24 August 2004 the veterinary subgroup discussed the health plan for aquaculture animals in the Faroe Islands presented to the Commission, and Commission experts and a Potsdam group of Member States agreed that it was acceptable.

2. The veterinary subgroup also discussed practical details of the inclusion of the Faroe Islands in the Animal Disease Notification System and agreed the modalities of this involvement.

3. The meeting agreed on a recommendation to amend Decision No 1/2001 of the EC-Faroe Islands Joint Committee to formally confirm the approval of the contingency plan for fish diseases, which includes the use of a vaccine which is non-standard in the Community and the withdrawal scheme for ISA and to ensure that information on disease outbreaks is passed to the Commission by means of the Animal Disease Notification System in the same manner as for Member States.

4. The attached draft decision of the EC – Faroe Islands Joint Committee lays down provisions to amend Decision No 1/2001 which implements the Protocol on veterinary matters supplementary to the Agreement between the European Community, of the one part, and the Government of Denmark and the Home Government of the Faroe Islands, of the other part, signed in Brussels on the 6 December 1996.

5. The Council is therefore asked to adopt the annexed proposal for a decision concerning the Community position within the EC/Denmark - Faroe Islands Joint Committee on the approval of the Faroese contingency plan for fish diseases and the inclusion of the Faroe Islands in the EC Animal Disease Notification System.

2005/0065 (ACC)

Proposal for a

COUNCIL DECISION

on a Community position within the EC-Faroe Islands Joint Committee on the amendments to Decision No 1/2001 as regard the approval of the Faroese contingency plan for fish diseases and the inclusion of the Faroe Islands in the Animal Disease Notification System

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, and in particular Article 133 in conjunction with Article 300(2), second subparagraph, thereof,

Having regard to the proposal from the Commission,

Whereas

(1) Article 2 of the Protocol on veterinary matters supplementing the Agreement between the European Community, of the one part, and the Government of Denmark and the Home Government of the Faroe Islands, of the other part, provides that the Joint Committee set up by Article 31 of the Agreement draws up the conditions for the application by the Faroe Islands of Community veterinary provisions.

(2) The Joint Committee has adopted Decision No 1/2001 of 31 January 2001 laying down the provisions to implement the Protocol on veterinary matters supplementing the Agreement between the European Community, of the one part, and the Government of Denmark and the Home Government of the Faroe Islands, of the other part[1]

(3) The veterinary sub-group of the Joint Committee recommends that Decision 1/2001 be amended in order to approve the Faroese contingency plan for fish diseases and to include the Faroe Islands in the Animal Disease Notification System;

HAS DECIDED AS FOLLOWS:

Sole Article

The position to be adopted by the Community within the Joint Committee established by virtue of the Agreement signed on 6 December 1996[2], on the approval of the Faroese contingency plan for fish diseases, which includes the use of a vaccine which is non-standard in the Community and the withdrawal scheme for ISA, and to ensure that information on disease outbreaks is passed to the Commission by means of the Animal Disease Notification System in the same manner as for Member States, is that defined in the attached draft decision of the Joint Committee.

Done at Brussels,

For the Council

The President

Proposal for a

DECISION OF THE EC-FAROE ISLANDS JOINT COMMITTEE

Amending Decision No 1/2001 laying down provisions to implement the Protocol on veterinary matters supplementing the Agreement between the European Community, of the one part, and the Government of Denmark and the Home Government of the Faroe Islands, of the other part

THE EC-FAROE ISLANDS JOINT COMMITTEE,

Having regard to the Agreement in the form of an exchange of letters, between the European Community , of the one part, and the Government of Denmark and the Home Government of the Faroe Islands, of the other part,

Having regard to the Protocol on veterinary matters supplementing the Agreement[3], and in particular its Article 2, first sentence, thereof,

Whereas:

(1) At the meeting in Brussels on 24 August 2004, of the veterinary subgroup of the EC-Faroe Islands Joint Committee, the Faroe Islands presented their contingency plan for fish diseases and their withdrawal scheme for ISA-infected fish and EC experts deemed both documents to be in conformity with Community rules and therefore acceptable.

(2) The veterinary subgroup also recommended the inclusion of the Faroe Islands in the EC Animal Disease Notification System(ADNS).

(3) The veterinary subgroup therefore recommended that Decision No 1 /2001 of the EC-Faroe Islands joint committee be amended accordingly,

HAS DECIDED AS FOLLOWS:

Article 1

Decision No 2001/1 of the EC-Faroe Islands Joint Committee is amended as follows:

1. In Article 7, a new paragraph 3 is added as follows:

“3. The Faroe Islands shall implement Council Directive 82/894/EEC[4] and they shall take part in the Animal Disease Notification System (ADNS). The practical arrangements for the participation of the Faroe Islands shall be settled between Commission and Faroe Islands officials.”

2. Article 11 paragraph 1, the third sub-paragraph is replaced by the following text:

“The Faroe Islands have submitted to the veterinary sub-group a contingency plan in conformity with Article 15 of Directive 93/53/EEC. The contingency plan includes a withdrawal scheme in accordance with Article 6 of Directive 93/53/EEC. The contingency plan and withdrawal scheme submitted in September 2004 are approved with the procedures for vaccination laid down in that plan. Later updates of the plan shall be submitted for approval to the Commission after notification to the Member states in the Standing Committee for the Food Chain and Animal Health”

3. In Article 11, paragraph 2 is deleted

Article 2

This Decision shall enter into force on the first day of the month following that of its adoption.

Done at Brussels,

For the Joint Committee

The President

[1] OJ L 46, 16.2.2001, p. 24.

[2] OJ L 53, 22.2.1997, p. 2.

[3] OJ L 305, 30.11.1999, p. 25

[4] OJ L 378, 31.12.1982, p. 58.