COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES 
C0MC89) 499 final 
Brussels, 17 October 1989 
Proposal for a 
COUNCIL DECISION 
on financial aid from the Community for the eradication 
of African swine fever in Sardinia 
(presented by the Commission) 
EXPLANATORY MEMORANDUM 
The presence of African Swine Fever In Sardinia creates a barrier to trade in 
live pigs, pigmeat and certain meat products. The disease has been present on 
the island since 1978 and certain disease control measures have been imple­
mented In order to eradicate the disease. With the aim of promoting disease 
eradication the Council adopted In 1980 a Decision concerning financial mea­
sures from the Community for the eradication of the disease. The disease, 
however, has not been eradicated. 
It seems necessary, to follow-up and reinforce the present programme. This re­
inforced action would allow to complete the eradication of African Swine Fever 
which presents a permanent danger to the pig herds In the Community. The 
eradication of African Swine Fever is a requirement for the completion of the 
internal market and Is Included In the time table of the "White Book". 
The Commission in its proposal has retained the Committee Regulatory proce­
dure. This choice Is Justified in this case by the requirement not to upset 
the mechanism of management In the veterinary field. It does not prejudice the 
preferance of the Commission for the consultative Committee procedure. 
Proposal for a 
COUNCIL DECISION 
on financial aid from the Community for the eradication 
of African swine fever In Sardinia 
THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES, 
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Economic Community, and 
in particular Article 43 thereof, 
Having regard to the proposal from the Commission, 
Having regard to the opinion of the European Parliament, 
Having regard to the opinion of the Economic and Social Committee, 
Whereas African swine fever appeared in Sardinia in 1978; whereas, the 
Community has already provided for financial assistance to Italy under Council 
Decision 80/l097/EEC<1>, as last amended by Regulation (EEC) No 3768/85*2>; 
Whereas the continued presence of this disease prevents the free movement of 
live pigs, fresh pigmeat and certain plgmeat products; 
Whereas the final eradication of this disease constitutes an essential prere­
quisite for the establishment - with regard to trade In live pigs and pig-
meat - of the Internal market in the pig sector as well as for Increasing the 
productivity of breeding and, consequently, Improving the standard of living 
of persons engaged In this sector; 
Whereas Italy must present a new plan for the eradication of African Swine 
Fever within a period of five years; 
(1) 0J No L 325, 01.12.1980, p. 8. 
(2) OJ No L 362, 31.12.1985, p. 8. 
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Whereas this eradication plan must include certain measures which ensure that 
the action taken is effective and a change In strategy; whereas adoption of 
these measures and their adaptation to developments In the situation must 
Involve a procedure In which the Member States and the Commission are closely 
associated; 
Whereas the Member States should be kept regularly Informed of the progress of 
the measures undertaken, 
HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION : 
Article 1 
Italy shall draw up a new plan for the eradication of African swine fever in 
Sardinia. 
Article 2 
The plan referred to in Article 1 must, apart from an Indication of the orga­
nization that Is to implement and coordinate it, provide for : 
1. Measures to eliminate outbreaks of African swine fever, and more particu­
larly : 
(a) the Immediate killing and destruction of all the animals of porcine 
species on those holdings 
- where a clinical case of African swine fever is diagnosed, 
- which, as a result of an epizootiological Investigation, can be con­
sidered as contaminated, 
Killing and destruction shall be effected In such a way as to avoid any 
danger of spreading the virus; 
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(b) the cleansing and disinfection of, and elimination of insect and rodent 
pests from, holdings after the elimination of the pigs; 
(c) Immediate and adequate compensation for the owners of holdings whose 
pigs have been slaughtered In accordance with (a); 
(d) a delay for health reasons before restocking of holdings, the duration 
of such delay being at least one month after slaughter and the comple­
tion of the operations provided for in paragraph (b) for holdings ope­
rating in enclosed premises and at least three months for other 
ho Id i ngs; 
(e) the gradual restocking of holdings by the prior Introduction of 
"sentinel" pigs, in which the absence of African swine fever antibodies 
has been checked prior to their entry into the holding and again one 
month later; 
(f) continuous serological surveillance of holdings until they are fully 
restocked. 
(g) the establishment of a protection zone with a radius of at least 3 km 
when a clinical case as referred to In the first Indent of (a) has been 
diagnosed. The zone must be established for at least 30 days. Swine 
may not leave the holdings on which they are kept during the first 
15 days. Between the 15th day and the 30th day the pigs may not leave 
the holding except to be transported under official supervision direct­
ly to a slaughterhouse for Immediate slaughter. Such transport may be 
authorized by the competent authority only after the official veteri­
narian has carried out an examination of all swine on the holding and 
confirmed that none of the swine may be suspected of being infected 
with African swine fever; 
2. Measures for the surveillance of pig farms, and in particular : 
(a) serological testing by representative samples from ail pig farms in 
each province beginning In the Nuoro province. 
However, the following rules shall apply In the special cases described 
below : 
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- In the case of breeding farms, multiplication farms or mixed closed 
circuit farms, all breeding sows and sows Intended for breeding must 
be subjected to serological Investigation at regular intervals, 
- in the case of mixed farms receiving pigs from external sources, if 
no clear separation exists between the breeding unit and the pig 
fattening unit, all the pigs on the holding must be subjected to 
serological investigation at regular intervals; 
(b) systematic serological Investigation on all farms where one or more 
animals have reacted positively to the serological test provided for 
In (a) and the continuation of this investigation until all positive 
animals have been detected and eliminated; 
(c) an eplzootlologlcal Investigation to Identify the holdings on which 
pigs reacting positively to serological tests originate or may have 
had contact and systematic serological investigation on such hold­
ings; 
(d) a serological screening (pre-movement test) of all pigs being moved 
for breeding and fattening; 
(e) serological testing by sampling of pigs at the time of their 
slaughter; 
(f) elimination by slaughter and destruction of all animals reacting posi­
tively to serological tests following measures provided for in (a), 
(b), (c) and (d); 
(g) Immediate and adequate compensation for owners of pigs slaughtered and 
destroyed In accordance with (f); 
(h) laboratory testing of samples from slaughtered wild pigs. 
3. Measures for identification of pigs and registration of pig farms, and in 
particular : 
(a) the establishment of a system identifying all pigs In Sardinia so that 
the province and holding of origin can be traced at any time; 
(b) the registration of all holdings engaged in pig farming In Sardinia, 
specifying the type of production, the size of their stock, entries of 
pigs to the holding and their origin, exit of pigs and their destina­
tion. 
4. Mesures to construct facilities for sanitary control, identification and 
bleeding of pigs kept mainly in the free grazing areas. 
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Article 3 
The Commission shall examine the plan drawn up by the Italian authorities in 
order to ascertain whether It meets the conditions for Its approval or whether 
it should be amended In any way. The plan, Including any amendments to it, 
shall be approved In accordance with the procedure provided for In Article 9. 
Article 4 
The measure provided for in this Decision shall qualify for financial aid from 
the Community. 
Article 5 
1. Community financial assistance shall be granted for a period of five years 
from the date fixed by the Commission in Its decision approving the plan 
referred to In Article 1. 
2. The estimated assistance to be charged to the Community budget under the 
chapter covering expenditure relating to agriculture shall be 9 million ecus 
for the duration of the period provided for in paragraph 1. 
Article 8 
1. On condition that all the measures laid down are applied and are in com­
pliance with the plan approved by the Commission pursuant to Article 3, the 
expenditure Incurred by Italy 
- under Article 2(1)(a), (b), (c), (e) and (f), and (2), 
- under Article 2(3) and (4), 
shall qualify for Community financial aid within the limits laid down In 
Article 5. 
2. The Community shall refund 50 % of the expenditure referred to In the first 
indent of paragraph 1 and 30 % of the expenditure referred to in the second 
Indent of paragraph 1. 
3. Detailed rules for the application of this Article shall be adopted, as re­
quired In accordance with the procedure laid down In Article 9. 
Article 7 
1. Applications for payment shall relate to expenditure Incurred by Italy 
during the calendar year and shall be submitted to the Commission before 
1 July of the following year. 
2. The Commission shall decide on aid after consulting the Committee referred 
to In Article 9. 
3. Detailed rules for the application of this Article shall be adopted in 
accordance with the procedure laid down In Article 9. 
Article 8 
Articles 8 and 9 of Council Regulation (EEC) No 729/70 H) shall apply 
mutatis mutandis. 
Article 9 
1. The Commission shall be assisted by the Standing Veterinary Committee 
(hereinafter referred to as "the Committee"), set up by Council 
Decision 68/361/EEC C2). 
2. Where the procedure laid down In this Article is to be followed, the chair­
man shall refer the matter to the committee, either on his own Initiative 
or at the request of the representative of a Member State. 
3. The representative of the Commission shall submit to the committee a draft 
of the measures to be taken. The committee shall deliver Its opinion on 
the draft within a time limit which the chairman may lay down according to 
the urgency of the matter. The opinion shall be delivered by the majority 
laid down In Article 148(2) of the Treaty In the case of decisions which 
the Council Is required to adopt on a proposal from the Commission. The 
votes of the representatives of the Member States within the committee 
shall be weighted In the manner set out In that Article. The chairman 
shalI not vote. 
(1) OJ No L 94, 28.04.1970, p. 13 
(2) OJ No L 255, 18.10.1968, p. 23 
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4. The Commission shall adopt the measures envisaged If they are In accordance 
with the opinion of the committee. 
5. If the measures envisaged are not In accordance with the opinion of the 
committee, or If no opinion is delivered, the Commission shall, without 
delay, submit to the Council a proposal relating to the measures to be 
taken. The Council shall act by a qualified majority. 
If, on the expiry of three months from the date of referral to the Council, 
the Council has not acted, the proposed measures shall be adopted by the 
Commission. 
Article 10 
1. The Commission shall carry out regular on-the-spot checks to ensure that 
the eradication plan is being applied. 
The Commission shall Inform the Member States within the committee of deve­
lopments regularly, as least once a year, in the light of the Information 
provided by the Italian authorities, who shall submit a progress report to 
the Commission together with the applications for payment and any reports 
from experts who, acting on behalf of the Community and appointed by the 
Commission, have made on-the-spot visits. 
2. Should the eradication plan require amendment In the course of Its execu­
tion, a new decision approving it shall be taken In accordance with the 
procedure laid down In Article 9. 
Article 11 
This Decision Is addressed to the Italian Republic. 
Done at Brussels, 
For the CounclI, 
FINANCIAL STATEMENT concerning : 
Draft Council Decision introducing a Community financial measure for the eradica­
tion of African Swine Fever in Sardinia 
1. BUDGET HEADING: III B 381 
Disease eradication programmes in the Community 
2. LEGAL BASIS: Article 43 of the Treaty 
3. CLASSIFICATION: compulsory expenditure 
4. PURPOSE/DESCRIPTION OF THE MEASURE: 
Eradication of African Swine Fever in Sardinia by providing financial assistance 
for slaughtering of animals, serological screenings and control measures. 
5. METHOD OF CALCULATION: 
5.1.Form of expenditure: Reimbursement of part of national expenditure 
5.2.Community contribution: 30 % of control measures 
SO % of other eligible expenditure 
5.3.Calculâtion: (ECU million) Eligible expenditure Rate Community contribution 
slaughterings 10,3 50 % 5,15 
serology 5,0 50 % 2,5 
controls 3.0 30 % 1.0 
Total 18,3 8,65 
T FINANCIAL IMPLICATION AS REGARDS OPERATING APPROPRIATIONS 
6.1.Schedule of appropriations (ECU million) 
Year CA. P.A. 
1990 pm 
1991 1,350 
1992 2,450 
1993 2,850 
1994 1,300 
1995 0,700 
following years 
Total 8.650 
6.2.Financing during current year: nihil 
7. OBSERVATIONS: This proposal is necessary for the completion of the internal market 
ISSN 0254-1475 
COM(89) 499 final 
DOCUMENTS 
EN 03 
Catalogue number : CB-CO-89-495-EN-C 
ISBN 92-77-54304-3 
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