ARCHIVES HISTORIQUES 
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COM (86) 391 
 
 
 
Vol. 1986/0 167 
  
 
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concernant l'ouverture au public des archives historiques de la Communauté économique 
européenne et de la Communauté européenne de l'énergie atomique (JO L 43 du 15.2.1983, 
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In accordance with Council Regulation (EEC, Euratom) No 354/83 of 1 February 1983 
concerning the opening to the public of the historical archives of the European Economic 
Community and the European Atomic Energy Communit y (OJ L 43, 15.2.1983, p. 1), as 
amended by Regulation (EC, Euratom) No 1700/2003 of 22 September 2003 (OJ L 243, 
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file have been declassified in conformity with Article 5 of the aforementioned regulation. 
In Übereinstimmung mit der Verordnung (EWG, Euratom) Nr. 354/83 des Rates vom  1. 
Februar 1983 über die Freigabe der historischen Archive der Europäischen 
Wirtschaftsgemeinschaft und der Europäischen Atomgem einschaft (ABI. L 43 vom  15.2.1983, 
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COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES
C 0M <86> 391 final  
Brussels, 10 July 1986
Proposal for a  
C O U N C IL DECISION
introducing a  Community financial measure for the  
eradication of African Swine Fever  
in Spain
(submitted to the Council by the Commission)
C0M C86) 391 final

EXPLANATORY MEMORANDUM
The presence of African Swine Fever in Spain presents a risk to the other 
countries of the Community. This highly contagious disease of pigs has been 
present in Spain for more than twenty years. The Community, in order to 
protect its pig herds, had decided to grant financial aid to the Spanish 
authorities in order to eliminate the disease before the accession of this 
country (Council Decision 80/877/CEE of 15 September 1980). This programme, 
to run for five years, was approved by the Community (Decision 81/633/EEC) and 
came into force 1st July 1981, leading to a certain reduction of the numbers 
of outbreaks and a stabilistation of the incidence of the disease.
It seems necessary, following the accession of Spain to the Community, to 
follow-up and reinforce the current action. This reinforced action would 
allow, in conformation with the request from the Spanish Government, complete 
eradication of this disease which presents a permanent danger to the pig herds 
in the Community. The realisation of the internal market in the pig sector 
depends, for Spain, on the radiation of the disease.

Proposal for a 
COUNCIL DECISION
introducing a Community financial measure for the eradication of
African Swine Fever in Spain
THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Economic Community, and 
in particular Article A3 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 has been present in Spain for many years;
Whereas, in order to prevent the disease from spreading to its territory, the
Community granted financial support for a period of five years by means of
Council Decision 79/509/EEC of 2A May 1979 on financial aid from the Community
.  „ .  (1)for the eradication of African Swine Fever in Spain ;
Whereas the efforts already made have served to stabilize the incidence of the 
disease; whereas the resources deployed must, however, be maintained and 
reinforced in order to eradicate African Swine Fever from the entire territory 
of Spain and thus contribute to the establishment of the internal market;
Whereas the Spanish authorities have appealed to the Community for a 
contribution towards the expenditure involved in the continuation and 
reinforcement of the eradication programme undertaken in 1980,
Whereas, in order to benefit from the results obtained, this request should be 
granted so that the systematic action already undertaken can be maintained and
consolidated;
0J No L133,  31.05.1979, p. 27

-  2 -
Whereas the reinforced eradication plan must include measures ensuring the 
effectiveness of the action undertaken; whereas a procedure closely associating 
the Member States and the Commission should be introduced by means of which such 
measures can firstly be adopted and secondly adapted as the situation develops;
Whereas the Member States should be kept regularly informed of the progress of 
the measures undertaken,
HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION
Article 1
Spain shall draw up a reinforced plan for the eradication of African swine 
fever and the restructuring of pig farms so as to protect the health of their 
livestock.
Article 2
The plan referred to in Article 1 must provide for:
1. Measures to eliminate outbreaks of African swine fever, and more
particularly:
(a) the immediate slaughter and destruction of all pigs on those holdings 
where a case of African swine fever is diagnosed and on those holdings 
which, as a result of an epizootiological investigation, can be 
considered as contaminated. Slaughter and destruction shall be 
effected in such a way as to avoid any danger of spreading the virus;
(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 before restocking of holdings, the duration of such delay 
being at least one month after slaughter and the completion of the 
operations provided for in paragraph (b) for holdings operating in 
enclosed premises and at least three months for other holdings;
(e) the gradual restocking of holdings by the prior introduction of 
' ’sentinel'* pigs, the absence of African swine fever antibodies from 
which has been checked prior to their entry and again one month later;
(f) continous serological surveillance of holdings until they are fully 
restocked;

- 3 -
2. Measures for the control of pig farms and the establishment of zones free 
from African swine fever, and in particular:
(a) serological testing by representative sampling of all pig farms in 
each region of production.
However, the following rules shall apply in the special cases described 
below:
- 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;
- 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;
(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 are eliminated;
(c) an epizootiological investigation to identify the farms on which pigs 
reacting positively to serological tests originate and systematic 
serological investigation on such farms;
(d) elimination by slaughter and destruction of all animals reacting 
positively to serological tests following measures provided for in
(a), (b) and (c);
(e) immediate and adequate compensation for owners of pigs slaughtered and 
destroyed in accordance with (d);
(f) health protection measures on farms where pigs react negatively to 
serological tests. More particularly such protection must entail:
- the application of health measures with regard to any person 
entering the farm;
- arrangements for the disinfection of any vehicle having to enter the 
farm;
- the installation of safety gates for the delivery of feedingstuffs 
and various supplies;
- the installation of safety gates for the removal of pigs;

(g) the implementation of health measures in respect of all animals 
entering the farm for the purposes of breeding or fattening. More 
particularly these measures must entail:
- an obligation to acquire animals from a farm presenting the same 
assurances,
- serological investigation of all breeding pigs,
- monitoring of breeding pigs before their entry into the production 
cycle;
(h) establishment of criteria for the recognition of holdings free of 
African swine fever. The criteria must include at least the following
- absence of clinical disease on the holding for at least one year,
- absence of clinical disease within a radius of 2 km around the 
holding for at least one year,
- execution of the serological operations provided for in (a), (b) 
and (c).
(i) clearly distinguishable marking of all pigs on holdings recognized as 
free of African swine fever;
Measures to create regions free of African swine fever, entailing more 
particularly:
(a) the establishment of a system of identifying all pigs on the national 
territory so that the region and holding of origin can be traced at 
any time;
(b) the registration of all holdings engaged in pig farming, specifying 
the type of production, their position with regard to African swine 
fever and the size of their stock;
(c) the monitoring of stock of holdings by the introduction of a 
pig-farming register or file recording in particular entries of pigs 
to the holding and their origin, exit of pigs and their destination, 
mortality and the causes thereof;
(d) the monitoring of movements of pigs within a region or between regions 
irrespective of their origin and destination by regional bodies 
established for that purpose;

- 5 -
(e) a general ban on the entry of live pigs originating in a region which 
does not have the same health status;
(f) the promotion of regional groups of farmers to combat African swine 
fever so as to engender more effective cooperation with the technical 
and administrative departments and voluntary control over the 
application of the plan;
(g) serological testing by sampling of pigs at the time of their slaughter;
(h) serological testing by sampling of slaughtered wild swine;
4. Measures to restructure pig farms in order to ensure greater health
protection and prevent the spread of the disease, entailing more
particularly:
(a) adaptation of existing piggeries so as to ensure effective health 
protection. Such adaptations must entail:
- protective installations for the entry of vehicles and persons and 
safety gates for deliveries of feedingstuffs and various supplies,
- safety gates for the delivery or removal of live pigs;
(b) encouragement for the replacement of traditional farms by closed 
circuit farms with clear and effective separation between the breeding 
unit and the fattening unit;
(c) for fattening farms, the establishment of systems for the supply of 
piglets requiring the direct transportation of animals from recognised 
multiplication farms to the fattening farm;
(d) in the case of farms continuing to use grazing land in certain regions 
where this practice cannot be abandoned:
- the establishment of closed and protected housing for breeding stock 
and their piglets;
- establishment of enclosed and protected runs for sows and fattening 
piglets until the latters departure to the grazing land;

-  6 -
- prohibition on the return of fattening pigs from grazing land to the 
breeding unit;
- obligation to transport fattened pigs direct to to the slaughterhouse;
- serological testing of all pigs fattened on grazing land both before 
they are turned out and at the time of slaughter;
- where the result of serological testing is positive, seizure and 
destruction of the carcases in question and a ban on the use of the 
grazing land of origin for the fattening of pigs;
- serological testing of all wild swine slaughtered in the region 
concerned;
5. National and regional protection measures, entailing more particularly:
(a) control and destruction of all waste from international means of 
transport;
(b) control of all scraps and swill from kitchens and industries using 
pigmeat;
(c) ban on the use for feeding to pigs of scraps and swill from kitchens 
and industries using pigmeat;
(d) however, the competent authorities may authorise the use of scraps for 
feeding in specially designated farms where there are only fattening 
pigs provided that these scraps are collected and treated in 
specialised establishments under official control;
(e) obligation to slaughter pigs in slaughterhouses under permanent 
veterinary control.

- 7 -
Article 3
After examination of the plan submitted by the Spanish authorities and of any 
amendments to be made thereto, the Commission shall decide, in accordance with 
the procedure laid down in Article 9, whether or not to approve it.
The Committee of the European Agricultural Guidance and Guarantee Fund shall 
be consulted on the financial aspects and the Standing Committee on Structure 
on the structural aspects of the plan.
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 42 million 
ECU for the duration of the measure provided for in paragraph 1.
Article 6
1. On condition that all the measures laid down are applied and are in
compliance with the plan approved by the Commission pursuant to Article 3, 
the expenditure incurred by Spain.
- under Article 2(l)(a), (b),  (c) (e) and (f), (2)(a), (b), (c), (d) and
(e), (3)(d), (f), (g) and (h) and the last three indents of (4)(d),
- under Article 2(3)(b) and (4)(a), (b), (c) and the first two indents of 
(d),
shall qualify for Community financial aid within the limits laid down in 
Article 5.

-  8 -
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 
required in accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 13 of 
Regulation (EEC) No 729/70.
Article 7
1. Applications for payment shall relate to expenditure incurred by Spain 
during the calendar year and shall be submitted to the Commission before 1 
July of the following year.
2. Article 7(1) of Regulation (EEC) No 729/70 shall apply to the decisions 
adopted by the Commission relating to the financing of this measure by the 
Community.
3. Detailed rules for the application of this Article shall be adopted in 
accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 13 of Regulation (EEC) 
No 729/70.
Article 8
Regulation (EEC) No 129/70 and Articles 8 and 9 of Regulation (EEC) No 729/70
shall apply mutatis mutandis.
Article 9
1. Where the procedure laid down in this Article is to be followed, matters 
shall be referred without delay by the chairman, either on his own 
initiative or at the request of a Member State, to the Standing Veterinary 
Committee (hereinafter called the "Committee”) set up by Decision 
68/361/EEC.
2. Within the Committee, the votes of Member States shall be weighted as laid 
down in Article 148(2) of the Treaty. The chairman shall not vote.
3. The representative of the Commission shall submit a draft of the measures 
to be adopted. The Committee shall deliver its opinion on such measures 
within the time limit set by the chairman according to the urgency of the 
matters under consideration. Opinions shall be delivered by a qualified 
majority of 54 votes.

- 9 -
4. The Commission shall adopt the measures and shall apply them immediately 
where they are in accordance with the opinion of the Committee. Where they 
are not in accordance with the opinion of the Committee, or if no opinion 
is delivered, the Commission shall without delay propose to the Council the 
measures to be taken. The Council shall adopt the measures by a qualified 
majority.
If, within three months from the date on which the proposal was submitted 
to it, the Council has not adopted any measures, the Commission shall adopt 
the proposed measures and shall apply them immediately.
Article 10
1. The Commission shall monitor the situation with regard to African swine 
fever in Spain and the implementation of the eradication plan.
The Commission shall inform the Member States within the Committee of 
developments regularly, at least once a year, in the light of the 
information provided by the Spanish 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 visited Spain.
2. Should the need arise to amend the eradication plan in the course of its 
execution, 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 Kingdom of Spain.
Done at Brussels, For the Council

FINANCIAL STATEMENT concerning: A  proposal for a  Council Decision  
introducing a  Community financial measure for the eradication of African swine  
fever in Spain.
1 . Budget heading : IH B It e m  :  381 Title :  Programmes for the eradication of diseases
(formerwithin the Community.
3813)
2. Legal  b a s is  :  Article 43 of the Treaty.
3. C lassification : ,C o m p u ls o r y expend! tu r e /ta M M fG U fM lM llW e
4. P u rp o s e /d e s c rip tio n  o f th e  m easure  :  Elimination of African swine fever in Spain :  
slaughter of infected and contaminated animals; slaughter of animals reacting  
positively to serological tests; systematic detection of the disease.
5. M e th o d  of calculation
5 .1  F o rm  of expenditure  :  Reimbursement of a part of national expenditure.
5.2 Community contribution : -  30 %  of eligible expenditure for restructuring at holding and local
authority level; -  50 %  of other elig ib le expenditure.
Eligible expenditure Rate 5.3 Calculation (in E C U )
-  restructuring
-  serological tests
-  control in the field
-  groups
-  slaughterings
-  information17.5
20.6  
9,8 
5,5
35,830 %  
50 X 
50 X 
50 % 
50 %  
50 X
financial im plication as regards operating a p p  r?$?f? at io n s 
6 .1  S c h e d u le  o f ■ m H · !  appropriationsChargeable to  
the E E C  
5,25 
10,30  
4,90  
2,75 
17,90  
-Om à S
•41,55
Year nui
1988 8,1
1989 8,2
1990 8,0
1991 8 ,9
1992 8 ,3
« B lM B f R t M II
lotal 41,5|(n  E C U )
H I »
6.2 F in a n c in g  during current  y e a r  :  None.
Financing from the 1988 budget onwards for schemes carried out from 1987.
7. O bservations :