7.oE90 Officiai]ournai of the European Communities ^oC112^1 
states, if potential disaster is to beprevented by 
vigorous action at the earliest stage of an outbreak 
of disease. 
Otherwise confidence in the measures of this proposal 
will be lost. 
2. specific comments 
2.1. A^r^^^^^ 
It is very important that the envisaged list of diseases 
which are considered asbeingaserious threat to anP 
malsandof animaldiseases transmissibletoman be 
Done at Brussels, 28 February 1990. 
1. General comments 
1.1. The Community has already decided that trade 
in breeding and production animals should be from 
enzootic bovine leukosis (EBL) free herds only after 
l]ulyl990. 
1.2. This proposal allows a system of recognising 
EBL freedom of herds in regionsor countries where 
previous surveyevidence exists, without theneedfor 
systematic testing of all herds. 
^o^o^i7,^mm^D.u drawn up assoonaspossible. It is tobehoped that 
this list would be modified in the light of experience. 
2.2. Arr^7^r^r^eo 
Bearing in mind that some diseases of animals have an 
incubation period of considerably less thanle^ days, it 
must be possible for Member states to invoke Articled 
oftheTreaty. 
2.3. A^^9 
It is essential that the provisions relating to safeguard 
measures in the veterinary field which are to be repealed 
arelistedbefore this proposal foraCouncil Decision 
takes effect. 
1.3. The present amendment isasimplistic but prag 
matic approach toadifficult problem. 
1.4. It is recognised that EBL is a chronicdisease 
withalong pathogenesis, and sometimesalong silent' 
period, during which no signs of infection may be 
present.There may be no immunological reactions for 
periods of unknown duration. Thismakesit difficult 
to clear an animal, acattleherd and a whole cattle 
population byafew tests. Long observation periods are 
needed. 
IBo. Flence a clear guidance should be given for 
importation from third countries. 
1.^. It is noticed that theseproposed rules will be 
reviewed atalater date. Opinion on the proposal foraCouncil Directive amending Directive ^4B432BEEC as regards 
enzootic bovine leukosis^) 
(90BC 112^12) 
On 22]anuaryl990,the Council decided to consult the Economic and ^ocialCommittee, 
under Article 198 of theTreatyestablishingtheEuropean Economic Community,onthe 
abovementioned proposal. 
The section for Agriculture and Fisheries,which was responsible for preparing the Commit 
tee's workonthesubject,adopteditsOpinionon 21 February 1990.The rapporteur was 
Mr^toriePugh. 
At its 274th plenary session on 28 February andlMarch 1990 (meeting of 28 February) the 
Economic and social Committee adopted the following Opinion unanimously. 
No C 112/32 Official Journal of the European Communities 7.5.90 
2. Specific comments 
2.1. Article 1 paragraphs 2 and 3 
2.1.1. It is difficult to see the rationale of not retain­
ing the full Regulatory Committee procedure which 
includes the contrefilet. 
2.1.2. The date of implementation should not take 
effect earlier than 1 July 1991. 
Some regions are actually free from EBL. However 
under these proposals there must be two negative blood 
tests of 20% of animals (in the region) in order to 
qualify for official recognition as an EBL free region. 
2.2. Chapter 1 Annex B 
2.2.1. The Committee is of the view that before a 
Member State or region is declared free then there must 
at least have been a complete test of the national herd 
to demonstrate that freedom, and positive herds dealt 
with to eliminate the disease. Now that the ELISA test 
is available, countries can use bulk milk or bulk blood 
to achieve a national round of testing at considerably 
less cost. 
2.2.2. Following on from declaration of national or 
regional freedom then for a period of time (yet to be 
defined) the Community should move on to statistical 
periodic sampling. The level of this sampling however 
requires further discussion. 
2.2.3. B2 removes a Member States or regions free­
dom if a single animal is positive and is a drastic 
consequence when one is dealing with a 'herd disease'. 
The Commission are thenleft as the arbitors based on 
advice from the Standing Veterinary Committee (SVC) 
as to the controls that then need to be applied to re­
establish a Member States or regional freedom. The 
Committee would prefer the procedure to be set out so 
that Member States can apply the controls themselves 
without the involvement of the Commission and the 
SVC when dealing with a disease which has to be 
controlled on a herd basis. 
Done at Brussels, 28 February 1990. 2.3. Annex, Chapter 1, point Bl, line a 
2.3.1. The criteria for random selection of herds and 
examination of animals should be more precise. The 
herds included in the investigation should be representa­
tive for the composition of the cattle population with 
regard to breeding and production herds, dairy/beef 
breeds, herd size and production system. The Commit­
tee recognizes that this is a counsel of perfection and 
that by testing all animals over 20 months of age a 
reasonable selection is obtained. 
2.3.2. The Committee is of the opinion that the 20% 
levy is not high enough. 
2.4. Annex, Chapter 1, Point Bl, line b 
2.4.1. The text should be changed to: 
'Pathological alterations, which may be suspected 
of being of leukotic nature, must be reported ...' 
2.5. Annex, Chapter 1, point B2 
2.5.1. In a situation, when EBL is discovered in cattle 
herds of a Member State, which is recognized free of 
EBL, it is suggested that the Member State's EBL free 
status is immediately suspended. When epidemiological 
investigations are completed, a decision is taken about 
the future EBL status of the Member State. 
2.5.2. It is suggested that the limit should be fixed 
for the number of EBL affected herds, which may persist 
in isolation in a Member State, before the EBL free 
status is lost. 
2.5.3. This limit could be 0,01% of the total number 
of cattle herds in the Member States. 
2.5.4. It is felt that the criteria for the recognition of 
a Member State as EBL free should be more precise, 
and that the principles and criteria be specified more 
clearly in the text. 
The Chairman 
of the Economic and Social Committee 
Alberto MASPRONE