EN Official Journal of the European Union CE 84/186

(2004/C 84 E/0227)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0260/04

by Roberta Angelilli (UEN) to the Commission

(3 February 2004)

Subject: Blue tongue disease — protection of stock farmers in Lazio

Following the outbreak of ovine catarrhal fever in four Member States in 2000 (Italy, Spain, Greece and France), measures were taken to combat and eradicate so-called ‘blue tongue’ disease.

At present there are no established cases confirming that the virus exists and is circulating in Italy. In recent years, however, the region of Lazio has employed vast resources to meet its Community obligations on time. Nevertheless, stock farmers in the Lazio region have questioned the need to continue vaccinating animals, given that there is still no scientific guarantee that the process is harmless. Indeed, the compulsory nature of vaccination in recent years has clearly caused harm to animals, in particular a decline in production, a reduction in milk yield and deterioration in animal welfare conditions on farms.

In addition, there is also a real danger that the 20 000 or more farms in Lazio will see a drastic decline in productivity with serious socio-economic implications, as they are forbidden to transport vaccinated animals without a health certificate from their region of origin.

Will the Commission say:

1. whether scientific studies have been carried out into side effects, including long-term ones?

2. whether it is aware of any undesirable effects of the vaccine?

3. whether, in the light of the harmful effects that have been detected, it intends to review existing legislation on the matter, in particular Directive 2000/75/EC (1) and Commission decision 2001/783/ECO?

4. what financial instruments could be used to assist stock farmers (2)?

Answer given by Mr Byrne on behalf of the Commission

(27 February 2004)

The decision to use vaccination to combat the bluetongue epidemic in the Mediterranean region over recent years was not made without taking the necessary precautions.

The Scientific Committee was consulted, safety checks were carried out on the vaccines used, and the option of resorting to vaccination was chosen only after detailed consideration in close cooperation with the national authorities.

The vaccination campaigns achieved remarkable results where they were conducted so as to ensure sufficient vaccine cover of flocks in the affected areas.

Thus, the campaigns enabled rapid eradication of the disease on the Balearic islands and a spectacular reduction in the number of infection sources in regions such as Sardinia, which were particularly affected by the epidemic.

The results have been regularly passed on to the Commission by the Italian authorities and an exhaustive presentation was given at the Symposium held in October 2003 in Taormina at the instigation of the International Office of Epizootics (World Animal Health Organisation).

Although the Italian authorities noted undesirable effects of the vaccine, they were not sufficiently significant to outweigh the benefits derived from vaccination.

In addition, the measures — adopted by Decision 2001/783/EC — restricting movement of livestock from infected areas have been amended on several occasions. The last amendment by Decision 2004/34/EC (3) was designed to ease restrictions in view of the reduced levels of virus following vaccination.

Lastly, as regards the financial instrument enabling the Commission to provide compensation for the losses incurred by stock farmers whose flocks were affected by bluetongue, Council Decision 90/424/EEC of 26 June 1990 on expenditure in the veterinary field (4) has helped the Community to contribute significantly. The Community's contribution for the 2000 financial year, to date the latest one closed, was EUR 11 million.

Member States may also grant state aid to compensate the losses incurred by stock farmers as a result of animal diseases for which a prevention, control and eradication programme has been adopted at Community, national or regional level. In particular, under point 11.4 of the Guidelines for state aid in the agriculture sector (5), support up to 100 % of the losses incurred may be granted to stock farmers affected. Such aid must be notified in accordance with Article 88(3) of the EC Treaty. Some Italian regions have notified aid schemes to compensate losses related to bluetongue.

(1) OJ L 327, 22.12.2000, p. 74.

(2) OJ L 293, 10.11.2001 p. 42 .

(3) 2004/34/EC: Commission Decision of 6 January 2004 amending Decision 2003/828/EC with regard to the movements of vaccinated animals from protection zones (Text with EEA relevance) (notified under document number C(2003) 5306), OJ L 7, 13.1.2004.

(4) OJ L 224, 18.8.1990.

(5) OJ C 28, 1.2.2000.