EN Official Journal of the European Union L 132/38

EFTA SURVEILLANCE AUTHORITY DECISION

No 28/07/COL

of 19 February 2007

concerning the official tuberculosis, brucellosis and enzootic bovine leucosis-free status of Norway as regards bovine herds

THE EFTA SURVEILLANCE AUTHORITY,

HAVING REGARD to the Agreement on the European Economic Area (hereinafter referred to as the EEA Agreement), in particular Article 109 and Protocol 1 thereof,

HAVING REGARD to the Agreement between the EFTA States on the Establishment of a Surveillance Authority and a Court of Justice, in particular Article 5(2)(d) and Protocol 1 thereof,

HAVING REGARD to the Act referred to at Point 4.1.1 of Chapter I of Annex I to the EEA Agreement, Council Directive 64/432/EEC of 26 June 1964 on animal health problems affecting intra-Community trade in bovine animals and swine (1), as amended and as adapted to the EEA Agreement by Protocol 1 thereto, and in particular to Annex A(I)(4), Annex A(II)(7) and Annex D(I)(E) of that Act,

HAVING REGARD to the EFTA Surveillance Authority Decision No 24/07/COL of 14 February 2007, whereby the competent College Member is instructed to adopt the Decision concerning the official tuberculosis, brucellosis and enzootic bovine leucosis-free status of Norway as regards bovine herds if the draft decision is in accordance with the opinion of the EFTA Veterinary Committee (EVC),

WHEREAS Directive 64/432/EEC provides that EEA EFTA States or parts or regions thereof may be declared officially free of tuberculosis, brucellosis and enzootic bovine leucosis as regards bovine herds subject to compliance with certain conditions set out in that Act;

WHEREAS by letter of 29 June 2004, Norway has submitted to the Authority the relevant documentation related to enzootic bovine leucosis in accordance with Annex D(I)(E) and Article 8 of Directive 64/432/EEC;

WHEREAS by letters of 14 February 2005, 13 December 2005 and 26 October 2006, Norway submitted to the Authority up-dated information related to enzootic bovine leucosis as requested by the latter following discussions with the European Commission;

WHEREAS the EFTA Surveillance Authority, in close cooperation with the European Commission, has examined all the documentation submitted by Norway and this examination shows that the scheme related to enzootic bovine leucosis submitted by Norway complies with all the relevant conditions provided for in Directive 64/432/EEC;

WHEREAS it is therefore appropriate that Norway may be declared as officially free of enzootic bovine leucosis;

WHEREAS by EFTA Surveillance Authority Decisions No 66/94/COL and No 67/94/COL of 27 June 1994, Norway was granted brucellosis-free and tuberculosis-free status of bovine herds, provided that certain conditions were met;

WHEREAS Decisions No 66/94/COL and No 67/94/COL were respectively replaced by the EFTA Surveillance Authority Decisions No 227/96/COL and No 225/96/COL of 4 December 1996;

WHEREAS, in the interests of clarity, the status with regard to the diseases tuberculosis, brucellosis and enzootic bovine leucosis, as regards bovine herds in Norway, should be set out in the same Decision;

WHEREAS, accordingly, EFTA Surveillance Authority Decisions No 225/96/COL and No 227/96/COL should be replaced by this Decision;

WHEREAS the measures provided for in this Decision are in accordance with the opinion of the EFTA Veterinary Committee assisting the EFTA Surveillance Authority,

HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:

1. In accordance with Directive 64/432/EEC, Norway is declared as officially free of tuberculosis, brucellosis and enzootic bovine leucosis as regards bovine herds.

2. This Decision is addressed to the Kingdom of Norway.

3. Pursuant to Article 109(2) of the EEA Agreement, the EFTA Surveillance Authority shall forward this Decision and any amendments thereto to the European Commission.

4. The EFTA Surveillance Authority Decisions No 227/96/COL and No 225/96/COL of 4 December 1996 are replaced hereby.

5. This Decision shall enter into force on 19 February 2007.

6. This Decision shall be authentic in the English language.

Done at Brussels, 19 February 2007. For the EFTA Surveillance Authority Bjørn T. GRYDELAND President Niels FENGER Director

(1) OJ 121, 29.7.1964, p. 1977/64.