PROPOSAL FOR A COUNCIL DECISION ON FINANCIAL AID FROM THE COMMUNITY FOR THE ERADICATION OF AFRICAN SWINE FEVER IN SARDINIA
Date: 1989-10-17
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: EU financing, Sardinia, animal plague, decontamination, swine, veterinary inspection

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. 

-  2 -

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; 

-  3 -

(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  : 

-  4 -

-  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. 

-  5  -

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. 

The measure  provided  for  in this Decision  shall  qualify  for  financial  aid  from 

the  Community. 

Article  4 

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. 

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 

Article  8 

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. 

Articles 8  and  9  of  Council  Regulation  (EEC)  No 729/70  H)  shall  apply 

mutatis mutandis. 

Article  8 

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  C 2 ). 

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 

- 7 -

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. 

This Decision  Is addressed  to the  Italian  Republic. 

Article 11 

Done at Brussels, 

For  the CounclI, 

F I N A N C I AL 

S T A T E M E NT 

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 

slaughterings 
serology 
controls 
Total 

10,3 
5,0 
3.0 
18,3 

Rate 
50 % 
50 % 
30 % 

Community  contribution 
5,15 
2,5 
1.0 
8,65 

T 

FINANCIAL IMPLICATION AS REGARDS OPERATING  APPROPRIATIONS 

6.1.Schedule of 

appropriations 

(ECU million) 

Year 
1990 
1991 
1992 
1993 
1994 
1995 
following years 

Total 

C A. 

P.A. 

pm 
1,350 
2,450 
2,850 
1,300 
0,700 

8.650 

6.2.Financing during current year: nihil 

7. OBSERVATIONS: This proposal  is necessary for the completion of the internal market 

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