1999/212/EC: Commission Decision of 18 March 1999 on certain measures to prevent the transmission of foot- and-mouth disease virus from Algeria, Morocco and Tunisia to the territory for the European Community (notified under document number C(1999) 712) (Text with EEA relevance)
Date: 1999-03-18
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: animal disease, equidae, foot-and-mouth disease, health control, third country, veterinary inspection

19. 3. 1999

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

L 74/29

II

(Acts whose publication is not obligatory)

COMMISSION

COMMISSION DECISION

of 18 March 1999

on certain measures to prevent the transmission of foot-and-mouth disease virus
from Algeria, Morocco and Tunisia to the territory for the European Community

(notified under document number C(1999) 712)

(Text with EEA relevance)

(1999/212/EC)

THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European
Community,

Having regard to Council Directive 97/78/EC of 18
December 1997 laying down the principles governing the
organisation of veterinary checks on products entering the
Community from third countries (1), and in particular
Article 22(1) thereof,

Whereas during the months of February and March 1999
foot-and-mouth disease has been confirmed to be present
in livestock in Algeria, Morocco and Tunisia; whereas the
disease is one of the most contagious diseases of cattle,
sheep, goats and pigs; whereas the virus causing the
in a contaminated environment
disease can persist
outside the host animal for several weeks depending on
the temperature;

the presence of

Whereas
foot-and-mouth disease in
Algeria, Morocco and Tunisia is liable to constitute a
serious
the
risk
Community;

livestock population of

the

to

from Algeria, Morocco and Tunisia

on arrival
Community territory may cause a potential
harbouring virus;

to
risk of

importation of animals

Whereas
to the Community
primarily relates to import of horses; whereas the health
requirements for importation of horses are laid down in
Council Directive 90/426/EEC of 26 June 1990 on
animal health conditions governing the movement and
import
from third countries of equidae (2),
last
amended by Directive 92/36/EEC (3);

as

Whereas appropriate cleansing and disinfection of animal
transport vehicles is the most appropriate way to reduce
the risk of rapid virus transmission over large distances;

Whereas the measures provided for in this Decision are in
accordance with the opinion of the Standing Veterinary
Committee,

HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:

Article 1

Whereas it is necessary to rapidly adopt certain protection
measures at Community level which take into account
the survival of the foot-and-mouth disease virus in the
environment and potential routes of virus transmission;
whereas transport vehicles used for transport of animals

For the purpose of this decision a livestock vehicle means:
a motor vehicle being used or which has been used for
transport of animals.

(1) OJ L 24, 31. 1. 1998, p. 9.

(2) OJ L 224, 18. 8. 1990, p. 42.
(3) OJ L 157, 10. 6. 1992, p. 28.

L 74/30

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

19. 3. 1999

Article 2

The Member States shall ensure that the operator of
1.
an empty livestock vehicle on arrival
from Algeria,
Morocco and Tunisia at the point of entry to the territory
of the Community provides documentation which indic-
ates that the vehicle has been cleansed and disinfected.
The documentation shall provide
information on
cleansing and disinfection equivalent to that shown in the
Annex of this Decision.

2.
In the event the measure referred to in paragraph 1
has been implemented inappropriately the Member State
concerned may reject the livestock vehicle or subject the
vehicle to proper cleansing and disinfection at a desig-
nated place as close as possible to the point of entry.

Article 3

Livestock vehicles carrying equidae, being imported in
accordance with provisions of Council Directive 90/
426/EEC, may be subject to cleansing and disinfection on

the arrival at the border inspection post. The mentioned
cleansing and disinfection shall be carried out at a place
as close as possible to the border inspection post, desig-
nated by the official veterinarian.

Article 4

The measures of the present Decision shall be reviewed
before 30 April 1999 and apply until 30 April 1999.

Article 5

This Decision is addressed to the Member States.

Done at Brussels, 18 March 1999.

For the Commission

Franz FISCHLER

Member of the Commission

19. 3. 1999

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

L 74/31

ANNEX

CLEANSING AND DISINFECTION CERTIFICATE FOR MEANS OF TRANSPORT USED FOR
THE TRANSPORT OF LIVESTOCK

1. Declaration of the operator/driver of transport

I, the operator/driver of the vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . declare that:

(Insert number of registation plate)

(cid:190) the most recent unloading of animals took place at:

Country, region, place

Date
(dd.mm.yy)

Time
(hh:mm)

This information must be provided by the operator/driver.

(cid:190) following unloading, the vehicle was subject to cleansing and disinfection. The cleansing and disinfection
included the livestock compartment, loading ramp, the wheels and the driver’s cabin and protective
clothes/boots used during unloading.

The cleansing and disinfection took place:

Country, region, place

Date
(dd.mm.yy)

Time
(hh:mm)

This information must be provided by the operator/driver.

(cid:190) the disinfectant used was:

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Date

Place

Signature of the operator/driver

Name of operator/driver in block letters:

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

2. Certification by the competent authorities carrying out checks of transport at the point of entry

I,

the undersigned official certify that

I have checked the transport with the registration plate

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . today,

(Insert number of registration plate)

and found it satisfactorily cleansed and disinfected.

Date

Place

Competent authority

Signature of the official (1)

Stamp:

Name in block letters:

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(1) The colour of the stamp and the signature must be different from that of the printing.