1999/463/EC: Commission Decision of 30 June 1999 amending Commission Decisions 1999/240/EC and 1999/241/EC on certain protection measures with regard to registered horses coming from Singapore and Malaysia (Peninsula) and equidae coming from Australia (notified under document number C(1999) 1802) (Text with EEA relevance)
Date: 1999-06-30
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: Australia, Malaysia, Singapore, equidae, health certificate, import

15. 7. 1999

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

L 180/51

COMMISSION DECISION

of 30 June 1999

amending Commission Decisions 1999/240/EC and 1999/241/EC on certain protection measures
with regard to registered horses coming from Singapore and Malaysia (Peninsula) and equidae
coming from Australia

(notified under document number C(1999) 1802)

(Text with EEA relevance)

(1999/463/EC)

THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European
Community,

Having regard to Council Directive 91/496/EEC of 15 July
1991 laying down the principles governing the organisation of
veterinary checks on animals entering the Community from
third countries and amending Directives 89/662/EEC, 90/
425/EEC and 90/675/EEC (1), as last amended by Directive
96/43/EC (2), and in particular Article 18(7) thereof,

(1) Whereas by Decision 1999/240/EC (3) the Commission
has adopted certain protection measures with regard to
registered horses coming from Singapore and Malaysia
(Peninsula) due to the occurrence of Hendra-like disease
(paramyxovirus), a zoonotic disease that had caused
fatalities in humans;

(2) Whereas this infection is a new disease named Nipah
disease, which, as known now, is transmitted to humans
by pigs;

(3) Whereas according to official

information pig-farming
ceased in Singapore in 1990 and imports from Malaysia
live pigs, equidae and other mammalian animals
of
susceptible to this disease are prohibited; whereas more-
over Singapore officially notified the completion with
negative results of a survey for this disease in horses and
in persons handling horses;

(4) Whereas by Decision 1999/241/EC (4) the Commission
has adopted certain protection measures with regard to
equidae coming from Australia due to the occurrence of
in a horse in
Hendra disease (equine morbillivirus)
Queensland in January 1999; whereas this Decision
applies until 31 May 1999;

(5) Whereas the presence of this disease in certain wildlife
species in certain parts of Australia is liable to constitute
a serious danger
for Community equidae; whereas
however a serological test has been developed to detect
in individual horses antibody against the Hendra disease
virus;

(1) OJ L 268, 24.9.1991, p. 56.
(2) OJ L 162, 1.7.1996, p. 1.
(3) OJ L 89, 1.4.1999, p. 72.
(4) OJ L 89, 1.4.1999, p. 74.

(6) Whereas in the light of the evolution of the diseases in
Singapore and Australia, and additionally the develop-
ments in laboratory diagnosis in Australia,
it appears
appropriate to modify Decisions 1999/240/EC and
1999/241/EC with regard to protection measures at
Community level in relation to importation of registered
horses coming from Singapore and equidae coming from
Australia;

(7) Whereas this Decision is in accordance with the opinion

of the Standing Veterinary Committee,

HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:

Article 1

Commission Decision 1999/240/EC is amended as follows.

1. In the title of the Decision the words ‘and Singapore' are

deleted.

2. In Article 1 the words ‘and Singapore' are deleted.

3. In Article 2 the words ‘and Singapore' are deleted.

Article 2

Commission Decision 1999/241/EC is amended as follows.

1. In Article 1(2):

— the first and second indents are deleted,

— two new indents are inserted as follows:

‘— during the past 60 days the equidae has not been
resident on holdings on which cases of Hendra
disease have been confirmed by the competent
authorities during the past 60 days,

— the equidae was subjected to an approved test, either
serum neutralisation or ELISA, for the detection of
antibodies for Hendra disease virus, carried out in a
laboratory designated by the competent authorities
with negative results on a sample of blood taken
within 14 days of dispatch to the European
Community on (insert date of blood sampling).'

L 180/52

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

15. 7. 1999

2. In Article 3 the date ‘31 May 1999'

is replaced by ‘31 December 1999'.

Member States shall amend the measures they apply with regard to Singapore and Australia to bring them
into line with this Decision.

Article 3

They shall

inform the Commission thereof.

This Decision is addressed to the Member States.

Article 4

Done at Brussels, 30 June 1999.

For the Commission

Franz FISCHLER

Member of the Commission