1999/507/EC: Commission Decision of 26 July 1999 on certain protection measures with regard to certain fruit bats, dogs and cats coming from Malaysia (Peninsula) and Australia (notified under document number C(1999) 2467) (Text with EEA relevance)
Date: 1999-07-26
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: Australia, Malaysia, animal disease, domestic animal, health control, import

L 194/66

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

27. 7. 1999

COMMISSION DECISION

of 26 July 1999

on certain protection measures with regard to certain fruit bats, dogs and cats coming from
Malaysia (Peninsula) and Australia

(notified under document number C(1999) 2467)

(Text with EEA relevance)

(1999/507/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 (1) thereof,

(1) Whereas the principle animal health conditions to be
complied with by Member States when importing from
third countries dogs, cats and other animals susceptible
to rabies are laid down in Directive 92/65/EEC (3);
whereas however the veterinary certification is not yet
harmonized;

(2) Whereas fatal cases of Hendra disease and Nipah disease
in human have been declared respectively in Australia
and in Malaysia;

(3) Whereas fruit bats of the genus Pteropus are considered
the natural host of Hendra disease virus and incrimi-
nated in being the virus reservoir for Nipah disease;
whereas however these mammals do not show clinical
signs of disease and may harbour the virus in the pres-
ence of neutralising antibodies;

(4) Whereas fruit bats are occasionally imported from third
countries; whereas pending Community animal health
conditions for imports from third countries of fruit bats,
it appears necessary to introduce certain protection
measures with regard to Hendra and Nipah diseases;

(5) Whereas Hendra disease may be transmitted by cats, and
dogs and cats contract Nipah disease; whereas the
exposure to the respective viruses stimulates seroconver-
sion in diseased and reconvalescent animals, which can
be detected by laboratory testing;

(6) Whereas the presence of this zoonotic disease in the
above countries is liable to constitute a danger for
persons and susceptible animals in the Community;

(1) OJ L 268, 24.9.1991, p. 56.
(2) OJ L 162, 1.7.1996, p. 1.
(3) OJ L 268, 14.9.1992, p. 54.

(7) Whereas it is necessary to adopt protection measures at
Communty level with regard to imports of fruit bats,
dogs and cats from Malaysia (Peninsula) and Australia;

(8) Whereas this decision is in accordance with the opinion

of the Standing Veterinary Committee,

HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:

Article 1

The imports of fruit bats of the genus Pteropus from

1.
Malaysia (Peninsula) and Australia are prohibited.

2.
Derogation from paragraph 1 and without prejudice to
the provisions of Council Directive 92/65/EEC, fruit bats of the
genus Pteropus may be imported under the following condi-
tions:

— the animals originate from captive colonies, and

— the animals have been isolated in quarantine premises for at

least 60 days, and

— the animals have been subjected with negative results to a
serum neutralisation or approved ELISA test for antibody
against Hendra and Nipah disease viruses, carried out in a
laboratory approved for these tests by the competent
authorities on samples of blood taken on two occasions
with an interval of 21 to 30 days, the second sample to be
taken within 10 days of export.

Article 2

The imports of dogs and cats from Malaysia (Peninsula)

1.
are prohibited.

Derogating from paragraph 1 dogs and cats may be

2.
imported under the following conditions:

— the animals had no contact with pigs during at least the

past 60 days prior to export, and

— the animals have not been resident on holdings where
during the past 60 days cases of Nipah disease have been
confirmed, and

— the animals have been subjected with negative result to an
IgM and IgG capture ELISA test carried out in a laboratory
approved for testing for antibody against the Nipah disease
viruses by the competent veterinary authorities on a sample
of blood taken within 10 days of export.

27. 7. 1999

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

L 194/67

Article 3

Article 4

1.

The imports of cats from Australia are prohibited.

Derogating from paragraph 1 cats may be imported

2.
under the following conditions:

— the animals have not been resident on holdings where
during the past 60 days cases of Hendra disease have been
confirmed, and

— the animals have been subjected with negative result to an
IgM and IgG capture ELISA test carried out in a laboratory
the Hendra
testing for antibody against
approved for
disease viruses by the competent veterinary authorities on a
sample of blood taken within 10 days of export.

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

They shall

inform the Commission thereof.

This Decision is addressed to Member States.

Article 5

Done at Brussels, 26 July 1999.

For the Commission

Franz FISCHLER

Member of the Commission