1999/559/EC: Commission Decision of 10 August 1999 on a financial contribution of the Community to the eradication of bluetongue in Greece in case of a new incursion of the disease (notified under document number C(1999) 2622) (Only the Greek text is authentic)
Date: 1999-08-10
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: EU aid, Greece, animal disease, financial aid, sheep

11. 8. 1999

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

L 211/55

COMMISSION DECISION

of 10 August 1999

on a financial contribution of the Community to the eradication of bluetongue in Greece in case of
a new incursion of the disease

(notified under document number C(1999) 2622)

(Only the Greek text is authentic)

(1999/559/EC)

THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European
Community,

Having regard to Council Decision 90/424/EC (1) pertaining to
certain expenditure in the veterinary field, as last amended by
Decision 94/370/EC (2), and in particular its Article 6,

(1) Whereas bluetongue outbreaks were recorded between
the end of October and the beginning of December
1998 on the Rhodes, Kos and Leros islands,
in the
prefecture of the Dodecanese and in the prefecture of
Samos;

(2) Whereas

these outbreaks were due to wind-borne

infected vectors from abroad;

(9) Whereas for the ovine and caprine species, this elimina-
tion should be achieved by the destruction of flocks
where evidence of the disease has been proved;

(10) Whereas these stamping out measures are not adapted
to an epidemic situation and should be reconsidered if
such situation arises;

(11) Whereas ten outbreaks on the same island should be

considered as an epidemic situation;

(12) Whereas it

is advisable to continue the operations
intended to reduce the vector populations by concen-
trating these actions on the sites particularly favourable
to the reproduction of the vectors;

(13) Whereas the measures provided for in this Decision are
in conformity with the opinion of the Standing Veter-
inary Committee,

(3) Whereas emergency measures were taken by the Greek
authorities
the
financial
Community in the cost of these measures was fixed by
Decision 99/221/EC (3), of 9 March 1999;

contribution of

and the

(4) Whereas the precautionary measures concerning the
movement of live animals of susceptible species and
some products thereof in the regions concerned have
been laid down in Decision 1999/293/EC (4) of 29 April
1999;

(5) Whereas the last clinical cases of bluetongue were
recorded at the beginning of December 1998;

(6) Whereas it is advisable to establish a warning system in
order to demonstrate at the earliest possible moment
any new development of the virus coming from abroad;

(7) Whereas in case of reappearance of the disease it is
necessary to take emergency measures to prevent its
further spread by eliminating the source of the virus;

(8) Whereas for the bovine species, this elimination should
be achieved by the destruction of the sentinel animals
which have seroconverted and the seronegative animals
being held on the same holding;

(1) OJ L 224, 18.8.1990, p. 19.
(2) OJ L 168, 2.7.1994, p. 31.
(3) OJ L 82, 26.3.1999, p. 44.
(4) OJ L 114, 1.5.1999, p. 55.

HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:

Article 1

Greece shall establish, with effect from 1 July 1999, groups of
sentinel bovine animals in the localities most exposed to the
risk of a new incursion of the disease. These groups will be set
up as follows:

— 10 groups of five animals in Rhodes and in Kos;

— five groups of five animals in Samos;

— two groups of five animals in Leros.

Greece shall communicate to the Commission before 1 August
1999 a map of the regions concerned indicating the selected
locations.

Sentinel animals shall be serologically tested every fifteen days
and any seroconversion shall be immediately notified to the
Commission and the Member States.

Article 2

Greece shall ensure the destruction of:

— all sentinel bovines which have seroconverted and all sero-

negative bovines in the same holding or holdings,

— all sheep in flocks with any evidence of bluetongue.

L 211/56

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

11. 8. 1999

Article 3

Greece shall establish a campaign against the vector population
by treating with insecticide all the breeding sites of Culicoides
imicola in the vicinity of holdings where cattle are kept or bred.

Article 4

The participation of the Community in the cost of the meas-
ures intended to reveal as early as possible any incursion of
bluetongue virus and to prevent any new dissemination of the
disease, and implemented up to 15 September 1999, up to a
maximum amount of EUR 0,3 millions shall be:
— 50 % of the cost incurred for serological analysis of the
sentinel bovine animals set up in accordance with Article 2,
incurred by Greece in compensating
owners for the slaughter and destruction of sentinel bovines
which have seroconverted and the seronegative cattle in the
same holding or holdings,
the cost

incurred by Greece in compensating
owners for the slaughter and destruction of sheep flocks
where any evidence of the disease has been confirmed up
to a maximum of ten per island,

— 50 % of

— 50 % of

the cost

— 50 % of the cost incurred by Greece for the desinsectisation

of the breeding sites of the vectors,

— 50 % of the cost incurred by Greece for the operations after
8 January 1999 and necessary for the completion of the
serosurveillance programme envisaged in the Annex to
Decision 99/221/EC.

Article 5

The Community's financial contribution shall be granted

1.
after supporting documents have been submitted.

2.
shall

The supporting documents referred to in paragraph 1
include

animals slaughtered, their date of slaughter, the amount
paid out (excluding VAT) and the date of payment,
— for other measures covered by the financial participa-
tion of the Community, a list of the expenses, including
description of the measures and the date of payment

(c) a report certifying the implementation of the measures

provided for in Articles 1, 2 and 3.

Article 6

Applications for payment, together with the supporting docu-
ments referred to in Article 5, shall be submitted to the
Commission before 1 March 2000.

Article 7

1.
The Commission may carry out on-site checks in collab-
oration with the competent national authorities to ensure that
the assisted measures have been implemented and the relevant
expenditure incurred.

The Commission shall
outcome of these checks.

inform the Member States of

the

Articles 8 and 9 of Council Regulation (EEC) No 729/70
2.
of 21 April 1970 on the financing of the common agricultural
policy (1) shall apply mutatis mutandis.

Article 8

This Decision will be reconsidered, on the initiative of Greece
or of the Commission, if the situation justifies the implementa-
tion of new measures and in particular in case of an epidemic
situation.

This Decision is addressed to the Hellenic Republic.

Article 9

(a) an epidemiological report on each holding where slaugh-

Done at Brussels, 10 August 1999.

tering has taken place

(b) a financial report listing in particular

— for compensation, the list of the beneficiaries and their
species and categories of

the number,

addresses,

For the Commission

Franz FISCHLER

Member of the Commission

(1) OJ L 94, 28.4.1970, p. 13.