1999/789/EC: Commission Decision of 3 December 1999 concerning certain protection measures relating to African swine fever in Portugal (notified under document number C(1999) 4224) (Text with EEA relevance)
Date: 1999-12-03
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: Portugal, animal plague, health control, swine, veterinary legislation

4. 12. 1999

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

L 310/71

COMMISSION DECISION

of 3 December 1999

concerning certain protection measures relating to African swine fever in Portugal

(notified under document number C(1999) 4224)

(Text with EEA relevance)

(1999/789/EC)

THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,

HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European
Community,

Having regard to Council Directive 90/425/EEC of 26 June
1990 concerning veterinary and zootechnical checks applicable
in intra-Community trade in certain live animals and products
with a view to the completion of the internal market (1), as last
amended by Directive 92/118/EEC (2), and in particular, Article
10(4) thereof,

Having regard to council Directive 89/662/EEC of 11
December 1989 concerning veterinary checks
in intra-
Community trade with a view to the completion of the internal
market (3), as last amended by Directive 92/118/EEC, and in
particular, Article 9(4) thereof,

Having regard to Council Directive 80/215/EEC of 22 January
1980 on animal health problems affecting intra-Community
trade in meat products (4) as last amended by Directive 91/
687/EEC (5), and in particular Article 7a(2) thereof,

(1) Whereas an outbreak of african swine fever occurred in
Portugal, region of Alentejo, municipality of Almodovar
on 15 November 1999;

(2) Whereas Portuguese authorities have put in place meas-
ures to eradicate the disease including slaughter and
destruction of all the pigs in the outbreak and in the
holdings located in a 3 km radius around the outbreak;

(3) Whereas the disease situation is liable to endanger the
herds in other areas of Portugal and of other Member
States, in view of trade in live pigs, fresh pigmeat and
certain meat-based products;

(4) Whereas

information provided by Portugal on the
African swine fever situation has made it possible to
identify geographically areas which present a particular
risk; whereas the restrictions on trade can apply on a
regional basis;

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

(1) OJ L 224, 18.8.1990, p. 29.
(2) OJ L 62, 15.3.1993, p. 49.
(3) OJ L 395, 30.12.1989, p. 13.
(4) OJ L 47, 21.2.1980, p. 4.
(5) OJ L 377, 31.12.1991, p. 161.

Article 1

1.
Portugal shall not send to other Member States live pigs
coming from a holding situated in those areas of the regions
Alentejo and Algarve described in the Annex.

2.
Portugal shall not send to other Member States live pigs
originating from a holding situated in the regions Alentejo and
Algarve outside those areas described in the Annex unless the
animals:

— come from a holding where no live pigs have been intro-
duced during the 30-day period immediately prior to the
dispatch of the pigs in question,

— have been included in a pre-movement serological testing
programme carried out within 10 days prior to transport
where no antibodies to the African swine fever virus have
been detected; the pre-movement testing programme for
the consignment in question must be designed to give
approximately 95 % confidence of detecting seropositive
animals at a 5 % prevalence level,

— have undergone a clinical examination on the holding of
origin within 24 hours prior to transport. All pigs on the
holding of origin shall be examined and related facilities be
inspected. The animals shall be identified by eartags at the
holding of origin so that they can be traced back to the
holding of origin,

— have been transported directly from the holding of origin
to the holding or slaugherhouse of destination. The means
of transport shall be cleaned and disinfected with an offi-
cially approved disinfectant before loading and shall be
officially sealed.

3.
Intra-Community movements of the animals referred to
in paragraph 2 shall only be allowed following three days
advance notification to the competent authority in the Member
State of destination.

Article 2

Live pigs originating from a holding situated in the areas
to other areas of

1.
described in the Annex cannot be sent
Portugal unless the animals:

— come from a holding located at a distance of at least
10 km from the outbreak of African swine fever which
ocurred on 15 November 1999 and from any eventual
following outbreak,

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Official Journal of the European Communities

4. 12. 1999

— are slaughtered at slaugherhhouses in the regions of Alen-
tejo and Algarve designated by the competent veterinary
authorities,

— come from a holding where no live pigs have been intro-
duced during the 30-day period immediately prior to the
dispatch of the pigs in question;

cially approved disinfectant before loading and shall be
officially sealed.

3.
Live pigs sent to other areas of Portugal in accordance
with paragraphs 1 and 2 must be accompained during trans-
port to the holding or slaugherhouse of destination by a health
document issued by an official veterinarian.

— have been included in a pre-movement serological testing
programme carried out within 10 days prior to transport
where no antibodies to the African swine fever virus have
been detected; the pre-movement testing programme for
the consignment in question must be desgined to give
approximately 95 % confidence of detecting seropositive
animals at a 5 % prevalence level,

— have undergone a clinical examination on the holding of
origin within 24 hours prior to transport. All pigs on the
holding of origin shall be examined and related facilities
must be inspected. The animals shall be identified by
eartags at the holding of origin so that they can be traced
back to the holding of origin,

— have been transported directly from the holding of origin
to the designated slaughterhouse. the means of transport
shall be cleaned and disinfected with an officially approved
disinfectant before loading and immediately after unloading
and shall be officially sealed.

2.
Live pigs originating from a holding situated in the
regions Alentejo and Algarve outside those areas described in
the Annex cannot be moved to other regions of Portugal unless
the animals:

— come from a holding where no live pigs have been intro-
duced during the 30-day period immediately prior to the
dispatch of the pigs in question,

— have been included in a pre-movement serologicial testing
programme carried out within 10 days prior to transport
where no antibodies to the African swine fever virus have
been detected; the pre-movement testing programme for
the consignment in question must be designed to give
approximately 95 % confidence of detecting seropositive
animals at a 5 % prevalence level,

— have undergone a clinical examination on the holding of
origin within 24 hours prior to transport. All pigs on the
holding of orign shall be examined and related facilities
must be inspected. The animals shall be identified by
eartags at the holding of origin so that they can be traced
back to the holding of origin,

— have been transported directly from the holding of origin
to the holding or slaughterhouse of destination. The means
of transport shall be cleaned and disinfected with an offi-

Article 3

1.
Portugal shall not send to other Member States fresh
pigmeat and pigmeat products obtained from pigs originating
from holdings situated in those areas described in the Annex.

2.
The restrictions described in paragraph 1 shall not apply
to meat products which have undergone one of the treatments
laid down in Article 4(1)(a) of Directive 80/215/EEC.

Article 4

1.
The health certificate provided for in Council Directive
64/432/EEC (1), as last amended by Directive 98/99/EC (2)
accompanying pigs sent from the regions Alentejo and Algarve
in Portugal
in accordance with Article 1(2) or from other
regions of Portugal to other Member States must be completed
with the following:

‘Animals in accordance with Commission Decision 1999/
789/EC concerning certain protection measures relating to
African swine fever in Portugal.’

2.
Fresh meat of pigs which come from holdings located in
areas of Portugal not listed in the Annex consigned from the
territory of Portugal to other Member States shall be accompa-
nied by a certificate from an official veterinarian. The certificate
shall bear the following words:

‘Meat conforming to Commission Decision 1999/789/EC
concerning certain protection measures relating to African
swine fever in Portugal.’

3. Meat products of pigs which come from holdings located
in areas of Portugal not listed in the Annex or that have
undergone one of the treatments laid down in Article 4(1)(a) of
Directive 801/215/EEC, consigned from the
territory of
Portugal to other Member States shall be accompanied by a
certificate from an official veterinarian. the certificate shall bear
the following words:

‘Meat products conforming to Commission Decision 1999/
789/EC concerning certain protection measures relating to
African swine fever in Portugal.’

Article 5

Portugal will submit a programme for the surveillance of
African swine fever in the regions Alentejo and Algarve to the
Commission by 3 December 1999.

Article 6

This Decision is applicable until 31 January 2000.

(1) JO L 121, 29.7.1964, p. 1977/64.
(2) OJ L 358, 31.12.1998, p. 107.

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Official Journal of the European Communities

L 310/73

The Member States shall amend the measures which they apply to trade so as to bring them into
compliance with this Decision. They shall

immediately inform the Commission thereof.

Article 7

This Decision is addressed to the Member States.

Article 8

Done at Brussels, 3 December 1999.

For the Commission

David BYRNE

Member of the Commission

ANNEX

Municipalities in Alentejo

Barrancos

Mértola

Moura

Serpa

Aljustrel

Almodôvar

Alvito

Beja

Castro Verde

Cuba

Ferreira do Alentejo

Ourique

Vidigueira

Muncipalities in Algarve

Loulé

Alcoutim

Silves