2000/111/EC: Commission Decision of 21 December 1999 designating a new antigen bank and making provisions for the transfer and storage of antigens within the framework of the Community action concerning reserves of foot-and-mouth disease vaccines (notified under document number C(1999) 4782
Date: 1999-12-21
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: EU stock, foot-and-mouth disease, research body, vaccine, veterinary legislation

8. 2. 2000

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

L 33/19

COMMISSION

COMMISSION DECISION

of 21 December 1999

designating a new antigen bank and making provisions for the transfer and storage of antigens
within the framework of the Community action concerning reserves of foot-and-mouth disease
vaccines

(notified under document number C(1999) 4782)

(2000/111/EC)

THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,

(3)

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European
Community,

Commission Decision 97/348/EC of 23 May 1997 for
foot-and-mouth
the purchase by the Community of
disease antigens and for the formulation, production,
bottling and distribution of vaccines against food-and-
mouth disease (7), details
the distribution of newly
purchased antigen to designated antigen banks.

Having regard to Council Decision 90/424/EEC of 26 June
1990 on expenditure in the veterinary field (1), as last amended
by Council Regulation (EC) No 1258/99 (2), and in particular
Article 14 thereof,

(4)

Having regard to Counicl Decision 91/666/EEC of 11
December 1991 establishing Community reserves of foot-and-
last amended by Council
mouth disease vaccines (3), as
Decision 1999/762/CE (4), and in particular Articles 3(1), third
indents and 7 thereof,

Whereas:

(1)

(2)

In accordance with Article 3 of Decision 91/666/EEC
the Commission, in accordance with the procedures laid
down in Article 10 of that Decision, may designate
premises for storage of Community reserves of foot-and-
mouth disease antigen as long as they comply with the
provisions of Articles 4 and 6 of that Decision.

antigens within

Article 3 of Commission Decision 93/590/EC of 5
November 1993, for the purchase of foot-and-mouth
the
framework
disease
Community action concerning reserves of
foot-and-
mouth disease vaccines (5), as last amended by Decision
95/471/EC (6), makes provisions for the antigen to be
stored at three specified locations.

the

of

the

Institute of Animal Health,
The premises of
Pirbright, United Kingdom, are no longer a designated
Community antigen bank. Moreover, the former antigen
bank at Pirbright refused to receive the quantities and
types of antigen assigned by Decision 97/348/EC and
this antigen has been stored in the premises of the
manufacturer Merial SAS, Pirbright.

(5) With a view to necessary expenses and the revision of
relevant legislation it appears appropriate to designate
the manufacturer of the antigen, Meril SAS, Pirbright
United Kingdom, as Community antigen bank and
consequently to make provisions for the transfer of
antigen stored at Institute for Animal Health, Pirbright,
United Kingdom, for storage in the premises of Merial
SAS, Pirbright.

(6)

The Director-General of the Directorate-General respon-
sible for Community veterinary legislation in the field of
animal health shall be authorised to sign contracts with
designated vaccine banks in private property.

(1) OJ L 224, 18.8.1990, p. 19.
(2) OJ L 160, 26.6.1999, p. 103.
(3) OJ L 368, 31.12.1991, p. 21.
(4) OJ L 301, 24.11.1999, p. 6.
(5) OJ L 280, 13.11.1993, p. 33.
(6) OJ L 269, 11.11.1995, p. 29.

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

(7) OJ L 148, 6.6.1997, p. 27.

L 33/20

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

8. 2. 2000

HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:

Article 1

1. Without prejudice to Article 3(1), first and second indent,
of Decision 91/666/EEC an antigen bank shall be established at
Merial SAS, Pirbright, United Kingdom.

2.
The quantities and types of antigen stored in accordance
with Decision 93/590/EC in the Community antigen bank at
Institute for Animal Health, Pirbright, United Kingdom, shall be
transferred for
storage to Merial SAS, Pirbright, United
Kingdom. The transfer shall be carried out under the respons-
ability of Merial SAS.

The antigen purchased by the Community and assigned
3.
to the Community antigen bank in the premises of the Institute
of Animal Health, Pirbright, in accordance with Decision 97/
348/EC shall be stored in the premises of Merial SAS, Pirbright,
United Kingdom.

the objectives of paragraphs 2 and 3,

To meet

4.
Commission shall conclude a contract,
European Community, with Merial SAS.

the
in the name of the

The Director-General of the Directorate-General respon-
5.
sible for Community veterinary legislation in the field of animal
health shall be authorised to sign the contract on the transfer
and storage of the quantities and types of antigen on behalf of
the Commission of the European Communities.

Article 2

This Decision shall apply from 1 February 2000.

Article 3

This Decision is addressed to the Member States.

Done at Brussels, 21 December 1999.

For the Commission

David BYRNE

Member of the Commission