2000/551/EC: Commission Decision of 15 September 2000 on certain protection measures with regard to equidae coming from certain parts of the United States of America affected by West Nile fever (notified under document number C(2000) 2711) (Text with EEA relevance)
Date: 2000-08-24
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: United States, animal disease, equidae, health control, originating product, veterinary inspection

L 234/46

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

16.9.2000

COMMISSION DECISION

of 15 September 2000

on certain protection measures with regard to equidae coming from certain parts of the United
States of America affected by West Nile fever

(notified under document number C(2000) 2711)

(Text with EEA relevance)

(2000/551/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,

Whereas:

(1)

(2)

(3)

(4)

Council Directive 90/426/EEC of 26 June 1990 lays
down the animal health conditions governing the move-
ment and import from third countries of equidae (3).

In certain states of the United States of America cases of
West Nile fever, a non-contagious vector-transmitted
viral disease accompanied by clinical signs of encepha-
litis, have been reported in horses.

The presence of this disease is liable to constitute a
danger for humans and equidae.

Pending the meeting of
the Standing Veterinary
Committee the Commission should take interim protec-
tive measures with regard to equidae coming from the
affected parts of the territory of the United States of
America,

HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:

equidae, coming from areas in the United States of America
specified in Annex I to this Decision, a supplementary certifi-
cate in accordance with the specimen in Annex II to this
Decision, duly completed and signed by the central competent
veterinary authorities of the United States, shall be required for
individual equidae.

2.
The provisions in paragraph 1 shall not apply to equidae
coming from areas outside those specified in Annex I and
which are transported on main roads in transit without stop-
ping through the areas specified in Annex I directly to an
airport situated within the areas specified in Annex I for subse-
quent air transport to the Community. During the transit and
transhipment operations suitable measures must be taken to
protect the equidae from vector insects.

Article 2

Member States shall amend the measures they apply with
regard to the United States of America to bring them into line
with this Decision.

They shall

inform the Commission thereof.

Article 3

This Decision shall apply until 31 October 2000.

This Decision is adressed to the Member States.

Article 4

Article 1

Done at Brussels, 15 September 2000.

1.
In addition to the animal health certificate required in
accordance with Council Directive 90/426/EEC for the tempo-
rary admission of registered horses, the re-entry after tempo-
rary export of registered horses and the imports and transit of

For the Commission

David BYRNE

Member of the Commission

(1) OJ L 268, 24.9.1991, p. 56.
(2) OJ L 162, 1.7.1996, p. 149.
(3) OJ L 224, 18.8.1990, p. 42.

16.9.2000

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

L 234/47

ANNEX I

In the United States of America the States of:

including New York City

— New York,
— New Jersey
— Massachusetts
— Connecticut
— Rhode Island

ANNEX II

Supplementary Certificate

Reference Number of Animal Health Certificate: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

The equine animal described in the above mentioned animal health certificate complies with one of
the following conditions:

(1) Either it comes from a holding situated in the centre of an area of at least 50 km radius around
that holding where there was no case of West Nile fever reported in equidae during the past 15
days, and had no contact during the preceding 15 days with equidae which have been resident
on holdings where West Nile fever was confirmed during the previous 30 days (1),

or

(2) it comes from a holding situated within an area of 50 km radius around a holding on which
West Nile fever was confirmed in equidae during the previous 30 days and has prior to dispatch

— either undergone pre-movement isolation under vector-protected conditions for a period
of at least 21 days and during that period the body temperature taken daily remained within
the normal physiological range and has been subjected to a IG-M capture ELISA test for the
detection of antibodies against West Nile virus with negative result, carried out on a blood
sample taken not earlier than 17 days from the date the isolation commenced (1),

or

— been subjected to two capture ELISA tests for the detection of antibodies against West Nile
virus, with negative result in the case of IG-M capture ELISA, and with positive result at a
serum dilution of 1 in 100 in the case of IG-G caputre ELISA, carried out on a blood sample
taken within 21 days of dispatch (1).

Date and place

Name and function

Signature of the official veterinarian

(1) Delete as appropriate