2000/552/EC: Commission Decision of 15 September 2000 on certain protection measures with regard to movement of equidae within and dispatch from certain parts of France affected by West Nile fever (notified under document number C(2000) 2712) (Text with EEA relevance)
Date: 2000-09-15
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: France, agricultural trade, animal disease, equidae, health control, veterinary inspection

L 234/48

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

16.9.2000

COMMISSION DECISION

of 15 September 2000

on certain protection measures with regard to movement of equidae within and dispatch from
certain parts of France affected by West Nile Fever

(notified under document number C(2000) 2712)

(Text with EEA relevance)

(2000/552/EC)

THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,

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 thereof,

Whereas:

(1)

(2)

(3)

(4)

(5)

In certain departments of France cases of West Nile
Fever, a non-contagious vector-transmitted viral disease
accompanied by clinical signs of encephalitis, have been
reported in horses.

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

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).

France has taken national measures to control
the
disease, however, additional restrictions shall be applied
until further results of epidemiological enquiries become
available. Since it is possible to identify geographically
areas presenting a particular risk, the restrictions on
movement of equidae should apply on a regional basis.

Pending the meeting of
the Standing Veterinary
Committee and in collaboration with the Member State
concerned the Commission should take interim protec-
tive measures with regard to equidae moving within and
out of the affected parts of the territory of France.

the areas specified in Annex I and shall not be moved out of or
transit through the areas specified in Annex I, unless they are
accompanied by an individual
animal health certificate
complying in the case of a registered equine animal with the
model
in Annex B or in the case of an equine animal for
breeding and production or slaughter with the model in Annex
C of that Directive.

2.
In addition to the provisions in paragraph 1, a supple-
mentary certificate in accordance with the specimen in Annex
II
to this Decision, duly completed and signed by the
competent veterinary authorities of the ‘département’, shall be
required for the movement of individual equidae within and
out of the areas specified in Annex I.

3.
The provisions in paragraph 2 shall not apply to trans-
port of equidae on main roads in transit without stopping
through the areas specified in Annex I to a certified destination
outside the areas specified in Annex I or directly to an airport
situated within the areas specified in Annex I for subsequent air
transport. During the transit and transhipment operations suit-
able measures must be taken to protect the equidae from
vector insects.

Article 2

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

They shall

inform the Commission thereof.

Article 3

This Decision shall apply until 31 October 2000.

(6)

This Decision shall be reviewed at the Standing Veter-
inary Committee scheduled for 3rd October 2000.

Article 4

This Decision is addressed to the Member States.

HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:

Article 1

1. Without prejudice to Article 8 of Directive 90/426/EEC,
equidae shall not be moved from a holding situated within the
areas specified in Annex I to another holding situated within

Done at Brussels, 15 September 2000.

For the Commission

David BYRNE

Member of the Commission

(1) OJ L 224, 18.8.1990, p. 29.
(2) OJ L 62, 15.3.1993, p. 49.
(3) OJ L 224, 18.8.1990, p. 42.

16.9.2000

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

L 234/49

ANNEX I

In France the ‘départements’ of:

— L'Hérault (34)
— Gard (30)
— Bouches-du Rhône (13)

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