2000/598/EC: Commission Decision of 3 October 2000 concerning certain protection measures against bluetongue in Sardinia, Italy (notified under document number C(2000) 2899) (Text with EEA relevance)
Date: 2000-10-03
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: Italy, Sardinia, animal disease, health control, sheep, veterinary legislation

7.10.2000

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

L 253/47

COMMISSION

COMMISSION DECISION

of 3 October 2000

concerning certain protection measures against bluetongue in Sardinia, Italy

(notified under document number C(2000) 2899)

(Text with EEA relevance)

(2000/598/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 the veterinary and zootechnical checks
applicable to intra-Community trade of certain live animals and
products for the completion of the internal market (1),
last
amended by Directive 92/118/EEC (2) and in particular Article
10(4),

Whereas:

(4)

(5)

(6)

Bluetongue is included in List A of the Office Inter-
national des Epizooties (OIE) and its spread constitutes a
serious hazard for the Community and could have inter-
national consequences for trade.

For reasons of clarity and transparency it is advisable to
adopt at Community level disease control measures
concerning the movement of animals of the bluetongue
susceptible species and of their semen, ova and embryos
from the territory of Sardinia. These measures reflect the
measures already adopted by the Italian authorities.

The meassures provided for in this Decision are in
conformity with the opinion of the Standing Veterinary
Committee,

(1)

(2)

(3)

On 25 August 2000 Italy informed the Commission on
a number of suspected clinical cases of bluetongue in
sheep holdings in the province of Cagliari,
in the
southern part of the island of Sardinia; the occurence of
bluetongue was confirmed on 30 August 2000.

HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:

Article 1

Italian authorities adopted on 28 August 2000 a ban of
movements of the bluetongue susceptible species, of
their semen, ova and embryos from the territory of
Sardinia, in order to avoid any spread of disease from
this island. Rigorous restrictions on the movements of
the bluetongue susceptible species have also been
enforced within Sardinia.

Further disease control measures have been adopted in
relation to this outbreak by the Italian authorities,
including the establishment of protection and surveil-
lance zones, epidemiological investigations and specific
studies aimed at establishing the distribution of blue-
tongue virus vectors and the potential spread of disease
into Sardinia.

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

Italy shall prohibit the dispatch of animals of the bluetongue
susceptible species (all ruminants), of their semen, embryos and
ova from the territory of Sardinia.

Article 2

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

immediately inform the Commission thereof.

Article 3

This Decision shall be reviewed in the light of the evolution of
the situation and the results of the investigations and studies
carried out by the Italian authorities. This Decision shall apply
until 30 November 2000.

L 253/48

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

7.10.2000

This Decision is addressed to the Member States.

Article 4

Done at Brussels, 3 October 2000.

For the Commission

David BYRNE

Member of the Commission