2000/624/EC: Commission Decision of 13 October 2000 on certain protective measures against bluetongue in the Autonomous Community of the Balearic Islands, Spain (notified under document number C(2000) 3061) (Text with EEA relevance)
Date: 2000-10-13
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: Balearic Islands, animal disease, animal product, export restriction, live animal, public health

14.10.2000

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

L 260/57

COMMISSION DECISION

of 13 October 2000

on certain protective measures against bluetongue in the Autonomous Community of the Balearic
Islands, Spain

(notified under document number C(2000) 3061)

(Text with EEA relevance)

(2000/624/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(3) thereof,

Whereas:

(1)

(2)

(3)

(4)

(5)

On 10 October 2000, Spain confirmed to the Commis-
sion that there had been cases of bluetongue on sheep
holdings on the islands of Majorca and Minorca in the
Balearic archipelago.

To prevent
the Spanish
the disease from spreading,
authorities have banned the movement from the terri-
tory of the Autonomous Community of the Balearic
Islands of animals of species susceptible to bluetongue
and their sperm, ova and embryos.

Bluetongue appears on List A of the International office
of Epizootics (IOE). Its spread would be a grave risk to
the Community and could have an international impact
on trade.

For the sake of clarity and transparency, Community
measures should be adopted to prevent the spread of the
disease, particularly with regard to movements from the
territory of the Autonomous Community of the Balearic
Islands of animals of species susceptible to bluetongue
and their sperm, ova and embryos. Such measures will
take account of the measures already adopted by the
spanish authorities.

a meeting

Pending
Standing Veterinary
Committee and in collaboration with the Member State
the Commission should take provisional
concerned,

the

of

protective measures with regard to movements of live
animals of susceptible species from the territory of the
Autonomous Community of the Balearic Islands,

HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:

Article 1

Spain hereby bans the movement from the territory of the
Autonomous Community of the Balearic Islands animals of
species susceptible to bluetongue and their sperm, ova und
embryos.

Article 2

Member States shall amend the measures they apply to trade so
that
immediately
inform the Commission thereof.

they confirm to this Decision and shall

Article 3

This Decision will be reviewed in the light of developments and
of investigations and studies carried out by the Spanish author-
ities.

This Decision will be reviewed during the Standing Veterinary
Committee meeting planned for 18 October 2000.

This Decision is addressed to the Member States.

Article 4

Done at Brussels, 13 October 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.