2000/695/EC: Commission Decision of 31 October 2000 amending Decision 2000/551/EC 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) 3161) (Text with EEA relevance)
Date: 2000-10-31
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: United States, animal disease, equidae, health control, originating product, veterinary inspection

L 286/42

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

11.11.2000

COMMISSION DECISION

of 31 October 2000

amending Decision 2000/551/EC 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) 3161)

(Text with EEA relevance)

(2000/695/EC)

THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,

(5)

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(7) thereof,

The measures provided for in this Decision are in
accordance with the opinion of the Standing Veterinary
Committee,

HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:

Article 1

Annex II to Decision 2000/551/EC is replaced by the Annex to
this Decision.

Whereas:

Article 2

(1)

(2)

(3)

(4)

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.

The Commission therefore adopted Decision 2000/
551/EC 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 (3).

In order to adapt the measures to the current epidemio-
logical situation and the test requirements to the tech-
nique used in the exporting country, it is necessary to
amend Commission Decision 2000/551/EC on certain
protection measures with regard to equidae coming
from the United States of America.

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.

This Decision shall apply until 30 November 2000.

Article 3

This Decision is adressed to the Member States.

Article 4

Done at Brussels, 31 October 2000.

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. 1.
(3) OJ L 234, 16.9.2000, p. 46.

11.11.2000

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

L 286/43

ANNEX

‘ANNEX II

Supplementary certificate

Reference No of animal health certificate: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

The equine animal described in the abovementioned 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 30 km radius around
that holding where no case of West Nile fever has been reported in equidae during the past 15
days, and has had no contact during the preceding 15 days with equidae which have been
resident on holdings where West Nile fever has been confirmed during the previous 30 days (1),

or

(2) it comes from a holding situated within an area of 30 km radious around a holding on which
West Nile fever has been 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, or since entry from a Member State of the European Community, and
during that period the body temperature taken daily remained within the normal physiolo-
gical 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 not more than five
days prior to dispatch if entered from a Member State of the European Community for a
period of less than 21 days (1),

or

— been subjected to two tests for the detection of antibodies against West Nile virus, with
negative result in the case of IG-M capture ELISA, and with positive reuslt at a serum
dilution of 1 in 100 in the case of either a IG-G capture ELISA (1), or a plaque-reduction
neutralisation test (1), 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’