2001/141/EC: Commission Decision of 20 February 2001 for the implementation of a bluetongue vaccination programme in certain parts of the protection zone in Italy and the purchase by the Community of vaccine for this purpose (notified under document number C(2001) 424)
Date: 2001-02-20
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: EU aid, animal disease, financial aid, regions of Italy, sheep, vaccination, veterinary legislation

21.2.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

L 50/23

COMMISSION DECISION

of 20 February 2001

for the implementation of a bluetongue vaccination programme in certain parts of the protection
zone in Italy and the purchase by the Community of vaccine for this purpose

(notified under document number C(2001) 424)

(Only the Italian text is authentic)

(2001/141/EC)

THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European
Community,

Having regard to Council Directive 2000/75/EC of 20
November 2000 (1)
laying down specific provisions for the
control and eradiction of bluetongue, and in particular Article
9(2),

Having regard to Council Decision 90/424/EEC of 26 June
1990 on expenditure in the veterinary field (2), as last amended
by Council Decision 2000/12/EC (3), and in particular Article
3(3) and (5),

Whereas:

(1)

(2)

(3)

(4)

(5)

(6)

(7)

During the year 2000 bluetongue outbreaks were noti-
fied in different
Italian regions: Sardinia, Sicily and
Calabria.

Italian authorities informed the Commission on the 19
December 2000 that they intended to perform in 2001
a vaccination campaign in Calabria and Basilicate
regions and in the province of Salerno.

The objective of this campaign is to prevent a spread of
the discase on the rest of the territory of the Community
by interrupting the virus circulation in the protection
zone demarcated around the outbreaks in Calabria.

The amount of vaccine necessary to carry on this
campaign is of 1 700 000 doses of monovalent blue-
tongue vaccine serotype 2.

No bluetongue vaccine is produced by the pharmaceut-
ical

industry based in the Member States.

The Onderstepoort Laboratory in South Africa is the
only laboratory which may produce that type of mono-
valent vaccine (attenuated vaccine) with the serotype 2.

Pursuant to Article 3(2) of Council Regulation (EC) No
1258/1999 (4), veterinary and plant health measures
undertaken in accordance with Community rules shall
be financed under the Guarantee Section of the Euro-
pean Agricultural Guidance and Guaranteee Fund. For
financial control purposes, Articles 8 and 9 of Council
Regulation (CE) No 1258/1999 apply.

(1) OJ L 327, 22.12.2000, p. 74.
(2) OJ L 224, 18.8.1990, p. 19.
(3) OJ L 3, 6.1.2001, p. 27.
(4) OJ L 160, 26.6.1999, p. 103.

(8)

(9)

The financial contribution from the Community shall be
granted provided that the actions planned are efficiently
carried out and that the authorities supply all the neces-
sary information within the time limits laid down.

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

HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:

Article 1

Italy will implement in spring 2001 a vaccination programme
against bluetonge in Calabria and Basilicate regions and in the
Salerno province.

Article 2

For the implementation of the programme referred to in Article
1 the financial assistance from the Community will cover the
supply to Italy of 1 700 000 doses of monovalent vaccine
serotype 2.

Article 3

The maximum cost of the measures referred to in Article 2
shall be up to EUR 140 000.

Article 4

1.
For the vaccination programme referred to in Article 1
the Director-General of the Directorate-General for Health and
Consumer Protection shall be authorised to make arrangements
the
with Onderstepoort Laboratory in South Africa for
purchase of 1 700 000 doses of monovalent bluetongue
vaccine (serotype 2).

The arrangements referred to in paragraph 1 shall include

2.
the airfreight to Italy.

Article 5

The Commission may carry out on-the-spot checks in collab-
oration with the competent national authorities to ensure that
the programme has been implemented.

The Commission shall
outcome of these checks.

inform the Member States of

the

L 50/24

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

21.2.2001

Article 6

(c) implementing the programme efficiently, and provided that
Community veterinary legislation has been respected.

financial

The
the
programme referred to under Article 1 shall be granted subjet
to:

the Community for

contribution of

(a) bringing into force by 1 April 2001 the laws, regulations
and administrative provisions by the Member State
concerned for implementing the programme,

(b) forwarding a final report by 1 July 2001 at the latest on the
technical execution of
the programme accompanied by
justifying evidence as to the costs incurred and the results
attained,

This Decisione is addressed to the Italian Republic.

Article 7

Done at Brussels, 20 February 2001.

For the Commission

David BYRNE

Member of the Commission