2001/433/EC: Commission Decision of 21 May 2001 for purchase by the Community of bluetongue vaccine and restocking of the Community bank (notified under document number C(2001) 1440)
Date: 2001-05-21
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: Italy, South Africa, animal disease, import (EU), sheep, stock, vaccination, vaccine

9.6.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

L 154/61

for purchase by the Community of bluetongue vaccine and restocking of the Community bank

COMMISSION DECISION

of 21 May 2001

(notified under document number C(2001) 1440)

(2001/433/EC)

THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European
Community,

Having regard to Council Directive 2000/75/EC (1) laying down
specific provisions for the control and eradication of blue-
tongue 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 2001/12/EC (3), and in particular Article
3(3) and (5),

(8)

(9)

Whereas:

and

2001/141/CE,

Decision
from the
Community bank of 750 000 doses established in agree-
ment with Commission Decision 2001/69/EC (5),
the
remaining 50 000 doses of which have been sent to
Corsica (France).

700 000

Due to the emergency, Italian authorities have directly
(2) and
purchased 1 100 000 doses of monovalent
1 200 000 doses of bivalent (2 and 9) vaccine, with the
agreement of the Commission.

the Italian
The Commission furthermore authorises
authorities to set up a security bank of 100 000 doses of
monovalent (2) and 300 000 doses of bivalent (2 and 9)
vaccine, and to purchase directly the vaccine at this end.

In a first stage, Italian authorities decided on the basis of
the epidemiological situation, to perform a vaccination
campaign in Sicily, Calabria and Basilicate.

(10) At

this stage the Italian needs for carrying out

the

campaign are covered.

Originally the need for this campaign was of 1 700 000
doses of monovalent type 2 vaccine, and Decision 2001/
141/EC (4) has been adopted to provide Italy with the
necessary vaccine.

(11) Nevertheless, the Community bank has to be restocked
with 1 000 000 doses of monovalent (2) vaccine,
in
order to face a possible extension of the outbreaks in
new regions.

On the 5 of March Italy notified to the Commission the
existence of serotype 9 in eastern Calabria and this new
epidemiological situation makes that the need of vaccine
in this region is now of 1 200 000 doses of bivalent
vaccine (2 and 9) and 500 000 doses of monovalent
type 2.

(12) No bluetongue vaccine is produced by the pharmaceut-
ical
industry based in the Community, the Onderste-
poort laboratory in South Africa being the only labora-
tory wich may produce that type of monovalent vaccine
(attenuated vaccine) with the serotype 2.

Furthermore, on 12 February 2001, Italian authorities
informed the Commission of their intention to extend
the vaccination campaign to Sardinia in spring 2001.

(13)

The amount of vaccine necessary to carry out
this
campaign in Sardinia is 3 000 000 doses of monovalent
bluetongue vaccine serotype 2.

The total need of Italy to perform these campaigns is
therefore of 3 500 000 doses of monovalent (2) and
1 200 000 bivalent (2 and 9) vaccine.

2 400 000 doses of monovalent (2) vaccine have been
already provided to Italy by the Commission, 1 700 000
initially intended to be used in Calabria, in the frame of

Pursuant to Council Regulation (EC) No 1258/1999 (6),
veterinary and plant health measures undertaken in
accordance with Community rules shall be financed
under the Guarantee Section of the European Agricul-
tural Guidance and Guarantee Fund. For
financial
control purposes, Articles 8 and 9 of that Regulation
apply.

(14)

The financial contribution from the Community should
only be granted if the actions planned are carried out
efficiently, and the authorities supply all the necessary
information within the time limits laid down.

(15)

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

(5) OJ L 23, 25.1.2001, p. 32.
(6) OJ L 160, 26.6.1999, p. 103.

(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 50, 21.2.2001, p. 23.

(1)

(2)

(3)

(4)

(5)

(6)

(7)

L 154/62

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

9.6.2001

HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:

Article 1

The Community bank of bluetongue vaccine serotype 2 shall
be restocked with 1 000 000 doses of vaccine.

Article 2

The maximum cost of the measure referred to in Article 1 shall
be EUR 100 000.

Article 3

The Director General for Health and Consumer Protection shall
be authorised to make arrangements with Onderstepoort labo-
ratory in South Africa for the purchase, storage and air freight
to a Member State, of 1 000 000 doses of monovalent blue-
tongue vaccine (serotype 2).

Article 4

Italy will implement in spring 2001 a vaccination campaign
against bluetongue in Sardinia and 1 200 000 doses of the
monovalent (2) vaccine initially provided to perform the vacci-
nation in Calabria in the frame of Decision 2001/141/CE will
be affected to this campaign.

Article 5

The Commission may carry out on the spot checks in Italy in
collaboration with the competent national authorities to ensure
that the program referred to in article 4 has been implemented.

The Commission shall
outcome of these checks.

inform the Member States of

the

Article 6

The financial contribution of the Community for the program
referred to under Article 4 shall be granted subject to:

(a) bringing into force by 1 April 2001 the laws, regulations
and administrative provisions necessary for the imple-
mentation of the programme,

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

(c) implementing the programme efficiently, and respecting

Community veterinary legislation.

Article 7

This Decision is addressed to the Member States.

Done at Brussels, 21 May 2001.

For the Commission

David BYRNE

Member of the Commission