2001/783/EC: Commission Decision of 9 November 2001 on protection and surveillance zones in relation to bluetongue, and on rules applicable to movements of animals in and from those zones (Text with EEA relevance) (notified under document number C(2001) 3421)
Date: 2001-11-09
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: EU control, animal disease, disease prevention, sheep, transport of animals, veterinary legislation

L 293/42

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

10.11.2001

COMMISSION DECISION

of 9 November 2001

on protection and surveillance zones in relation to bluetongue, and on rules applicable to move-
ments of animals in and from those zones

(notified under document number C(2001) 3421)

(Text with EEA relevance)

(2001/783/EC)

THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,

(6)

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European
Community,

Having regard to Council Directive 2000/75/EC of 20
November 2000 laying down specific provisions for
the
control and eradication of bluetongue (1), and in particular
Article 8(2)(d) and (3), Article 9(1)(c) and Article 12(1) thereof,

Whereas:

(1)

(2)

(3)

(4)

(5)

Following evidence of bluetongue outbreaks in four
Member States in 2000, Commission Decision 2001/
138/EC of 9 February 2001 establishing protection and
surveillance zones in the Community in relation with
bluetongue (2) was adopted pursuant to Directive 2000/
75/EC.

In the light of the evolution of the situation in the
Community and in particular in Italy, it is necessary to
modify the zones established by that Decision.

The geographical, ecological and epidemiological data
available in relation to the situation in Italy make it
possible to specifically demarcate the protection zones
in that Member State in accordance with Article 8(2)(d)
of Directive 2000/75/EC. The situation in Lazio and
Toscana, where a few isolated outbreaks have been regis-
tered, must be dealt with in a specific way with the aim
of eradicating the disease. Accordingly, movements into
those regions from the other regions infected with the
same serotype must not be allowed.

Three serotypes (4, 9, 16) have been isolated in Greece
in the past. Only serotype 9 has been isolated in the
south of Italy during 2001. Only serotype 2 has been
isolated in Corsica, Sardinia, northern continental Italy
and in the Balearic Islands.

Chapter 2.1.9 of the International Zoosanitary Code lays
down the conditions under which the dispatch from
infected zones of live animals of species susceptible to
bluetongue and their sperm, ova and embryos may take
place. Accordingly provision should be made for move-
ments from surveillance and protection zones in compli-
ance with those conditions, pursuant to Article 12 of
Directive 2000/75/EC.

(1) OJ L 327, 22.12.2000, p. 74.
(2) OJ L 50, 21.2.2001, p. 17.

In view of those different situations, it is necessary to
restricted areas corresponding to
demarcate distinct
protection zones with no movements from and between
them, and to prohibit dispatch from these areas, and
from the whole territory of Greece, unless the conditions
established under the International Zoosanitary Code are
met.

(7)

(8)

the epidemiological specificity of
Taking account of
is possible to
it
bluetongue (vector born disease)
live
envisage under strict conditions movements of
animals,
in particular animals for slaughter, between
infected and non-infected regions inside the territory of
a Member State.

Transit of animals through a restricted area for a short
period should be permitted under conditions protecting
the animals from vector attacks at all
times during
transit.

(9)

Decision 2001/138/EC should therefore be repealed.

(10)

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

HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:

Article 1

The purpose of this Decision is to establish restricted zones,
comprising protection and surveillance zones for the purposes
of Article 8 of Directive 2000/75/EC, to protect against blue-
tongue (BT) and to lay down rules on movements of animals of
species susceptible to bluetongue in and from those zones.

Article 2

The dispatch and transit of live animals of species susceptible
to bluetongue and their sperm, ova and embryos, are prohib-
ited:

— from or

through the territory corresponding to the

administrative units listed in Annex I A,

— from or

through the territory corresponding to the

administrative units listed in Annex I B,

10.11.2001

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Official Journal of the European Communities

L 293/43

— from or

through the territory corresponding to the

administrative units listed in Annex I C,

authorities may authorise movements of slaughtering animals
under the conditions that:

— from or

through the territory corresponding to the

administrative units listed in Annex I D.

Article 3

By way of derogation from Article 2, dispatches from the
1.
restricted zones set out in Annex I, of animals susceptible to
bluetongue, their sperm, ova and embryos shall be authorised
provided that they comply with the conditions laid down in
Annex II.

2.
In intra-Community trade, the Member State of origin
availing itself of this derogation shall ensure that the following
additional wording is added to the corresponding certificates
in Council Directives 64/432/EEC (1), 88/
laid
407/EEC (2), 89/556/EEC (3), 91/68/EEC (4) and 92/65/EEC (5):

down

‘in compliance with Decision 2001/783/EC’.

3. When in a Member State, no specific zones have been
demarcated in the frame of Article 2, internal movements of
animals
sperm, ova and
embryos, may be authorised by the competent authorities
the
the epidemiological
taking account of
prevailing situation.

susceptible to bluetongue,

specificity of

their

Article 4

By way of derogation from Article 2 and concerning dispatches
from the restricted zones set out in Annex I to regions not
in the same Member State, the national
listed in Annex I
live
competent authorities may authorise movements of
animals when:

— the surveillance and monitoring programme in an epide-
miological relevant area of origin has proved the cessation
of bluetongue virus (BTV) transmission or of adult Culi-
coides activity, and

— the vector surveillance programme in an epidemiological
relevant area of destination has proved the cessation of
adult Culicoides activity.

Member States using this derogation shall set up a channelized
procedure, under the control of competent authorities of origin
and destination, in order to prevent any further movement to
another Member State of animals moved under the conditions
provided in this Article.

Article 5

By way of derogation from Article 2 and concerning dispatches
from restricted zones set out in Annex I to regions not listed in
Annex I in the same Member State, the national competent

(a) no virus circulation has been demonstrated in an area of at
least 20 km surrounding the farm of origin for at least 100
days before the transport;

(b) the animals to be moved do not show any sign of blue-

tongue on the day of transport;

(c) the animals must be transported in vehicles sealed by the
competent authority directly to the slaughterhouse for the
purpose of slaughter without delay, under official supervi-
sion;

(d) the competent authority responsible for the slaughterhouse
should be informed of the intention to send animals to it
and must notify the dispatching competent authority of
their arrival.

Article 6

In the case of dispatch of animals originating from an area of
the Community outside the restricted zones set out in Annex I,
when the route plan indicates that part of the journey will pass
through a restricted zone set out in Annex I, an insecticide
treatment of the animals and the means of transport shall be
carried out at the place of loading or in any case prior to
entering the restricted zone.

When, during transit through a restricted zone, a rest period is
foreseen in a staging post, insecticide treatment shall be carried
out in order to protect animals from any attack by vectors.

For animals which transit
the
following additional wording shall be added to the corre-
sponding certificates laid down in Directives 64/432/EEC, 91/
68/EEC and 92/65/EEC:

through a restricted zone,

‘Insecticide treatment with (name of the product) on (date)
at (time) in conformity with Decision 2001/783/EC’

The provisions of this article shall apply subject to the author-
isation of the competent authorities of the Member State of
destination and transit.

Article 7

The Member States shall ensure that the measures they apply to
trade are in compliance with this Decision and inform the
Commission thereof.

(1) OJ 121, 29.7.1964, p. 1977/64.
(2) OJ L 194, 22.7.1988, p. 10.
(3) OJ L 302, 19.10.1989, p. 1.
(4) OJ L 46, 19.2.1991, p. 19.
(5) OJ L 268, 14.9.1992, p. 54.

Article 8

Decision 2001/138/EC is repealed.

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Official Journal of the European Communities

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This Decision is addressed to the Member States.

Article 9

Done at Brussels, 9 November 2001.

For the Commission

David BYRNE

Member of the Commission

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Official Journal of the European Communities

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ANNEX I

(Protection zones and surveillance zones)

ANNEX I A

Italy

Sicilia: Agrigento, Caltanisetta, Catania, Enna, Messina, Palermo, Ragusa, Siracusa e Trapani

Calabria: Catanzaro, Cosenza, Crotone, Reggio Calabria, Vibo Valentia

Basilicata: Matera, Potenza

Puglia: Bari, Brindisi, Foggia, Lecce, Taranto

Campania: Avellino, Benevento, Caserta, Napoli, Salerno

France:

Corse-du-sud, Haute-Corse

Spain:

Baleares

Italy:

Sardegna: Cagliari, Nuoro, Sassari, Oristano

Lazio: provinces of Viterbo, Latina, Roma

Toscana: province of Grosseto

Greece: all nomos

ANNEX I B

ANNEX I C

ANNEX I D

L 293/46

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Official Journal of the European Communities

10.11.2001

ANNEX II

Conditions applying to dispatch from restricted areas of animals of species susceptible to bluetongue their
sperm, ova and embryos

A. Live animals must have been:

1. protected from Culicoides attack for at least 100 days prior to shipment, or

2. protected from Culicoides attack for at least 28 days prior to shipment, and subjected during that period to a
serological test to detect antibodies to the BTV group, such as the BT competition ELISA or the BT AGID test, with
negative results on two occasions, with an interval of not less than seven days between each test, the first test being
carried out at least 21 days after introduction into the quarantine station, or

3. protected from Culicoides attack for at least 14 days prior to shipment, and subjected during that period to a BTV
isolation test or polymerase chain reaction test, with negative results, on blood samples taken on two occasions,
with an interval of not less than seven days between each test, the first test being carried out at least seven days
after introduction into the quarantine station,

and

4. protected from Culicoides attack during transportation to the place of shipment.

B. Semen must have been obtained from donors which have been:

1. protected from Culicoides attack for at least 100 days before commencement of, and during, collection of the

semen, or

2. subjected to a serological test to detect antibodies to the BTV group such as the BT competition ELISA or the BT
AGID test, with negative results, at least every 60 days throughout the collection period and between 28 and 60
days after the final collection for this consignment, or

3. subjected to a virus isolation test or polymerase chain reaction (PCR)

test on blood samples collected at
commencement and conclusion of, and at least every seven days (virus isolation test) or at least every 28 days (PCR
test) during, semen collection for this consignment, with negative results.

C. Ovas and embryos must have been obtained from donors which have been:

1. protected from Culicoides attack for at least 100 days before commencement of, and during, collection of the

embryos/ovas, or

2. subjected to a serological test to detect antibodies to the BTV group such as the BT competition ELISA or the BT

AGID test, between 28 and 60 days after collection with negative results, or

3. subjected to a BTV isolation test or polymerase chain reaction test on a blood sample taken on the day of

collection, with negative results.