2002/989/EC: Commission Decision of 18 December 2002 concerning a specific financial contribution by the Community relating to the surveillance programme of campylobacter in broilers presented by Sweden for the year 2003 (notified under document number C(2002) 5086)
Date: 2002-12-18
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: Sweden, animal disease, financial aid, health control, poultry, zoonosis

19.12.2002

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

L 344/45

COMMISSION DECISION

of 18 December 2002

concerning a specific financial contribution by the Community relating to the surveillance
programme of campylobacter in broilers presented by Sweden for the year 2003

(notified under document number C(2002) 5086)

(only the Swedish text is authentic)

(2002/989/EC)

THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European
Community,

Having regard to Council Decision 90/424/EEC of 26 June
1990 on expenditure in the veterinary field (1), as last amended
by Council Decision 2001/572/EC of 23 July 2001 (2) and, in
particular, Article 19 and Article 20 thereof,

Whereas:

(1)

(2)

(3)

(4)

(5)

The protection of human health against diseases and
infections directly or
from
animals to man (zoonoses) is of paramount importance.

indirectly transmissible

The Community is currently in the process of reviewing
its policy on the control and prevention of zoonoses.

In this framework, the Scientific Committee on Veter-
inary Measures relating to Public Health was requested
to express an opinion on the basis of zoonoses control
policies, where special attention should be paid to the
assessment of risks related to zoonotic diseases causing
major concern to public health.

In its conclusions of the opinion of 12 April 2000, the
Scientific Committee on Veterinary Measures relating to
Public Health identified campylobacter as one of the
most important food-borne zoonoses currently, if refer-
ring to the number of reported human cases. It recog-
nised that a number of gaps exist in the knowledge of
the epidemiology of campylobacter as a food-borne
zoonosis. It indicated in particular that the efficiency of
establishing strict hygiene barriers at poultry farm level
should be documented, and that the efficiency of proce-
dures to lower the prevalence of Campylobacter at farm
level needs further scrutiny.

a multi-annual

The Swedish authorities presented on 31 May 2000,
from the
with a view to obtain financial
Community,
surveillance
programme of campylobacter in broilers, and a revised
programme on 13 October 2000, to estimate the base-
line prevalence both in primary production and in the
food chain, and to progressively reinforce implementa-

national

support

(6)

(7)

(8)

(9)

tion of hygienic measures in farms with a view to lower
the prevalence at farm level and subsequently along the
food chain. The programme started from 1 July 2001.

In the light of the importance of campylobacter as a
zoonosis, it is useful to provide financial assistance for
an appropriate period of time within a maximum of four
years, to cover certain costs incurred by Sweden and to
collect valuable technical and scientific information. For
budgetary reasons, Community assistance is decided
each year. By Commission Decisions 2001/29/EC (3) of
27 December 2000 and 2001/866/EC (4) of 3 December
2001,
the Community provided financial assistance
respectively for the second semester of the year 2001
and for the year 2002.

The Swedish authorities have provided the necessary
information on the implementation of the programme
during the years 2001 and 2002 that shows its effective
implementation.

The Swedish authorities presented on 31 May 2002 a
programme for Community financial assistance during
2003, and a revised programme on 2 September 2002.
On this basis, it appears appropriate to fix the financial
assistance provided by the Community for the period 1
January 2003 up to 31 December 2003 up to a
maximum of EUR 160 000.

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

(10) A financial contribution from the Community shall be
granted in so far as the actions provided for are effec-
the authorities
tively carried out and provided that
furnish all the necessary information within the time
limits provided for.

(11)

The measures provided for in this Decision are in accor-
dance with the opinion of the Standing Committee on
the Food Chain and Animal Health,

(1) OJ L 224, 18.8.1990, p. 19.
(2) OJ L 203, 28.7.2001, p. 16.

(3) OJ L 6, 11.1.2001, p. 22.
(4) OJ L 323, 7.12.2001, p. 26.

L 344/46

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

19.12.2002

HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:

Article 1

The surveillance programme for campylobacter in broilers
1.
presented by Sweden is hereby approved for a period of 12
months starting from 1 January 2003.

2.
The financial assistance from the Community for the
programme referred to in paragraph 1 shall be 50 % of the
costs (VAT excluded) incurred by Sweden for laboratory testing,
up to SEK 155 per
and up to a maximum of
EUR 160 000.

test

(c) forwarding a final report by 31 March 2004 at the latest
on the technical execution of the programme accompanied
by justifying evidence as to the costs incurred and the
results attained during the period from 1 January to 31
December 2003,

(d) these reports providing substantive and valuable technical
and scientific information corresponding to the purpose of
the Community intervention,

(e) implementing the programme effectively,

and provided that the relevant provisions of Community legis-
lation have been respected.

Article 3

Article 2

This Decision shall apply from 1 January 2003.

The financial assistance referred to under Article 1(2) shall be
granted to Sweden subject to:

(a) bringing into force by 1 January 2003 the laws, regulations
the

implementing

for

and administrative provisions
programme,

(b) forwarding an intermediate financial and technical evalua-
tion covering the first five months of the programme, at
the latest four weeks after the end of the reporting period.
The report shall conform to the model as set out in the
Annex,

This Decision is addressed to the Kingdom of Sweden.

Article 4

Done at Brussels, 18 December 2002.

For the Commission

David BYRNE

Member of the Commission

19.12.2002

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Official Journal of the European Communities

L 344/47

ANNEX