2003/135/EC: Commission Decision of 27 February 2003 on the approval of the plans for the eradication of classical swine fever and the emergency vaccination of feral pigs against classical swine fever in Germany, in the federal states of Lower Saxony, North Rhine-Westphalia, Rhineland-Palatinate and Saarland (Text with EEA relevance) (notified under document number C(2003) 626)
Date: 2003-02-27
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: Germany, Lower Saxony, North Rhine-Westphalia, Rhineland-Palatinate, Saarland, animal plague, epidemic, swine, vaccination, wild mammal

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COMMISSION

COMMISSION DECISION

of 27 February 2003

on the approval of the plans for the eradication of classical swine fever and the emergency vacci-
nation of feral pigs against classical swine fever in Germany, in the federal states of Lower Saxony,
North Rhine-Westphalia, Rhineland-Palatinate and Saarland

(notified under document number C(2003) 626)

(Only the German and French texts are authentic)

(Text with EEA relevance)

(2003/135/EC)

THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,

(3)

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European
Community,

Having regard to Council Directive 2001/89/EC of 23 October
2001 on Community measures for the control of classical
swine fever (1), and in particular Article 16(1), Article 20(2),
Article 25(3) and Article 29(2) thereof,

Whereas:

(1)

(2)

In the last decade classical swine fever was confirmed in
the feral pig population in Germany in the federal States
of Baden-Württemberg, Brandenburg, Lower-Saxony,
Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, North Rhine-West-
phalia, Rhineland-Palatinate,
Saxony
Anhalt.

Saarland

and

and Saxony Anhalt were

Plans to eradicate classical swine fever in the feral pig
population of Baden-Württemberg, Brandenburg, Lower-
Saxony, Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, Rhineland-
Palatinate
approved by
Commission Decisions 1999/39/EC of 21 December
1998 approving the plan presented by Germany for the
eradication of classical swine fever in feral pigs in Bran-
denburg, Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, and Lower
Saxony and repealing Commission Decision 96/552/
EC (2), 1999/335/EC of 7 May 1999 approving the plan
presented by Germany for the eradication of classical
swine fever in feral pigs in Baden Württemberg and
Rhineland-Palatinate (3) and Commission Decision 2000/
281/EC of 31 March 2000 approving the plan presented
by Germany for the eradication of classical swine fever
in feral pigs in Saxony-Anhalt (4).

(1) OJ L 316, 1.12.2001, p. 5.
(2) OJ L 11, 16.1.1999, p. 47.
(3) OJ L 126, 20.5.1999, p. 21.
(4) OJ L 92, 31.3.2000, p. 27.

Plans for the eradication of classical swine fever in feral
pigs in North Rhine-Westphalia and for the emergency
vaccination of feral pigs against classical swine fever in
North Rhine-Westphalia, Rhineland-Palatinate and Saar-
land were approved by Commission Decision 2002/161/
EC of 22 February 2002 approving the plans submitted
by Germany for the eradication of classical swine fever
in feral pigs in Rhineland-Pfalz and Saarland (5), as last
amended by Decision 2002/791/EC (6).

Germany has submitted information suggesting that clas-
sical swine fever has been successfully eradicated from
Mecklenburg-
Baden-Württemberg,
Western Pomerania and Saxony Anhalt. It is therefore
appropriate to repeal
the measures adopted by the
Commission to control the disease in these areas of
Germany.

Brandenburg,

Measures to control classical swine fever are still neces-
sary in Lower-Saxony, North Rhine-Westphalia, Rhine-
land-Palatinate and Saarland.

Germany has submitted updated plans for the eradica-
tion of classical swine fever in feral pigs from Lower-
Saxony and Rhineland-Palatinate to bring them in line
with Directive 2001/89/EC.

In the light of the epidemiological situation, Germany
has submitted an amended plan for the emergency vacci-
nation of feral pigs in Rhineland-Palatinate and a plan
for the emergency vaccination of feral pigs in Lower-
Saxony.

(4)

(5)

(6)

(7)

(5) OJ L 53, 23.2.2002, p. 43.
(6) OJ L 274, 11.10.2002, p. 40.

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(8)

(9)

(10)

(11)

(12)

(13)

The newly submitted plans for eradication and emer-
gency vaccination have been examined and found to
comply with the provisions of Directive 2001/89/EC.

The German authorities have authorised the use of a live
attenuated vaccine against classical swine fever (C strain)
to be used for the immunisation of feral pigs by means
of oral baits.

framework

swine fever

The German authorities will continue an intensive
in feral pigs
surveillance on classical
the
of
in the
throughout Germany
programme for the eradication and monitoring of clas-
sical swine fever approved by Commission Decision
2002/943/EC of 28 November 2002 approving
programmes for
the eradication and monitoring of
the prevention of
certain animal diseases and for
zoonoses presented by the Member States for the year
2003 (1).

The German authorities have undertaken:
(i) to keep
under continuous review the measures in place to
control classical swine fever in Germany in strict coop-
eration with the Commission services, in the light of the
evolution in the epidemiological situation;
(ii) to take
into full account the findings and recommendations of
the inspection of the Commission's Food and Veterinary
Office, which has been carried out in Rhineland-Palati-
nate in January 2003 (2); and (iii) to improve the collec-
tion of demographic data on the feral pigs and the
epidemiological
information on which the eradication
and vaccination plans which are approved by this Deci-
sion are based. The German authorities shall amend the
plans approved by this Decision and submit them to the
Commission for further approval, as necessary.

Classical swine fever has been confirmed in the feral pig
population in France, at the border with Germany. The
eradication plan submitted by France was approved by
Commission Decision 2002/626/EC of 25 July 2002
approving the plan submitted by France for the eradica-
tion of classical swine fever from feral pigs in Moselle
and Meurthe-et-Moselle (3).

(v)

establishing

pigs against classical swine fever in Lower-Saxony and
Rhineland-Palatinate;
to
ensure, in the border areas concerned, the consistency of
the measures to be implemented by Germany with the
measures applied by France; and (vi) repealing Decisions
1999/39/EC, 1999/335/EC, 2000/281/EC and 2002/
161/EC.

conditions

(14)

(15)

For the sake of transparency it is appropriate indicate in
the present Decision the geographical areas where the
eradication and emergency vaccination plans shall be
implemented.

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,

HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:

Article 1

The plans submitted by Germany for the eradication of classical
swine fever in feral pigs in Lower-Saxony, North Rhine-West-
phalia, Rhineland-Palatinate and Saarland are approved.

Article 2

The plans submitted by Germany for the emergency vaccina-
tion of feral pigs against classical swine fever in Lower-Saxony,
North Rhine-Westphalia, Rhineland-Palatinate and Saarland are
approved.

Article 3

Germany shall bring into force the laws, regulations and
administrative provisions for implementing the plans referred
to in Articles 1 and 2 in the areas referred to in the Annex.

Article 4

For the sake of clarity it is appropriate to adopt a single
Decision:
the plans
(i) confirming the approval of
submitted by Germany for the eradication of classical
swine fever in feral pigs in North Rhine-Westphalia and
Saarland; (ii) approving the newly submitted plans for
the eradication of classical swine fever in feral pigs from
Lower-Saxony and Rhineland-Palatinate; (iii) confirming
the approval of the plans for the emergency vaccination
of feral pigs against classical swine fever in North Rhine-
(iv) approving the newly
Westphalia and Saarland;
submitted plans for the emergency vaccination of feral

Germany shall adopt appropriate measures in a strip of its terri-
tory with a width of not less than 20 km from the border
between Rhineland-Palatinate and France in order to:

(a) reduce as much as possible disturbance to the feral pig
population causing long distance movements of feral pigs
out of the area in question, taking into account natural and
artificial barriers; and

(b) decrease the density of the feral pig population.

(1) OJ L 326, 3.12.2002, p. 12.
(2) On the date of the adoption of this Decision the report of this

mission is still to be finalised.
(3) OJ L 200, 30.7.2002, p. 37.

The above measures shall be adopted by Germany in coordina-
tion and cooperation with the French authorities. They shall
if necessary,
include regulation of hunting procedures, or,
suspension of hunting.

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Decisions 1999/39/EC, 1999/335/EC, 2000/281/EC and 2002/161/EC are repealed.

Article 5

This Decision is addressed to Germany and to France.

Article 6

Done at Brussels, 27 February 2003.

For the Commission

David BYRNE

Member of the Commission

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1. AREAS WHERE ERADICATION PLANS ARE IN PLACE:

ANNEX

(A) Lower-Saxony

In the Kreis Rotenburg: the gemeinde Sottrum, Bothel, Rotenburg and Visselhövede;

in the Kreis Soltau-Fallingbostel: the gemeinde Ahlden, Schwarmstedt-Essel, Wietzendorf, Bomlitz, Fallingbostel,
Walsrode, Schneverdingen; Neuenkirchen, Soltau and Essel;

in the Kreis Verden: the gemeinde Achim, Ottersberg, Langwedel, Verden and Kirchlinteln.

(B) North Rhine-Westphalia

In the Kreis Euskirchen:
Hellenthal, Kall; Mechernich, Nettersheim and Zuelpich;

the gemeinde Schleiden, Dahlem, Blankenheim, Bad Muenstereifel, Euskirchen,

in the Kreis Rhein-Sieg: the gemeinde Rheinbach, Swisttal and Meckenheim;

city of Aachen;

in the Kreis Aachen: Monschau, Stollberg, Simmerath and Roetgen;

in the Kreis Dueren: Heimbach, Nideggen, Huertgenwald and Langerwehe.

(C) Rhineland-Palatinate

The Kreise: Ahrweiler, Bad Dürkheim, Bernkastel-Wittlich, Bitburg-Prüm, Cochem-Zell, Daun, Donnersbergkreis
and Südliche Weinstraße;

in the Kreis Trier-Saarburg: the area east of the river Saar;

in the Kreis Mayen-Koblenz: the area west of the river Rhein;

the Cities of: Alzey, Landau, Kaiserslautern, Neustadt an der Weinstraße, Pirmasens, Speyer and Trier;

in the City of Koblenz: the area west of the river Rhein;

in the Kreis Birkenfeld: the gemeinde Baumholder and Truppenübungsplatz Baumholder, Birkenfeld, Rhaunen; in
the gemeinde Herrstein: the municipalities Allenbach, Bruchweiler, Kempfeld, Langweiler, Sensweiler and Wirsch-
weiler;

in the Kreis Rhein-Hunsrück-Kreis: the gemeinde Boppard, Verbandsgemeinde Emmelshausen, Kastellaun, Kirch-
berg; in the gemeinde Rheinböllen: the municipalities Benzweiler, Kisselbach, Liebshausen and Steinbach; the
gemeinde Simmern and St. Goar-Oberwesel;

in the Kreis Alzey-Worms: the municipalities Stein-Bockenheim, Wonsheim, Siefersheim, Wöllstein, Gumbsheim,
Eckelsheim, Wendelsheim, Nieder-Wiesen, Nack, Erbes-Büdesheim, Flonheim, Bornheim, Lonsheim, Bermersheim
vor der Höhe, Albig, Bechenheim, Offenheim, Mauchenheim, Freimersheim, Wahlheim, Kettenheim, Esselborn,
Dintesheim, Flomborn, Eppelsheim, Ober-Flörsheim, Hangen-Weisheim, Gundersheim, Bermersheim, Gundheim,
Framersheim, Gau-Heppenheim the gemeinde Monsheim and Alzey;

in the Kreis Bad Kreuznach: the municipalities Becherbach, Reiffelbach, Schmittweiler, Callbach, Meisenheim,
Breitenheim, Rehborn, Lettweiler, Odernheim a. Glan, Oberhausen a. d. Nahe, Duchroth, Hallgarten, Feilbingert,
Hochstätten, Niederhausen, Norheim, Bad Münster a. Stein-Ebernburg, Altenbamberg, Fürfeld, Tiefenthal, Neu-
Bamberg and Frei-Laubersheim;

in the Kreis Germersheim: the gemeinde Lingenfeld, Bellheim and Germersheim;

in the Kreis Kaiserslautern: the gemeinde Weilerbach, Otterbach, Otterberg, Enkenbach-Alsenborn, Hochspeyer,
Kaiserslautern-Süd, Landstuhl, Bruchmühlbach-Miesau; the municipalities Hütschenhausen, Ramstein-Miesenbach,
Steinwenden and Kottweiler-Schwanden;

in the Kreis Kusel: the municipalities Odenbach, Adenbach, Cronenberg, Ginsweiler, Hohenöllen, Lohnweiler,
Heinzenhausen, Nussbach, Reipoltskirchen, Hefersweiler, Relsberg, Einöllen, Oberweiler-Tiefenbach, Wolfstein,
Kreimbach-Kaulbach, Rutsweiler a.d. Lauter, Rothselberg, Jettenbach and Bosenbach;

in the Kreis Ludwigshafen: the gemeinde Dudenhofen, Waldsee, Böhl-Iggelheim, Schifferstadt, Römerberg and
Altrip;

In the Kreis Südwestpfalz: the gemeinde Waldfischbach-Burgalben, Rodalben, Hauenstein, Dahner-Felsenland,
Pirmasens-Land, Thaleischweiler-Fröschen; the municipalities Schmitshausen, Herschberg, Schauerberg, Wesel-
berg, Obernheim-Kirchenarnbach, Hettenhausen, Saalstadt, Wallhalben and Knopp-Labach.

(D) Saarland

In the Kreis Merzig-Wadern: the gemeinde Mettlach, Merzig, Beckingen, Losheim, Weiskirchen and Wadern;

in the Kreis Saarlouis: the gemeinde Dillingen, Bous, Ensdorf, Schwalbach, Saarwellingen, Nalbach, Lebach,
Schmelz and Saarlouis;

in the Kreis Sankt Wendel: the gemeinde Nonnweiler, Nohfelden and Tholey.

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2. AREAS WHERE THE EMERGENCY VACCINATION IS APPLIED

(A) Lower-Saxony

In the Kreis Rotenburg: the gemeinde Sottrum, Bothel, Rotenburg and Visselhövede;

in the Kreis Soltau-Fallingbostel: the gemeinde Ahlden, Schwarmstedt-Essel, Wietzendorf, Bomlitz, Fallingbostel,
Walsrode, Schneverdingen; Neuenkirchen, Soltau and Essel;

in the Kreis Verden: the gemeinde Achim, Ottersberg, Langwedel, Verden and Kirchlinteln.

(B) North Rhine-Westphalia

in the Kreis Euskirchen:
Hellenthal; Kall, Mechernich and Nettersheim;

the gemeinde Schleiden, Dahlem, Blankenheim, Bad Muenstereifel, Euskirchen,

In the Kreis Rhein-Sieg: the gemeinde Rheinbach, Swisttal and Meckenheim;

the City of Aachen;

in the Kreis Aachen: the gemeinde Monschau, Stollberg, Simmerath and Roetgen;

in the Kreis Dueren: the gemeinde Heimbach, Nideggen, Huertgenwald and Langerwehe.

(C) Rhineland-Palatinate

The Kreise Ahrweiler, Bernkastel-Wittlich, Bitburg-Pruem, Cochem-Zell, Daun and Trier;

in the Kreis Trier-Saarburg: all areas east of the river Saar;

in the City of Koblenz and the Kreis Mayen-Koblenz: all areas west of the river Rhein;

in the Kreis Birkenfeld: the gemeinde Baumholder and Truppenuebungsplatz Baumholder, gemeinde Birkenfeld
and Rhaunen; municipalities Allenbach, Bruchweiler, Kempfeld, Langweiler, Sensweiler and Wirschweiler;

in the Kreis Rhein-Hunsrueck: the gemeinde Boppard, Emmelshausen, Kastellaun, Kirchberg, Simmern and St.
Goar-Oberwesel; the municipalities Benzweiler, Kisselbach, Liebshausen and Steinbach;

the Kreise Bad Duerkheim, Donnersbergkreis and Suedliche Weinstrasse;

the Cities Speyer, Neustadt a.d.W., Landau, Pirmasens and Kaiserslautern;

in the Kreis Alzey-Worms: the municipalities Stein-Bockenheim, Wonsheim, Siefersheim, Woellstein, Gumb-
sheim, Eckelsheim, Wendelsheim, Nieder-Wiesen, Nack, Erbes-Buedesheim, Flonheim, Bornheim, Lonsheim,
Bermersheim vor der Hoehe, Albig, Bechenheim, Offenheim, Mauchenheim, Freimersheim, Wahlheim, Ketten-
heim, Esselborn, Dintesheim, Flomborn, Eppelsheim, Ober-Floersheim, Hangen-Weinsheim, Gundersheim,
Bermersheim and Gundheim, gemeinde Monsheim and Alzey;

in the Kreis Bad Kreuznach: the municipalities Becherbach, Reiffelbach, Schmittweiler, Callbach, Meisenheim,
Breitenheim, Rehborn, Lettweiler, Odernheim a. Glan, Oberhausen a.d. Nahe, Duchroth, Hallgarten, Feilbingert,
Hochstaetten, Niederhausen, Norheim, Bad Muenster a. Stein-Ebernburg, Altenbamberg, Fuerfeld, Tiefenthal,
Neu-Bamberg and Frei-Laubersheim;

in the Kreis Germersheim: the gemeinde Lingenfeld, Bellheim and Germersheim;

in the Kreis Kaiserslautern: the gemeinde Weilerbach, Otterbach, Otterberg, Enkenbach-Alsenborn, Hochspeyer,
Kaiserslautern-Süd, Landstuhl and Bruchmühlbach-Miesau, the municipalities Hütschenhausen, Ramstein-Miesen-
bach, Steinwenden and Kottweiler-Schwanden;

in the Kreis Kusel: the municipalities Odenbach, Adenbach, Cronenberg, Ginsweiler, Hohenöllen, Lohnweiler,
Heinzenhausen, Nussbach, Reipoltskirchen, Hefersweiler, Relsberg, Einöllen, Oberweiler-Tiefenbach, Wolfstein,
Kreimbach-Kaulbach, Rutsweiler a.d. Lauter, Rothselberg, Jettenbach and Bosenbach;

in the Kreis Ludwigshafen: the gemeinde Dudenhofen, Waldsee, Böhl-Iggelheim, Schifferstadt, Römerberg and
Altrip;

in the Kreis Südwestpfalz: the gemeinde Waldfischbach-Burgalben, Rodalben, Hauenstein, Dahner-Felsenland,
Pirmasens-Land and Thaleischweiler-Fröschen,
the municipalities Schmitshausen, Herschberg, Schauerberg,
Weselberg, Obernheim-Kirchenarnbach, Hettenhausen, Saalstadt, Wallhalben and Knopp-Labach.

(D) Saarland (1)

In the Kreis Merzig-Wadern: the gemeinde Mettlach, Merzig, Beckingen, Losheim, Weiskirchen and Wadern;

in the Kreis Saarlouis: the gemeinde Dillingen, Bous, Ensdorf, Schwalbach, Saarwellingen, Nalbach, Lebach,
Schmelz and Saarlouis;

in the Kreis Sankt Wendel: the gemeinde Nonnweiler, Nohfelden and Tholey.

(1) No vaccination will be applied in Saarland south of the motorway A8.