2003/218/EC: Commission Decision of 27 March 2003 on protection and surveillance zones in relation to bluetongue, and on rules applicable to movements of animals in and from those zones and repealing Decision 2001/783/EC (Text with EEA relevance) (notified under document number C(2003) 864)
Date: 2003-03-27
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: EU control, animal disease, disease prevention, sheep, transport of animals, veterinary legislation

29.3.2003

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

L 82/35

COMMISSION DECISION

of 27 March 2003

on protection and surveillance zones in relation to bluetongue, and on rules applicable to move-
ments of animals in and from those zones and repealing Decision 2001/783/EC

(notified under document number C(2003) 864)

(Text with EEA relevance)

(2003/218/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 eradication of bluetongue and in particular Article
8(2)(d) and (3), Article 9(1)(c) and Article 12, first paragraph,
thereof,

Whereas:

(1)

(2)

(3)

(4)

(5)

(6)

In the light of the evolution of the bluetongue situation
in four Member States in 2001, Commission Decision
2001/783/EC 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 (2), as last amended by Decision 2003/14/EC (3),
was adopted, establishing three geographical zones
corresponding to specific epidemiological
situations.
This Decision also provides for the conditions under
which exemptions
to the restrictions applicable to
animal movements laid down by the Directive can be
implemented.

As regards Greece, the surveillance programme carried
on by Greek authorities has demonstrated no serocon-
version on sentinel animals during the year 2002.

the

Therefore provisions can be made to relax, under certain
conditions,
live
animals of susceptible species from the Greek territory,
with the exception of areas which are under threat of
direct reinfestation from third countries.

restrictions on movements of

As regards Italy and France, the surveillance programmes
carried out in Italy and France have demonstrated that in
areas where the vaccination has been correctly imple-
mented, virus circulation has been reduced to a negli-
gible level before the winter season.

Therefore provisions can be made to relax, under certain
conditions, restrictions on movements of vaccinated live
animals from those areas.

However, the main condition for implementing these
relaxation measures should be that
the surveillance
programme in place does not show that bluetongue

(1) OJ L 327, 22.12.2000, p. 74.
(2) OJ L 293, 10.11.2001, p. 42.
(3) OJ L 7, 11.1.2003, p. 87.

virus activity has recommenced in that area, and it is
further appropriate to distinguish areas of higher and
lower epidemiological risks respectively.

Technical amendments should also be introduced to
facilitate movements of live animals inside the territory
of the same Member State, in particular for immediate
slaughter.

For the sake of clarity it is appropriate to repeal Decision
2001/783/EC and to replace it by the present Decision.

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,

(7)

(8)

(9)

HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:

Article 1

The purpose of this Decision is to establish restricted zones to
prevent the extension of bluetongue (BT), comprising protec-
tion and surveillance zones in accordance with Article 8 of
Directive 2000/75/EC, and to lay down rules on movements in
and from those zones of animals of species susceptible to blue-
tongue.

Article 2

Movement restrictions

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 adminis-

trative units listed in Annex IA,

— from or through the territory corresponding to the adminis-

trative units listed in Annex IB,

— from or through the territory corresponding to the adminis-

trative units listed in Annex IC section 1,

— from or through the territory corresponding to the adminis-

trative units listed in Annex IC section 2.

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Official Journal of the European Union

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Article 3

(b) as regards Greece, provided that:

Exemptions for trade

1.

By way of derogation from Article 2:

(a) dispatches of animals

their
sperm, ova and embryos shall be authorised from the
restricted zones set out in Annex I, provided that they
comply with the conditions laid down in Annex II;

susceptible to bluetongue,

(b) dispatches of animals susceptible to bluetongue may be
authorised from the lower risk areas set out in section 1 of
Annex IA, IB, and IC respectively, subject to the approval
of the Member State of destination in case of Intra-Commu-
nity trade, provided that the surveillance programme in
place does not show that bluetongue virus activity has
recommenced in an epidemiological relevant area of origin
and,

(i) as regards Italy and France, provided that the animals
have been vaccinated for more than 30 days and less
than six months;

or

(ii) as regards Greece, provided that the animals have been
serologically tested (BT ELISA or AGID) with negative
result within 72 hours prior to departure and sprayed
at the time the sampling for the test is done with insect
repellent with a remanent effect of more than four
days.

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

— the animals have been serologically tested (BT ELISA or
AGID) with negative result within 72 hours before
departure and sprayed at the time the sampling for the
test is done with insect repellent with a remanant effect
of more than four days, provided that the surveillance
programme in place does not show that bluetongue
virus activity has recommenced in an epidemiological
relevant area of origin.

When they use this derogation, Member States shall set up a
channelling procedure, under the control of competent authori-
ties 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

Exemptions for slaughtering

By way of derogation from Article 2, movements of animals
susceptible to bluetongue for immediate slaughter within the
territory of the same Member State may be authorised by the
national competent authorities from the lower risk areas set
out in section 1 of Annexes IA and IB respectively, provided
that:

(a) a case-by-case risk assessment on the possible contact
between animals and the vectors during transport to the
slaughterhouse is made, taking into consideration:

‘animals/semen/ova/embryos in compliance with Decision
2003/218/EC (*)

(i) the data available through the surveillance programme

on the vector's activity;

(*) Delete as necessary.’

Article 4

Exemptions for domestic movements

By way of derogation from Article 2, movements within the
territory of the same Member State of live animals susceptible
to bluetongue may be authorised by the national competent
authorities from the higher risk areas set out in section 2 of
Annex IA, IB, and IC respectively:

(a) as regards Italy and France, provided that:

— the surveillance and monitoring programme in an
epidemiological relevant area of origin has proved the
cessation of bluetongue virus (BTV) transmission for
more than 100 days and/or,

— the vector surveillance programme in an epidemiolo-
gical relevant area of destination has proved the cessa-
tion of adult Culicoïdes activity;

(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.

(ii) the distance from the point of entry in the non-
restricted zone to the slaughterhouse, and the entomo-
logical data on this route;

(iii) the period of the day during which the transport takes
place in relation with the hours of activity of the
vectors;

(iv) the possible use of

insecticides in compliance with
Council Directive 96/23/EC of 29 April 1996 on
measures to monitor certain substances and residues
thereof in live animals and animal products and which
repeal Directives 85/358/EEC and 86/469/EEC and
Decisions 89/187/EEC and 91/664/EEC (6).

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

tongue on the day of transport;

(c) the animals are transported in vehicles sealed by the
competent authority without delay and directly to the
slaughterhouse, under official supervision;

(d) the competent authority responsible for the slaughterhouse
is informed of the intention to send animals to it and noti-
fies the dispatching competent authority of their arrival.

(6) OJ L 125, 23.5.1996, p. 10.

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Article 6

Article 8

The transit of animals dispatched from an area of the Commu-
nity outside the restricted zones set out in Annex I through a
restricted zone set out in Annex I, shall be authorised provided
that:

(a) 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;

(b) in case of

intra Community trade,

the transit shall be
subject to the authorisation of the competent authorities of
transit and destination, and the
the Member States of
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:
‘Insecticide treatment with (name of the product) on (date)
at (time) in conformity with Decision 2003/218/EC.’

Decision 2001/783/EC is repealed. References made to the
repealed Decision shall be construed to be made to the present
Decision.

Article 9

This Decision shall apply from 18 April 2003.

Article 10

This Decision is addressed to the Member States.

Done at Brussels, 27 March 2003.

Article 7

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

For the Commission

David BYRNE

Member of the Commission

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Official Journal of the European Union

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ANNEX I

(protection zones and surveillance zones)

ANNEX I A

Section 1

Sicilia: Catania, Enna, Messina

Basilicata: Matera, Potenza

Puglia: Brindisi, Foggia

Section 2

Sicilia: Agrigento, Caltanisetta, Palermo, Ragusa, Siracusa, Trapani.

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

Puglia: Bari, Lecce, Taranto.

Campania: Avellino, Benevento, Caserta, Napoli, Salerno.

ANNEX I B

Section 1

France:

Corse du sud, Haute Corse

Italy:

Sardegna: Cagliari, Nuoro, Sassari, Oristano

Lazio: Viterbo, Roma

Toscana: Grosseto, Livorno, Pisa, Massa-Carrara

Molise: Isernia

Abruzzo: l'Aquila

Section 2

Lazio: Latina, Frosinone

Section 1: the entire Greek territory with the exception of prefectorates listed in section 2.

Section 2: Dodekanisi, Samos, Chios and Lesvos prefectorates.

ANNEX I C

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ANNEX II

A. Live animals must have been:

1. protected from culicoïdes attack for at least 100 days prior to shipment; or

2. protected from culicoïdes attack for at least 28 days prior to shipment, and subjected during that period to a sero-
logical test to detect antibody 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 culicoïdes 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 culicoïdes attack during transportation to the place of shipment.

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

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

semen; or

2. subjected to a serological test to detect antibody 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 culicoïdes 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 antibody 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 collec-

tion, with negative results.