2003/864/EC: Commission Decision of 5 December 2003 concerning a specific financial contribution by the Community relating to the surveillance programme of campylobacter in broilers presented by Sweden for the year 2004 (notified under document number C(2003) 4532)
Date: 2003-12-05
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: Sweden, animal disease, financial aid, health control, poultry

12.12.2003

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

L 325/59

COMMISSION DECISION

of 5 December 2003

concerning a specific financial contribution by the Community relating to the surveillance
programme of campylobacter in broilers presented by Sweden for the year 2004

(notified under document number C(2003) 4532)

(Only the Swedish text is authentic)

(2003/864/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 Regulation (EC) No 806/2003 (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.

The Swedish authorities presented in 2000, with a view
to obtain financial support
from the Community, a
multiannual national surveillance programme of campy-
lobacter in broilers, to estimate the baseline prevalence
both in primary production and in the food chain, and
to progressively reinforce implementation of hygienic

(1) OJ L 224, 18.8.1990, p. 19.
(2) OJ L 122, 16.5.2003, p. 1.

(6)

(7)

(8)

(9)

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 has been considered useful to provide Com-
munity 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 tech-
nical and scientific information. For budgetary reasons,
Community assistance is decided each year. By Commis-
sion Decisions 2001/29/EC (3), 2001/866/EC (4) and
2002/989/EC (5),
the Community provided financial
assistance respectively for the second semester of the
year 2001 and for the years 2002 and 2003.

The Swedish authorities have provided the necessary
information on the implementation of the programme
during the years 2001, 2002 and 2003 that shows its
effective implementation.

The Swedish authorities presented on 5 September 2003
a programme for Community financial assistance during
2004, and a revised programme on 8 October 2003. On
this basis, it appears appropriate to fix the financial assis-
tance provided by the Community for the period 1
January 2004 up to 31 December 2004 to a maximum
of EUR 160 000.

Pursuant to Article 3(2) of 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 Euro-
pean Agricultural Guidance and Guarantee Fund;
for
financial control purposes, Articles 8 and 9 of Council
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-
tively carried out and provided that
the authorities
furnish all the necessary information within the time
limits provided for.

(3) OJ L 6, 11.1.2001, p. 22.
(4) OJ L 323, 7.12.2001, p. 26.
(5) OJ L 344, 19.12.2002, p. 45.
(6) OJ L 160, 26.6.1999, p. 103.

L 325/60

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

12.12.2003

(11)

There is a need to clarify the rate to be used for the
conversion of the payment applications submitted in
national currency as defined in Article 1(d) of Council
Regulation (EC) No 2799/98 establishing agrimonetary
arrangements for the euro (1).

(c) forwarding a final report by 31 March 2005 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 2004;

(12)

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

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

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 2004.

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 160 per bacteriological
for campylobacter,
SEK 320 per test for fingerprinting of campylobacter and up
to a maximum of EUR 160 000.

test

(e) implementing the programme effectively.

2. When the time limit
is not
respected, the contribution shall be reduced by 25 % on 1 May,
50 % on 1 June, 75 % on 1 July and 100 % on 1 September.

in subparagraph 1(c)

Article 3

The conversion rate for applications submitted in national
currency in month ‘n’ shall be that of the 10th day of month
‘n+1’ or for the first preceding day for which a rate is quoted.

Article 4

Article 2

This Decision shall apply from 1 January 2004.

1.
The financial assistance referred to under Article 1(2) shall
be granted to Sweden provided that the implementation of the
programme shall be in conformity with the relevant provisions
of Community law, including rules on competition and on the
award of public contracts and subject
to the conditions
provided for in points (a) to (e):

Article 5

This Decision is addressed to the Kingdom of Sweden.

Done at Brussels, 5 December 2003.

For the Commission

David BYRNE

Member of the Commission

(a) bringing into force by 1 January 2004 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;

(1) OJ L 349, 24.12.1998, p. 1.

12.12.2003

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

L 325/61

ANNEX