2004/262/EC: Commission Decision of 17 March 2004 on certain protection measures with regard to registered horses coming from South Africa (Text with EEA relevance) (notified under document number C(2004) 808)
Date: 2004-03-17
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: South Africa, animal disease, equidae, import restriction, originating product, veterinary inspection

L 81/86

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

19.3.2004

on certain protection measures with regard to registered horses coming from South Africa

COMMISSION DECISION

of 17 March 2004

(notified under document number C(2004) 808)

(Text with EEA relevance)

(2004/262/EC)

THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European
Community,

Having regard to Council Directive 91/496/EEC of 15 July
1991 laying down the principles governing the organisation of
veterinary checks on animals entering the Community from
third countries and amending Directives 89/662/EEC, 90/425/
EEC and 90/675/EEC (1), and in particular Article 18(1) thereof,

Whereas:

Council Directive 90/426/EEC of 26 June 1990 on
animal health conditions governing the movement and
imports from third countries of equidae (2), lays down
the measures to be taken in relation to African horse
sickness.

The animal health conditions for temporary admission
and imports into the Community of registered horses
from certain parts of South Africa have been established
by Commission Decision 97/10/EC (3).

An outbreak of African horse sickness has been declared
in horses kept within the African horse sickness surveil-
lance zone of the Western Cape Province and approxi-
mately 40 km from the African horse sickness free zone
established in accordance with Decision 97/10/EC and
which is the only area in South Africa from where
horses are accepted for export to other countries.

(1)

(2)

(3)

(4)

(5)

(6)

(7)

(8)

The presence of this disease in the surveillance zone of
the Western Cape Province is liable to constitute a
serious danger for Community equidae; whereas more-
over the recourse to vaccination in an area close to the
disease-free zone precludes from further regionalisation
in accordance with Community legislation and interna-
tionally accepted health standards.

Although the authorities have suspended any exports of
registered horses from the disease-free zone to Member
States, it is necessary to adopt protection measures at
Community level with regard to temporary admission,
transit and imports of registered horses from South
Africa.

The temporary admission, permanent imports and tran-
sits of registered horses from South Africa should be
suspended. However, the situation should be reviewed in
the light of the information supplied by the competent
the measures taken to
authorities and the effect of
control the disease.

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

HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:

Article 1

Member States shall prohibit the temporary admission, transits
and imports of registered horses coming from South Africa.

The competent veterinary authorities in South Africa
have taken the necessary measures
the
disease,
including vaccination of susceptible animals
within the radius of 20 km around the outbreak.

to control

Article 2

(1) OJ L 268, 24.9.1991, p. 56. Directive as amended by Directive 96/

43/EC (OJ L 162, 1.7.1996, p. 1).

(2) OJ L 224, 18.8.1990, p. 42. Directive as last amended by Regu-

lation (EC) No 806/2003 (OJ L 122, 16.5.2003, p. 1).

(3) OJ L 3, 7.1.1997, p. 9. Decision as last amended by Decision 2004/

117/EC (OJ L 36, 7.2.2004, p. 36).

Member States shall amend the measures they apply with
regard to temporary admission, imports and transits of regis-
tered horses from South Africa to bring them into line with
this Decision. They shall inform the Commission thereof.

19.3.2004

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

L 81/87

This Decision is addressed to the Member States.

Article 3

Done at Brussels, 17 March 2004.

For the Commission

David BYRNE

Member of the Commission