2005/177/EC: Commission Decision of 7 March 2005 with regard to the transit of live bovine animals through the United Kingdom (notified under document number C(2005) 509) (Text with EEA relevance)
Date: 2005-03-07
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: Ireland, United Kingdom, animal disease, cattle, disease prevention, health certificate, intra-EU trade, transport of animals, veterinary inspection

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EN

Official Journal of the European Union

8.3.2005

II

(Acts whose publication is not obligatory)

COMMISSION

COMMISSION DECISION

of 7 March 2005

with regard to the transit of live bovine animals through the United Kingdom

(notified under document number C(2005) 509)

(Text with EEA relevance)

(2005/177/EC)

THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,

Kingdom. However, such transit should be subject to
strict conditions and controls in order not to weaken
the measures in force under Decision 98/256/EC.

Having regard to the Treaty
Community,

establishing the European

Having regard to Regulation (EC) No 999/2001 of the European
Parliament and of the Council of 22 May 2001 laying down
rules for the prevention, control and eradication of certain
transmission spongiform encephalopathies (1), and in particular
Article 15(3) thereof,

(4)

The measures provided for
accordance with
Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health,

in this Decision are in
Standing
the

opinion

the

of

Whereas:

(1)

(2)

Council Decision 98/256/EC of 16 March 1998
concerning emergency measures
against
bovine spongiform encephalopathy, amending Decision
96/239/EC (2)
94/474/EC
provides that the United Kingdom is to ensure that live
bovine animals are not dispatched from its territory to
other Member States or to third countries.

repealing Decision

to protect

and

HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:

Article 1

Without prejudice to Decision 98/256/EC, the United Kingdom
shall authorise the uninterrupted transit of live bovine animals
(‘the animals’) dispatched from Ireland via the United Kingdom
to other Member States, subject to the conditions laid down in
this Decision.

The imminent withdrawal of service by ferry companies
currently carrying live cattle from Ireland to continental
Europe will seriously affect
live bovine
animals between Ireland and other Member States.

the trade of

Article 2

in Council Directive
The health certificates provided for
64/432/EEC (3) accompanying the animals
from
in transit
Ireland via the United Kingdom to other Member States shall
bear the following words:

(3)

Therefore, rules should be laid down to allow the transit
live bovine animals from Ireland via the United
of

(1) OJ L 147, 31.5.2001, p. 1. Regulation as

(EC) No 1993/2004 (OJ

last amended by
L 344,

Commission Regulation
20.11.2004, p. 12).

‘Animals conforming to Commission Decision 2005/177/EC
of 7 March 2005’.

(2) OJ L 113, 15.4.1998, p. 32. Decision as

last amended by
Commission Decision 2002/670/EC (OJ L 228, 24.8.2002, p. 22).

(3) OJ 121, 29.7.1964, p. 1977/64. Directive as last amended by Regu-

lation No (EC) 21/2004 (OJ L 5, 9.1.2004, p. 8).

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Article 3

The transit of the animals from Ireland via the United Kingdom
to other Member States, as provided for in Article 1, shall only
be allowed provided that at least two working days advance
transmitted by the competent authority in
notification is
Ireland to:

Those animals shall not be permitted to continue their journey
unless the following conditions are complied with:

(a)

the re-loading is supervised by the competent authority of
the United Kingdom;

(b) the vehicle is re-sealed immediately following the re-loading;

and

(c) a supplementary certificate is provided as set out in the

(a)

the central authority of the United Kingdom;

Annex.

(b) the central authority of all Member States of transit of the

animals; and

(c)

the central and local competent authority of the Member
State of final destination.

Article 4

The competent authority of Ireland shall ensure that the vehicle
transporting the animals is sealed with an official seal which
must remain in place for the entire duration of the transit via
the United Kingdom, except for official inspection purposes or
in welfare circumstances set out in Article 5.

seal number(s)

shall be recorded by the competent
Ireland on the health certificate referred to in

That
authority of
Article 2.

Article 6

The competent authority of the United Kingdom shall carry out
appropriate checks
this
Decision and in particular to control the integrity of seals, as
provided for
in Article 5, on vehicles leaving the United
Kingdom.

to ensure the implementation of

That competent authority shall confirm compliance with this
Decision by applying an official stamp on the health certificate
referred to in Article 2, or by issuing a supplementary certificate
as set out in the Annex.

In cases of non-compliance with this Decision the animals shall
not be allowed to continue their journey to their final desti-
nation. Such animals may be detained pending, subject
to
animal and public health considerations, slaughter, destruction
or, with the agreement of the Member State of dispatch, return
to their place of origin.

Article 7

This Decision is addressed to the Member States.

Article 5

Done at Brussels, 7 March 2005.

Where for emergency welfare reasons or for official inspection
the animals have to be unloaded in the United
purposes,
Kingdom,
the
the
competent authority of that Member State.

immediately notify

transporter

shall

For the Commission

Markos KYPRIANOU
Member of the Commission

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Official Journal of the European Union

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ANNEX

Supplementary Certificate (Commission Decision 2005/177/EC of 7 March 2005)