2005/779/EC: Commission Decision of 8 November 2005 concerning animal health protection measures against swine vesicular disease in Italy (notified under document number C(2005) 4273)   (Text with EEA relevance)
Date: 2005-11-08
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: animal disease, intra-EU trade, live animal, livestock farming, regions of Italy, slaughter of animals, swine, transport of animals, veterinary inspection

L 293/28

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

9.11.2005

COMMISSION DECISION

of 8 November 2005

concerning animal health protection measures against swine vesicular disease in Italy

(notified under document number C(2005) 4273)

(Text with EEA relevance)

(2005/779/EC)

THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,

(5)

Having regard to the Treaty
Community,

establishing the European

Having regard to Council Directive 90/425/EEC of 26 June
1990 concerning veterinary and zootechnical checks applicable
in intra-Community trade in certain live animals and products
with a view to the completion of the internal market (1), and in
particular Article 10(4) thereof,

Whereas:

(1)

(2)

(3)

(4)

Outbreaks of swine vesicular disease have been recorded
in certain regions of Italy.

Italy has taken measures to deal with outbreaks under
Council Directive 92/119/EEC of 17 December 1992
introducing
the
control of certain animal diseases and specific measures
relating to swine vesicular disease (2).

general Community measures

for

Italy has also taken additional eradication and monitoring
measures for swine vesicular disease covering the whole
Italy. These measures are laid down in yearly
of
programmes
the eradication and monitoring of
swine vesicular disease presented by Italy and approved
in accordance with Article 24(6) and Articles 29 and 32
of Council Decision 90/424/EEC of 26 June 1990 on
expenditure in the veterinary field (3).

for

Commission Decision 2004/840/EC of 30 November
2004 approving programmes for the eradication and
monitoring of certain animal diseases and of checks
aimed at the prevention of zoonoses presented by the
Member States for the year 2005 and fixing the level of
the Community’s financial contribution (4) approved the
programme for the eradication and monitoring of swine
vesicular disease presented by Italy for 2005.

(1) OJ L 224, 18.8.1990, p. 29. Directive as last amended by Directive
the Council

the European Parliament and of

2002/33/EC of
(OJ L 315, 19.11.2002, p. 14).

(2) OJ L 62, 15.3.1993, p. 69. Directive as last amended by Regulation

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

(3) OJ L 224, 18.8.1990, p. 19. Decision as last amended by Regulation

(EC) No 806/2003.

(4) OJ L 361, 8.12.2004, p. 41.

The measures laid down in the yearly programmes for
the eradication and monitoring of swine vesicular disease
seek to recognise pig holdings as free of swine vesicular
disease and to ensure that all regions of Italy achieve that
status. The programmes also include rules on movement
of and trade in live pigs from regions and holdings not
of the same status as regards swine vesicular disease.

Most regions of
Italy with the exception of Abruzzi,
Campania, Calabria and Sicily have been recognised as
free from swine vesicular disease following the favourable
results of repeated sampling and testing of pigs on all
holdings under the yearly eradication and monitoring
programmes.

the disease and its
However, given the nature of
persistence in certain regions of
Italy, surveillance to
detect swine vesicular disease at an early stage should
be maintained in regions recognised as free from swine
vesicular disease.

The disease situation in regions that are not recognised as
free from swine vesicular disease is also liable to
endanger pig holdings in other regions of Italy through
trade in live pigs. Pigs should therefore not be moved
from regions not recognised as free from swine vesicular
disease to other regions of Italy unless they originate
from holdings that fulfil certain conditions.

recognised as

in regions not

Pigs
free from swine
vesicular disease should not be dispatched to other
Member States. Pigs in regions recognised as free from
swine vesicular disease should only be dispatched from
holdings recognised as free from that disease.

(6)

(7)

(8)

(9)

(10)

to those

The rules laid down in this Decision should apply
without prejudice
laid down in Council
Directive 92/119/EEC. It is appropriate to lay down a
definition for ‘assembly centre for pigs’ different to the
one laid down in Council Directive 64/432/EEC of 26
June 1964 on animal health problems affecting intra-
Community trade in bovine animals and swine (5).

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

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

(11)

(12)

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Official Journal of the European Union

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For the sake of transparency, rules should be laid down
at Community level on the status of pig holdings and
regions as
swine vesicular disease and on
movements of and intra-Community trade in live pigs
from holdings and regions of a different disease status.

regards

Article 4

Recognition of holdings

Italy shall ensure that paragraphs 2 to 6 are complied

1.
with.

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

in this Decision are in
Standing
the

opinion

the

of

HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:

CHAPTER I

SUBJECT MATTER, SCOPE AND DEFINITIONS

Article 1

Subject matter and scope

This Decision lays down animal health rules as regards swine
vesicular disease for regions of Italy that are recognised as free
from swine vesicular disease and for regions not recognised as
free from that disease.

Article 2

Definitions

For the purposes of this Decision:

1. the definitions in Directive 92/119/EEC shall apply;

2.

‘assembly centre for pigs’ means the holding of a trader to
which and from which acquired pigs are regularly moved
within 30 days of acquisition.

2.
In regions recognised as free from swine vesicular disease,
a pig holding shall be recognised as free from that disease if:

(a) on two occasions at an interval of 28 to 40 days, sampling
for serological testing has been carried out on a number of
breeding pigs sufficient
to detect a prevalence of swine
vesicular disease of 5 % with a confidence interval of
95 % and the results have been negative, and

(b) where no breeding pigs are kept on holdings in regions
recognised as free from swine vesicular disease, any pigs
moved to such holdings originate in holdings recognised
as free from that disease.

In regions not recognised as free from swine vesicular
3.
disease, a pig holding shall be recognised as free from that
disease if on two occasions at an interval of 28 to 40 days,
testing has been carried out on a
sampling for serological
number of pigs
swine
vesicular disease of 5 % with a confidence interval of 95 %
and the results were negative;

to detect prevalence of

sufficient

A pig holding recognised as free from swine vesicular

4.
disease shall retain that status if:

(a) sampling and checking procedures are carried out

in
accordance with Article 5(1) and Article 6 and the results
are negative, and

(b) pigs moved to such a holding originate in holdings

recognised as free from swine vesicular disease.

CHAPTER II

RECOGNITION OF REGIONS AND HOLDINGS IN ITALY AS
FREE FROM SWINE VESICULAR DISEASE

The recognition of a holding as free from swine vesicular

5.
disease:

Article 3

Recognition of regions

The regions of Italy listed in Annex I are recognised as

1.
free from swine vesicular disease.

(a) shall be suspended where any seropositive case is detected
and confirmed by further investigations, until such time as
the pig concerned is slaughtered under official supervision,
or

The regions of Italy listed in Annex II are not recognised

2.
as free from swine vesicular disease.

(b) shall be withdrawn where two or more seropositive cases

are detected.

L 293/30

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Official Journal of the European Union

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A pig holding shall be recognised once more as free from
6.
swine vesicular disease if the sampling and checking procedures
set out in paragraphs 2 or 3, as the case may be, have been
carried out and the results are negative.

CHAPTER IV

MOVEMENT OF LIVE PIGS WITHIN ITALY AND TO OTHER
MEMBER STATES

CHAPTER III

SURVEILLANCE

Article 5

SECTION I

Movement within Italy

Article 7

Measures as regards the movement of live pigs within Italy

Surveillance in regions recognised as free from swine
vesicular disease

Italy shall ensure that paragraphs 2, 3 and 4 are complied

1.
with for movement of live pigs within Italy.

1.
Italy shall ensure that sampling and checking procedures
to detect swine vesicular disease are carried out as set out in
paragraphs 2 and 3 in regions recognised as free from that
disease.

On holdings where more than two breeding pigs are kept,
2.
sampling for serological
the
following intervals on a random sample of 12 breeding pigs
or on all breeding pigs where there are fewer than 12 breeding
pigs on the holding:

testing shall be carried out at

(a) once a year where the holding mainly produces pigs for

slaughter,

(b) twice a year in other cases.

At assembly centres for pigs, sampling of faeces for viro-
3.
logical testing shall be carried out at monthly intervals in every
pen where pigs are usually kept.

Article 6

Surveillance in regions not recognised as free from swine
vesicular disease

1.
Italy shall ensure that sampling and checking procedures
to detect swine vesicular disease are carried out as set out in
paragraphs 2 and 3 in regions not recognised as free from
swine vesicular disease.

2.
On holdings recognised as free from swine vesicular
disease where breeding pigs are kept and at assembly centres
for pigs, the provisions laid down in Article 5 shall apply.

3.
On holdings recognised as free from swine vesicular
disease where no breeding pigs are kept, sampling for sero-
logical testing shall be carried out twice a year on a random
sample of 12 pigs or on all pigs where there are fewer than 12
pigs on the holding. Sampling of the pigs of a holding may,
however,
the time of
slaughter.

the slaughterhouse at

take place at

2. Where pigs from holdings not recognised as free from
swine vesicular disease are moved to a slaughterhouse for
slaughter, sampling for serological testing shall be carried out
on a number of pigs sufficient to detect prevalence of swine
vesicular disease of 5 % with a confidence interval of 95 %.

3.
The movement of pigs from holdings not recognised as
free from swine vesicular disease to other holdings is prohibited.

The movement of pigs from regions not recognised as free
Italy is

4.
from swine vesicular disease to other
prohibited.

regions of

Article 8

Derogations and conditions

By way of derogation from Article 7(4), the Italian authorities
may authorise the movement of pigs from holdings in regions
not recognised as free from swine vesicular disease to other
regions of Italy on condition that:

(a)

the holding of origin has been recognised as free from
swine vesicular disease for at least two years without inter-
ruption;

(b) in the 60 days prior to movement, the holding of origin has
not been located in a protection or surveillance zone
following an outbreak of swine vesicular disease;

(c) no pigs were introduced onto the holding of origin in the
12 months prior to movement from holdings where swine
vesicular disease was suspected;

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(d) pigs on the holding of origin are sampled between 20 and
30 days before movement and serologically testing is carried
out on a number of pigs sufficient to detect prevalence of
swine vesicular disease of 5 % with a confidence interval of
95 %;

(e) pigs on the holding of destination are sampled at least 28
days after movement and serologically testing is carried out
on a number of pigs sufficient to detect prevalence of swine
vesicular disease of 5 % with a confidence interval of 95 %.
Pigs may not be moved from the holding of destination
until
testing has been carried out and the results are
negative;

(f)

the animals moved are transported in sealed vehicles under
the supervision of the authorities;

(g) movement of

the pigs is notified at

least 48 hours in
advance to the local veterinary authority responsible for
the holding of destination;

(h) the vehicles used for transporting the pigs are cleaned and
supervision before and after

disinfected under official
movement.

SECTION II

Intra-Community movement

Article 9

Dispatch of live pigs from Italy to other Member States

Italy shall ensure that paragraphs 2 and 3 are complied

1.
with.

The dispatch of pigs from regions not recognised as free
is

2.
from swine vesicular disease to other Member States
prohibited.

3.
Pigs dispatched from regions recognised as free from
swine vesicular disease to other Member States shall come
from holdings that are recognised as free from that disease.

Article 10

Obligation regarding certification

Italy shall ensure that health certificates as provided for in
Article 5(1) of Directive 64/432/EEC accompanying pigs
dispatched from Italy to other Member States in accordance
with Article 9 of
endorsed with the
this Decision are
following wording:

in

‘Animals
Commission Decision
2005/779/EC concerning animal health protection measures
against swine vesicular disease in Italy’.

accordance with

CHAPTER V

OBLIGATION OF COMMUNICATION

Article 11

Communication to the Commission and the Member States

The Italian authorities shall forward any relevant information on
the application of this Decision to the Commission and the
Member States
through the Standing
Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health.

every six months

CHAPTER VI

FINAL PROVISIONS

Article 12

Addresses

This Decision is addressed to the Member States.

Done at Brussels, 8 November 2005.

For the Commission

Markos KYPRIANOU
Member of the Commission

L 293/32

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Official Journal of the European Union

9.11.2005

ANNEX I

Regions of Italy recognised as free from swine vesicular disease

The regions of:
— Basilicata
— Emilia-Romagna
— Friuli-Venezia Giulia
— Lazio
— Liguria
— Lombardy
— Marche
— Molise
— Piedmont
— Apulia
— Sardinia
— Tuscany
— Trentino-Alto Adige
— Umbria
— Valle d'Aosta
— Veneto.

ANNEX II

Regions of Italy not recognised as free from swine vesicular disease

The regions of:
— Abruzzi
— Campania
— Calabria
— Sicily.