2006/78/EC: Commission Decision of  31 January 2006  concerning a financial contribution by the Community for the implementation of an epidemiological survey and bluetongue surveillance measures in the context of the emergency measures taken to combat this disease in Portugal in 2004 and 2005  (notified under document number C(2006) 166)
Date: 2006-01-31
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: Portugal, animal disease, epidemiology, health control, sheep

8.2.2006

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

L 36/45

COMMISSION DECISION

of 31 January 2006

concerning a
an
epidemiological survey and bluetongue surveillance measures in the context of the emergency
measures taken to combat this disease in Portugal in 2004 and 2005

contribution by the Community for

implementation of

financial

the

(notified under document number C(2006) 166)

(Only the Portuguese text is authentic)

(2006/78/EC)

THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,

Having regard to the Treaty
Community,

establishing the European

Having regard to Council Decision 90/424/EEC of 26 June
1990 on expenditure in the veterinary field (1), and in particular
Article 3(2a) thereof,

Whereas:

(1)

(2)

(3)

On 24 November 2004, outbreaks of bluetongue
appeared in Portugal. The emergence of
this disease
may represent a serious
risk to the Community's
livestock population.

In order to prevent the spread of the disease as rapidly as
possible, the Community should contribute financially to
in the
the eligible expenditure incurred by Portugal
context of
the emergency measures taken to combat
the disease, as provided for in Decision 90/424/EEC.
Therefore,
2005 Commission
September
Decision 2005/660/EC concerning a financial contri-
the
bution by the Community in the context of
emergency measures taken to combat bluetongue in
Portugal in 2004 and 2005 (2) was adopted.

15

on

The Commission has adopted various decisions in order
to demarcate the protection and surveillance zones and
to set out
the conditions governing movements of
animals from these zones, the last one being Decision
2005/393/EC of 23 May 2005 on protection and
and
surveillance
conditions applying to movements from or
through
these zones (3).

in relation to bluetongue

zones

(4)

Since autumn 2004 the exceptional weakness of rainfalls
in Portugal has seriously affected the fodder supply and
consequently the possibilities of animal feeding, causing

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

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

(2) OJ L 244, 20.9.2005, p. 28.
(3) OJ L 130, 24.5.2005, p. 22. Decision as last amended by Decision

2005/828/EC (OJ L 311, 26.11.2005, p. 37).

additional costs for the farmers. This situation is of
particular consequence in Portugal since holdings specia-
lising in bovine and ovine births are located in the areas
affected by the restrictions on animal movements, while
those specialising in fattening, which are the natural
outlet for animals raised on such holdings, are located
outside those areas.

Other measures were put in place by Portugal in colla-
boration with Spain to control the epidemic by carrying
out epidemiological
surveys and disease surveillance
including laboratory tests for serological and
measures,
framework of pre-
virological
entomological
and
movement
surveillance.

surveillance
of
testing

in the
animals

Portugal and Spain have provided evidence of coop-
eration between both Member States
to avoid the
spread of the disease by carrying out disease surveillance
measures.

In accordance with Article 3(2) of Council Regulation
(EC) No 1258/1999 of 17 May 1999 on the financing
the common agricultural policy (4), veterinary and
of
plant health measures undertaken in accordance with
rules
Community
the Guarantee
Section of
the European Agricultural Guidance and
Guarantee Fund. The auditing of those measures falls
within Articles 8 and 9 of that Regulation.

financed by

are

The payment of
the financial contribution from the
Community should be subject to the condition that the
actions planned have actually been carried out and that
the authorities
the necessary information
within the time limits laid down.

supply all

On 25 February 2005, Portugal submitted an initial esti-
mation of the costs incurred in the context of the other
epidemiological
emergency
surveillance measures taken to combat the disease. This
estimation of
surveillance measures
amounts to EUR 4 303 336.

epidemiological

measures,

including

(5)

(6)

(7)

(8)

(9)

(4) OJ L 160, 26.6.1999, p. 103.

L 36/46

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

8.2.2006

(10)

(11)

(12)

on

checks

carried

by
is now necessary to fix the

the
on-the-spot
Pending
it
first
Commission,
instalment of
the Community financial contribution.
That first instalment should be equal to 50 % of the
Community contribution, established on the basis of
the estimated eligible expenditure of epidemiological
surveillance measures. It is also appropriate to fix the
maximum amounts to be reimbursed for the cost of
tests and traps used in the framework of these measures.

Portugal has fulfilled all their technical and administrative
obligations with regard to the measures provided for in
Article 3 of Decision 90/424/EEC.

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:

Article 1

Granting of a financial contribution from the Community
to Portugal

In the context of

1.
the emergency measures taken to
combat bluetongue in 2004 and 2005, Portugal shall be
entitled to a financial contribution from the Community
amounting to 50 % of the expenditure incurred for the costs
of the laboratory tests for serological and virological surveillance
and for the costs of entomological surveillance, including the
purchase of traps.

2.
The maximum amounts of the costs to be reimbursed to
Portugal for the tests and the traps referred to in paragraph 1
shall not exceed:

(a)

for serological surveillance, Elisa test: EUR 2,5 per test;

(b) for virological surveillance, RT.PCR test: EUR 15 per test;

(c)

for entomological surveillance, trap: EUR 160 per trap.

The financial contribution from the Community shall

3.
exclude value added tax.

Article 2

Payment arrangements

Subject to the results of the on-the-spot checks carried out in
accordance with Article 9(1) of Decision 90/424/EEC, an initial

instalment of EUR 600 000 shall be paid, as part of
Community financial contribution provided for in Article 1.

the

That payment shall be made on the basis of supporting
documents submitted by Portugal relating to the laboratory
tests and the purchase of traps referred to in Article 1(1).

Article 3

Payment conditions and supporting documents

The

1.
referred to in Article 1 shall be paid on the basis of:

contribution from the Community as

financial

(a) an application containing the data specified in the Annex
submitted within the time limit set out in paragraph 2 of
this Article;

(b) the supporting documents referred to in Article 2, including

an epidemiological report and a financial report;

(c)

the results of any on-the-spot checks carried out
accordance with Article 9(1) of Decision 90/424/EEC.

in

The documents referred to in point (b) shall be made available
for on-the-spot checks referred to in point (c).

2.
The application referred to in paragraph 1(a) shall be
submitted in computerised form within sixty calendar days
following the date of notification of this Decision. If that time
limit
the financial contribution from the
Community shall be reduced by 25 % for every month of delay.

is not observed,

Article 4

Addressee

This Decision is addressed to the Portuguese Republic.

Done at Brussels, 31 January 2006.

For the Commission

Markos KYPRIANOU
Member of the Commission

8.2.2006

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

L 36/47

ANNEX

Data referred to in Article 3(1)(a)

Costs incurred

Nature of action

Number

Amount (not including VAT)

ELISA Tests

RT.PCR Tests

Other virological Tests

Traps

Total