2006/762/EC: Commission Decision of 9 November 2006 concerning certain protective measures against bluetongue in Bulgaria (notified under document number C(2006) 5315)   (  (Text with EEA relevance)
Date: 2006-11-09
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: Bulgaria, animal breeding, animal disease, public health, sheep, trade restriction, veterinary legislation

L 311/56

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

10.11.2006

COMMISSION DECISION

of 9 November 2006

concerning certain protective measures against bluetongue in Bulgaria

(notified under document number C(2006) 5315)

(Text with EEA relevance)

(2006/762/EC)

THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,

Community of animals of species susceptible to blue-
tongue originating in or transiting through the affected
area, and their semen, ova and embryos.

Having regard to the Treaty
Community,

establishing the European

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
89/662/EEC,
90/425/EEC and 90/675/EEC (1) and in particular Article
18(1) and (6) thereof,

amending Directives

countries

and

Whereas:

2006,

Bulgaria

10 October

On
the
Commission of the detection of bluetongue antibodies
in Slivarovo in the administrative
in sentinel goats
district of Burgas,
that
in the south-eastern part of
country, at the border with Turkey (the affected area).

informed

(1)

(2)

(5)

(6)

(7)

Given that semen, ova and embryos produced before
1 July 2006 may not present a risk, the suspension of
imports shall only concern semen, ova and embryos
produced from this date.

In the light of the evolution of the situation and the
results of further investigations carried out by Bulgaria,
the measures provided for in this Decision should be
reviewed at a meeting of the Standing Committee on
the Food Chain and Animal Health at the earliest oppor-
tunity.

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

in this Decision are in
Standing
the

opinion

the

of

As Bulgaria is due to accede to the Community on 1
January 2007,
it has informed the Commission that it
immediately banned the movements of animals of
species susceptible to bluetongue and their semen, ova
and embryos out of the affected area, in accordance with
Council Directive 2000/75/EC of 20 November 2000
laying down specific provisions for the control and eradi-
cation of bluetongue (2)
and Commission 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

HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:

Article 1

The Member States shall suspend imports of animals of
1.
species susceptible to bluetongue originating in or transiting
through the territories or parts thereof listed in the Annex.

(3)

The spread of bluetongue from the affected area could
constitute a serious hazard to animal health in the
Community.

2.
The Member States shall suspend imports of semen, ova
and embryos collected or produced from 1 July 2006 and
originating in the territories or parts thereof listed in the Annex.

(4)

Pending further epidemiological and laboratory investi-
is necessary to suspend imports into the
gations,

it

Article 2

(1) OJ L 268, 24.9.1991, p. 56. Directive as last amended by the 2003

Act of Accession.

(2) OJ L 327, 22.12.2000, p. 74.
(3) OJ L 130, 24.5.2005, p. 22. Decision as last amended by Decision

2006/693/EC (OJ L 283, 14.10.2006, p. 52).

Member States shall amend the measures they apply to trade so
as to bring them into compliance with this Decision and they
shall give immediate appropriate publicity to the measures
adopted. They shall
immediately inform the Commission
thereof.

10.11.2006

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

L 311/57

This Decision shall apply until 31 December 2006.

Article 3

This Decision is addressed to the Member States.

Article 4

Done at Brussels, 9 November 2006.

For the Commission

Markos KYPRIANOU
Member of the Commission

Parts of the territory of Bulgaria referred to in Article 1(1) and (2):

ANNEX

ISO country code

Name of the country

Description of part of territory

BG

Bulgaria

The administrative district of:
— Burgas