CELEX: 51989PC0498
Language: en
Date: 1989-10-17
Title: PROPOSAL FOR A COUNCIL DECISION INTRODUCING A COMMUNITY FINANCIAL MEASURE FOR THE ERADICATION OF BRUCELLOSIS IN SHEEP AND GOATS

COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES
                                                          COM(89) 498 final
                                                          Brussels, 17 October 1989
      m
  im
                                Proposal f o r a
                               COUNCIL DECISION
              introducing a Community f i n a n c i a l measure f o r the
  :'" h
                eradication of b r u c e l l o s i s i n sheep and goats
                         (presented by the Commission)
43fe
 ---pagebreak---                              Explanatory Memorandum                            /
Brucellosis Is not only a serious disease of sheep and goats, where It causes
widespread losses but also of humans as well.     It Is called Malta fever when
it spreads to humans and may cause death.
Brucellosis  in sheep   and goats    is caused by   a bacteria  called  Brucella
melitensls and mainly occurs around the Mediterranean basin and Portugal.      It
has been partially controlled up to now by use of vaccination.       Vaccination
will not eradicate the disease and further steps must be taken If we are to
rid the Community of this very serious disease.
Within the optic of the Internal market It is essential that this disease be
eradicated to facilitate movements of sheep and goats from South to North in
the Community.  Pressure for such movement is continually increasing.
There are serious barriers to trade In sheep and goats milk and certain soft
cheeses coming from   Infected areas of the Community.    The presence of this
disease causes severe desruptlon to sheep and goat rearing in Infected areas
as well as other types of     llfestock production as this disease can easily
spread to cattle pigs and horses as well as man.
The presence of this desease decreases the productivity of livestock forming
in an area by causing direct losses on the farm itself and by decreasing the
range of outlets for the farm products. The eradication of brucellosis in
sheep and goats is a requirement for the completion of the Internal market and
Is included in the time table of the "White Book".
it Is for these reasons that a proposal has been made to introduce Community
financial aids for the eradication of bruceIlosis In sheep and goats, the aid
will be primarily provided to partially compensate owners of      infected sheep
and goats who have their animais slaughtered under a National or Regional pian
for the eradication of brucellosis In sheep and goats.
The Commission  !n its proposal has retained the Committee Regulatory proce-
dure. This choice J s Justified in this case by tne requirement not to upset
the mechanism of management In the veterinary field, it does no* p r &judice ii>e
preferancs of the Corliss Ion for the consultative Committee p.ocsdure.
 ---pagebreak---                                Proposal for a
                              COUNCIL DECISION
                 introducing a Community financial measure for
               the eradication of brucellosis In sheep and goats
THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Economic Community, and
In particular Article 43 thereof,
Having regard to the proposal from the Commission,
Having regard to the opinion of the European Parliament,
Having regard to the opinion of the Economic and Social Committee,
Whereas the continued presence of brucellosis In sheep and goats, particularly
around the Mediterranean basin Is a severe threat to human and animal health;
Whereas the continued presence of this disease      prevents   the free
movement of sheep and goats;
Whereas the eradication of this disease constitutes an essential prerequisite
for the establishment - with regard to trade In sheep and goats and their pro-
ducts and by-products - of the internal market In sheep and goats as well as
for Increasing the productivity of breeding and, consequently, improving the
standard of living of persons engaged In this sector;
Whereas infected Member States are to present a plan for the eradication of
brucellosis In sheep and goats;
Whereas  it  Is moreover   necessary   to  lay down  the  conditions  in which
slaughter, Isolation, cleaning and disinfection should take place and the use
which should be made of certain animal products;
Whereas Community  financial aid will be    In the form of a reimbursement  to
Member States of a part of the slaughter premium compensating owners of in-
fected sheep and goats for the rapid disposal of such animals;
 ---pagebreak---                                       - 2 -
Whereas the eradication plans must Include measures ensuring the effectiveness
of the action undertaken; whereas a procedure closely associating the Member
States and the Commission should be Introduced by means of which such measures
can be adopted and adapted as the situation develops;
Whereas the Member States should be kept regularly Informed of the progress of
the measures undertaken,
HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION :
                                    Article 1
France, Greece, Italy, Spain and Portugal must present a plan before 1 January
1990 for the eradication of brucellosis (Brucella me 11 tens is) In sheep and
goats.
                                    Article 2
For the purpose of this Decision the definitions In Article 2 of Council Regu-
lation   (EEC) No             of                  on  animal  health  conditions
governing Intra-Communlty trade in ovine and caprine animals       shall apply; in
addition     an   "official  brucellosis test" means any serological     test as
described In Annex C of the abovementioned    Regulation or any other test that
Is agreed following the procedure laid down in Article 12.
                                    Article 3
The plans referred to in Article 1 must :
1.  indicate the centrai author ities which are to implement and co-ordinate
    the plan;
2.  ensure that the presence and suspected presence of brucellosis are com-
    pulser ily and Immediately notifiable to the competent authority;
3.  provide for s registration of v> lings engaged In sheep and goat Tarming;
 ---pagebreak---                                        - 3 -
4.  be so devised that at its completion the holdings are classified as offi-
    cially brucellosis free or brucellosis free;
5.  ban the therapeutic treatment of brucellosis;
6.  must specify those parts of the territory In which brucellosis vaccination
    shall be carried out and those in which It shall be banned;
7.  indicate the number of holdings and animals and their geographical posi-
    tion which are to be subjected to testing during each year of the plan;
8.  Indicate the national budgetary allocations for the eradication of ovine
    and caprine brucellosis and the breakdown by items of these allocations
    and In particular the estimated unit costs for slaughter compensation as
    well as estimated total costs on an annual basis for carrying out the ope-
    rations;
9.  provide for the monitoring of movements of sheep and goats;
10. provide for the Immediate and adequate compensation for the owners of
    sheep and goats which have been slaughtered because they have reacted po-
    sitively to an off lea I brucellosis test or because they were suspected of
    being Infected by the competent authority.
11. ensure that the official competent authorities carry out Investigations
    where a holding contains an animal suspected of having brucellosis, as
    soon as possible to confirm or rule out the presence of disease.
    Pending the outcome of these Investigations, the official competent autho-
    rities shalI order :
    - the holding to be placed under official surveillance,
    - the prohibition of all movement Into or out of the holding unless
      authorized by the official competent authorities for the purpose of
      slaughter without delay,
    - Isolation within the holding of the suspect animals.
 ---pagebreak---                                        - 4-
12. ensure that the orders referred to In paragraph 11 are not lifted
    until the presence or suspected presence of brucellosis In the holding
     concerned has been officially ruled out.
13. ensure that where the presence of brucellosis Is officially confirmed in a
     holding, the official competent authority shall take appropriate measures
     to prevent any spread of the disease and shall ensure In particular that :
    - all movement Into or out of the herd In question is forbidden, unless In
        the case of outward movement authorized by the official competent autho-
       rities for the purpose of slaughter without delay,
    - animals In which the presence of brucellosis has been officially con-
       firmed, and animals which may have been infected by them, are Isolated
       within the herd,
    - the remaining animals are without delay submitted to an official brucel-
        losis  test,
    - animals In which the presence of brucellosis has been officially con-
       firmed, animals which have been examined as stipulated in the third
        Indent with unfavourable results, and animals considered by the compe-
       tent authorities as Infected are Isolated and marked until their
       slaughter pusuant to Article 4,
    - milk from Infected animals may only be fed to animals on the same hold-
        ing after suitable heat treatment,
    - milk from non-infected animals In an Infected holding cannot be removed
       outside the Infected holding except to undergo suitable heat treatment,
    - if milk from non-Infected animals In an Infected holding Is to be made
        Into cheese on the holding then It must be subjected to suitable heat
       treatment prior to processing,
    - carcases, half-carcases, quarters, pieces and offal from infected
       animals Intended for use as feed for animals are treated In such a way
       as to avoid contamination,
    - foetuses, stili born offspring or young animals which have died from
       brucellosis or placentae are carefully disposed of and destroyed
       immediately, unless they are to be examined,
    - straw, litter or any other matter and substance which has come into
      contact with the Infected anima I(s) or with the placentae Is destroyed
       immediately, burnt or buried after soaking in disinfectant,
 ---pagebreak---                                       - 5 -
    - official regulations for the control of establishments such as carcase
      disposal plants ensure that there Is no danger of the material produced
      spread Ing bruceIlosI s,
    - manure from sheds or other quarters used by the animals Is stored In a
      place inaccessible to farm animals, treated with a suitable disinfectant
      and stored for at least three weeks.    Use of disinfectant is not
      required if the manure Is covered with a layer of earth.    Liquid waste
      from sheds or other quarters used by the animals must be disinfected if
       It Is not collected at the same time as the manure.
                                    Article 4
Member States' plans shall ensure that, animals In which the presence of
brucellosis has been confirmed by an official burce Ilosis test and those con-
sidered by the official competent authorities following a bacteriological, pa-
thological or allergic examination are slaughtered under official supervision
as soon as possible and not later than 30 days after their owner or person In
charge has been officially notified of the results of the test or examinations
and of his obligation, under the eradication plan, to deliver for slaughter
the sheep and/or goats concerned within that time limit.
                                    Article S
The plans referred to in Article 1 shall additionally ensure that :
1.  after the slaughter of the animals referred to In Article 4 and prior to
    restocking, sheds and other herd quarters, and all containers, equipment
    and other articles used for the animals are cleaned and disinfected under
    official supervision, In accordance with the Instructions given by the of-
    ficial veterinarian.   Re-use of pastures which have contained these
    animals must not take place for 60 days after their removal from such
    pastures,
2.  all means of transport, containers and equipment are cleaned and disin-
    fected after the transport of animals from an infected holding, or of
    materials from such animals, or of materials or substances which have
    been in contact with such animals.    Loading areas for such animals must be
    cleaned and disinfected after use,
 ---pagebreak---                                        - 6-
3.  the disinfectant to be used and Its concentrations are authorized by the
    official competent authority,
4.  after the slaughter of animals referred to In Article 4 and prior to re-
    stocking, no animals may leave the Infected holding concerned unless au-
    thorization has been given by the official competent authority for the
    purpose of slaughter without delay,
5.  official brucellosis tests are carried out on the Infected holding con-
    cerned to confirm that the disease has been eliminated,
6.  the Infected holding Is not restocked with animals for breeding until the
    animals over 6 months old remaining in It for this purpose have passed one
    or more official brucellosis tests.    However, for sheep and goats which
    have been vaccinated In accordance with the provisions of Council Regu-
     lation (EEC) No           , these tests need not be carried out until they
    are 18 months old.
7.  should brucellosis be diagnosed in a sheep or goat which
    - had returned from transhumance,
    - mixes with sheep and goats from other holdings on a regular basis for
       grazing, milking or other purposes,
    then all of the holdings which had supplied animals for transhumance or
    for grazing, milking or other purposes shall be regarded as one large
     Infected holding and shall be subjected to official brucellosis tests to
    confirm that the disease has been eliminated.
                                    Article 8
The Commission shall examine the pians drawn up by the concerned Member
States' authorities In order to ascertain whether they meet the conditions for
their approval or whether they shculd be amended in any way.    The plans
including any amendments to them, shall be approved In accordance with the
procedure provided for in Article 12.
 ---pagebreak---                                      - 7 -
                                   Article 7
The measure provided for In this Decision shall qualify for financial aid from
the Community.
                                   Article 8
1.  Community financial assistance shall be granted for compensation to the
    owners of animals slaughtered In accordance with Article 4 for a period of
    three years from the date fixed by the Commission in Its decision
    approving the plans referred to In Article 1.
2.  The estimated assistance to be charged to the Community budget under the
    chapter covering expenditure relating to agriculture shall be 15 million
    ECU for the duration of the period provided for In paragraph 1.
                                   Article 9
1.  On condition that all the measures laid down are applied and are In com-
    pliance with the plan approved pursuant to Article 12, the expenditure
    Incurred by the Member States under Article 4 shall qualify for Community
    financial aid within the limits laid down In Article 8.
2.  The Community shall reimburse the Member States 40 ecus per sheep and goat
    slaughtered under the eradication plan and the measures mentioned In
    Article 4.
3.  Detailed rules for the application of this Article shall be adopted, as
    required, In accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 12.
                                  Article 10
1.  Applications for payment shall relate to slaughterings by the Member
    States during the calendar year and shall be submitted to the Commission
    before 1 July of the following year.
 ---pagebreak---                                       - 8-
2.  The Commission shall decide on aid after consulting the Committee referred
    to in Article 12.
3.  Detailed rules for the application of this Article shall be adopted, as
    required, In accordance with the procedure laid down In Article 12.
                                   Article 11
                                                        (1)
Articles 8 and 9 of Council Regulation (EEC) No 729/70      shall apply mutatis mutandis
                                   Article 12
1.  The Commission shall be assisted by the Standing Veterinary Committee
    (hereinafter referred to as "the Committee"), set up by Council Decision
    68/361/EEC (2) .
2.  Where the procedure laid down in this Article Is to be followed, the
    provisions set out below shall apply.
3.  The representative of the Commission shall submit to the committee a draft
    of the measures to be taken.   The committee shall deliver its opinion on the
    draft within a time limit which the chairman may lay down according to the
    urgency of the matter.  The opinion shall be delivered by the majority laid
    down in Article 148(2) of the Treaty in the case of decisions which the Council
    is required to adopt on a proposal from the Commission.     The votes of the
    representatives of the Member States within the committee shall be weighted
    in the manner set out in that Article.    The chairman shall not vote.
4.  The Commission shall adopt the measures envisaged if they are in accordance
    with the opinion of the committee.
(1) 0J No L 94, 28.4.1970, p. 13.
(2) 0J No L 255, 18.10.1968, p. 23
 ---pagebreak---                               - 9 -
5.  If the measures envisaged are not in accordance with the opinion of the
    committee, or if no opinion is delivered, the Commission shall, without
    delay, submit to the Council a proposal relating to the measures to be
    taken.  The Council shall act by a qualified majority.
                                  Article 13
1.  The Commission shall follow developments with regard to brucellosis in
    sheep and goats in the Member States and the Implementation of the eradi-
    cation plans.
    The Commission shall Inform the Member States within the Committee of
    developments regularly, at least once a year, In the light of the Infor-
    mation provided by the Member States' authorities, who shall submit a
    progress report to the Commission together with the applications for pay-
    ment and any reports from experts who, acting on behalf of the Community
    and appointed by the Commission, have made on-the-spot visits.
2.  Should the eradication plan require amendment in the course of Its exe-
    cution, a new decision approving It shall be taken In accordance with the
    procedure laid down in Article 12.
                                  Article 14
This Decision is addressed to the Member States.
Done at Brussels,                                    For the Council
                                                     The President
 ---pagebreak---    FINANCIAL                STATEMENT                       concerning:
    A proposal for a Council Decision introducing a Community financial measure for
    the eradication of brucellosis in sheep and goats (3 year programme).
1. Budget heading :               I tea :              Title :
                                  381                   Disease eradication programme within the Community
2. legal basis :      Article 43 of the Treaty
3. Classification :              , Coapulsory expend! tura/ltemttteHHri EQ^xj»» em* tone
4. Purpose/description of the aeasure :
    To eradicate brucellosis in sheep and goats by providing financial aid for
    slaughtering infected animals within the context of a National or Regional
    plan.
5.   Method of calculation : Reimbursement of the rate of 40 ECU per slaughtered infected
5.1 Fors of expenditure :                                                                                            animal
5.2  Coaaunity contribution :        14.64 m i l l i o n    ECU o v e r  3 y e a r s c h a r g e a b l e t o t h e EEC.
5.3  Calculation :      Compensation o f owners o f s l a u g h t e r e d a n i m a l s a t t h e r a t e o f 40 ECU
                        per a n i m a l ( 3 6 6 . 0 0 0 heads x 40 ecus « 1 4 , 6 4 MECU).
          Total:        14.64 m i l l i o n    ECU over      3 years
6.   Financial iaplicattan as regards operating appropriations
6.1   Schedule of ocvocbdieni appropriations a«k|M^ioflxyprip«*xtooiiac (a ECU)
                    Year
                    1990                                                     P.M.
                    1991                                                      4.4
                    19 92                         *                           4.96
                    19 93                                                     5.28
                    19 94                                                    P.M. '
                    following years
                    Total                         *                           14.64
6.2  financing during current year : None
7. Observations :
     This p r o j e c t  i s n e c e s s a r y t o complete t h e       internal     market
 ---pagebreak---                                                                     ISSN 0254-1475
                                                              COM (89) 498 final
                                                     DOCUMENTS
EN                                                                             03
                                Catalogue number : CB-CO-89-494-EN-C
                                                                                   ' 0
                                                             ISBN 92-77-54295-0
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