2002/906/EC: Commission Decision of 15 November 2002 amending Decision 2001/783/EC as regards the protection and surveillance zones in relation to bluetongue in Italy (Text with EEA relevance) (notified under document number C(2002) 4415)

Commission Decision
of 15 November 2002
amending Decision 2001/783/EC as regards the protection and surveillance zones in relation to bluetongue in Italy
(notified under document number C(2002) 4415)
(Text with EEA relevance)
(2002/906/EC)
THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES
,
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,
Having regard to Council Directive 2000/75/EC of 20 November 2000 laying down specific provisions for the control and eradication of bluetongue(1), and in particular Article 8(3) thereof,
Whereas:
(1) In the light of the evolution of the bluetongue situation in four Member States in 2001, Commission Decision 2001/783/EC of 9 November 2001 on protection and surveillance zones in relation to bluetongue and on rules applicable to movements of animals in and from those zones(2), as last amended by Decision 2002/543/EC(3), was adopted.
(2) It is clear from the results of the epidemiological survey carried out by the Italian authorities that bluetongue virus has spread to new regions or reappeared in regions formerly infected. Italy has requested the inclusion of those regions in Annex I of Decision 2001/783/EC.
(3) Decision 2001/783/EC should therefore be amended accordingly.
(4) The measures provided for in this Decision are in accordance with the opinion of the Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health,