1999/550/EC: Commission Decision of 20 July 1999 amending Decision 95/125/EC on the status of France as regards infectious hematopoietic necrosis and viral haemorrhagic septicaemia (notified under document number C(1999) 2156) (Text with EEA relevance)

COMMISSION DECISION
of 20 July 1999
amending Decision 95/125/EC on the status of France as regards infectious hematopoietic necrosis and viral haemorrhagic septicaemia
(notified under document number C(1999) 2156)
(Text with EEA relevance)
(1999/550/EC)
THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES
,
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,
Having regard to Council Directive 91/67/EEC of 28 January 1991 concerning the animal health conditions governing the placing on the market of aquaculture animals and products(1), as last amended by Directive 98/45/EC(2), and in particular Article 5(2) thereof,
(1) Whereas the Member States may obtain for one or more regions the status of approved zones free of infectious hematopoietic necrosis (IHN) and viral haemorrhagic septicaemia (VHS);
(2) Whereas the list of approved zones in France was established by Commission Decision 95/125/EC(3), as last amended by Decision 95/481/EC(4);
(3) Whereas France has submitted to the Commission suitable justifications for obtaining for other zones the status of zones approved in respect of IHN and VHS, as well as the national provisions ensuring compliance with the rules on maintenance of approval;
(4) Whereas the Commission and the Member States have examined the justifications submitted by France for those zones;
(5) Whereas that examination has shown that the zones concerned meet the requirements of Article 5 of Directive 91/67/EEC;
(6) Whereas, when the approval concerns only part of a catchment area, additional checks are carried out in a buffer zone neighbouring the part of the catchment area covered by the approval;
(7) Whereas, therefore, such zones may be eligible for the status of approved zones with regard to IHN and VHS,
(8) Whereas those zones should be added to the list of approved zones;
(9) Whereas the measures provided for in this Decision are in accordance with the opinion of the Standing Veterinary Committee,