2003/14/EC: Commission Decision of 10 January 2003 amending Decision 2001/783/EC as regards the bluetongue protection and surveillance zones and conditions for movements of animals for immediate slaughter (Text with EEA relevance) (notified under document number C(2002) 5562)

Commission Decision
of 10 January 2003
amending Decision 2001/783/EC as regards the bluetongue protection and surveillance zones and conditions for movements of animals for immediate slaughter
(notified under document number C(2002) 5562)
(Text with EEA relevance)
(2003/14/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(2)(d) and (3), Article 9(1)(c) and Article 12(1), 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 2002/906/EC(3), was adopted.
(2) It is clear from the results of the epidemiological survey carried out by Spain that the Balearic Islands are free of bluetongue and therefore, at the request of Spain, they should be deleted from Annex I B to Decision 2001/783/EC.
(3) As serotype 2 is the only serotype circulating in the provinces of Isernia and Aquila, it is appropriate that the epidemioloical situation of those two provinces be considered as equivalent to the one prevailing in Latium and Toscana. Therefore, at the request of Italy, those two provinces should be moved from Annex I A, which lists territories where serotypes 2 and 9 are circulating, to Annex I C which lists territories where only serotype 2 circulates.
(4) In 2002, during the activity period of the vector and following the vaccination campaigns the virus circulation has been as negligible in regions listed in Annex I B than in regions listed in Annex I C, therefore the two annexes should be agregated as they are now epidemiologically equivalent.
(5) Provision should be made for movements of animals to be slaughtered when the risk of contact between those animals and vectors may be ruled out from the point of entry in a non-restricted zone to the slaughterhouse.
(6) Decision 2001/783/EC should therefore be amended accordingly.
(7) The measures provided for in this Decision are in accordance with the opinion of the Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health,