2003/126/EC: Commission Decision of 24 February 2003 on financial aid from the Community for the operation of certain Community reference laboratories in the field of veterinary public health (biological risks) for the year 2003 (notified under document number C(2003) 565)

Commission Decision
of 24 February 2003
on financial aid from the Community for the operation of certain Community reference laboratories in the field of veterinary public health (biological risks) for the year 2003
(notified under document number C(2003) 565)
(Only the Spanish, German, English, French and Dutch texts are authentic)
(2003/126/EC)
THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES
,
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,
Having regard to Council Decision 90/424/EEC of 26 June 1990 on expenditure in the veterinary field(1), as last amended by Council Decision 2001/572/EC of 23 July 2001(2), and in particular Article 28(2) thereof,
Whereas:
(1) Community financial aid should be granted to the Community reference laboratories designated to carry out the functions and duties laid down in the following Directives, Decisions and Regulation:
- Council Directive 92/46/EEC of 16 June 1992 laying down the health rules for the production and placing on the market of raw milk, heat-treated milk and milk-based products(3), as last amended by Directive 96/23/EC(4),
- Council Directive 92/117/EEC of 17 December 1992 concerning measures for protection against certain zoonoses and specified zoonotic agents in animals and products of animal origin in order to prevent outbreaks of food-borne infections and intoxications(5), as last amended by Directive 1999/72/EC(6),
- Council Decision 93/383/EEC of 14 June 1993 on reference laboratories for the monitoring of marine biotoxins(7), as last amended by Decision 1999/312/EC(8),
- Council Decision 1999/313/EC of 29 April 1999 on reference laboratories for monitoring bacteriological and viral contamination of bivalve molluscs(9),
- Regulation (EC) No 999/2001 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 22 May 2001 laying down rules for the prevention, control and eradication of certain transmissible spongiform encephalopathies(10), as last amended by Regulation (EC) No 1494/2002(11).
(2) Community assistance should be granted provided that the actions planned are efficiently carried out and that the authorities supply all the necessary information within the time limits laid down.
(3) For budgetary reasons, Community assistance should be granted for a period of one year.
(4) Additional financial assistance for the organisation of yearly workshops in the area of responsibility of the Community reference laboratories can be granted during the same period.
(5) The work programmes and corresponding budget estimates submitted by the Community reference laboratories for 2003 have been assessed by the Commission.
(6) As provided for in Article 3(2) of Regulation (EC) No 1258/1999(12), the veterinary and plant health measures undertaken in accordance with Community rules are financed under the Guarantee Section of the European Agricultural Guidance and Guarantee Fund. For financial control purposes, Articles 8 and 9 of Regulation (EC) No 1258/1999 apply.
(7) Commission Regulation (EC) No 324/2003(13) establishes the eligible expenditures of the Community reference laboratories receiving financial assistance under Article 28 of Decision 90/424/EEC and establishes the procedures for the submission of expenditures and audits.
(8) The measures provided for in this Decision are in accordance with the opinion of the Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health,