2005/138/EC: Commission Decision of 16 February 2005 amending Decision 2003/828/EC as regards movements of animals from and inside a restricted zone in Portugal, in relation to an outbreak of bluetongue in that Member State (notified under document number C(2005) 335) (Text with EEA relevance)

18.2.2005 EN Official Journal of the European Union L 47/38
COMMISSION DECISION
of 16 February 2005
amending Decision 2003/828/EC as regards movements of animals from and inside a restricted zone in Portugal, in relation to an outbreak of bluetongue in that Member State
(notified under document number C(2005) 335)
(Text with EEA relevance)
(2005/138/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 Articles 8(2)(d), and 9(1)(c) and Article 12 thereof,
Whereas:
(1) Commission Decision 2003/828/EC of 25 November 2003 on protection and surveillance zones in relation to bluetongue (2) was adopted in the light of the bluetongue situation prevailing in the affected regions of the Community. That Decision demarcates protection and surveillance zones (the restricted zones) corresponding to specific epidemiological situations and lays down the conditions for providing exemptions from the exit ban laid down in Directive 2000/75/EC for certain movements of animals, their sperm, ova and embryos from and through those zones.
(2) Decision 2003/828/EC, as last amended by Decision 2004/898/EC, has established a restricted zone (Zone F) corresponding to the bluetongue situation prevailing in Spain and Portugal at the time of adoption of Decision 2004/898/EC.
(3) Portugal has now informed the Commission of an outbreak of bluetongue in the concelho of Idanha-a-Nova.
(4) Exemptions to the exit ban from restricted zones as provided for in Decision 2003/828/EC should apply to the affected regions of Portugal.
(5) In addition, Zone F should be extended and defined to take account of the geographical, ecological and epizootiological factors connected with bluetongue in the affected regions of Portugal.
(6) Decision 2003/828/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,