2007/684/EC: Commission Decision of 24 October 2007 amending Decision 2005/393/EC as regards restricted zones in relation to bluetongue in France, Germany, Austria, Portugal, Denmark, the Czech Republic and the United Kingdom (notified under document number C(2007) 5152) (Text with EEA relevance)

25.10.2007 EN Official Journal of the European Union L 281/28
COMMISSION DECISION
of 24 October 2007
amending Decision 2005/393/EC as regards restricted zones in relation to bluetongue in France, Germany, Austria, Portugal, Denmark, the Czech Republic and the United Kingdom
(notified under document number C(2007) 5152)
(Text with EEA relevance)
(2007/684/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) Directive 2000/75/EC lays down control rules and measures to combat bluetongue in the Community, including the establishment of protection and surveillance zones and a ban on animals leaving those zones.
(2) Commission Decision 2005/393/EC of 23 May 2005 on protection and surveillance zones in relation to bluetongue and conditions applying to movements from or through these zones (2) provides for the demarcation of the global geographic areas where protection and surveillance zones (the restricted zones) are to be established by the Member States in relation to bluetongue.
(3) Following a substantiated request submitted by France and Germany, it is appropriate to amend the demarcation of the restricted zones in those Member States in zone F.
(4) Following the enlargement of the restricted zone in Germany due to the recent outbreaks of bluetongue serotype 8, it is appropriate to demarcate a restricted zone in Austria and to amend the restricted zones in Denmark and in the Czech Republic in the zone F.
(5) Following the notification of outbreaks of bluetongue serotype 1 and a substantiated request by Portugal, it is appropriate to amend the demarcation of the restricted zone E in Annex I to Decision 2005/393/EEC and to amend the zone I with serotypes 1 and 4.
(6) Following the notification of outbreaks of bluetongue serotype 8 in the United Kingdom, it is appropriate to demarcate a restricted zone in this Member State in the zone F.
(7) Decision 2005/393/EC should be amended accordingly.
(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,