Commission Regulation (EC) No 836/2004 of 28 April 2004 laying down the transitional measures to be applied by Cyprus with regard to scrapie (Text with EEA relevance)

Commission Regulation (EC) No 836/2004
of 28 April 2004
laying down the transitional measures to be applied by Cyprus with regard to scrapie
(Text with EEA relevance)
THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES
,
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,
Having regard to 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(1), and in particular Articles 12 (4) and 13 (6) thereof,
Having regard to the 2003 Act of Accession of the Czech Republic, Estonia, Cyprus, Latvia, Lithuania, Hungary, Malta, Poland, Slovenia and Slovakia to the European Union, and to the adjustments to the treaties on which the European Union is founded, and in particular Article 42 thereof,
Whereas:
(1) Regulation (EC) No 999/2001 includes provisions regarding the eradication of scrapie in ovine and caprine animals and diagnostic techniques to be used for the confirmation of the disease.
(2) On 29 January 2004, Cyprus has applied for the granting of transitional measures in relation to eradication measures in scrapie infected holdings. These measures are necessary in view of the high level of scrapie in the ovine and caprine population, the low level of genetically determined resistance in the ovine population, and the nature of farming in Cyprus. The application also requests transitional measures regarding diagnostic techniques for scrapie, in view of limited laboratory capacity.
(3) Cyprus has undertaken to furnish an action plan to address the shortage of breeding ovine animals of a suitable genotype, to increase the level of resistance in the ovine population and to provide replacement animals in infected holdings. This plan will be submitted by 1 June 2004 as part of its application for Community financing for specific veterinary measures under the provisions of Council Decision 90/424/EEC on expenditure in the veterinary field(2).
(4) The transitional measures granted to Cyprus should allow that subject to veterinary examination, certain ovine and caprine animals from infected holdings to be slaughtered for human consumption, which may not be slaughtered for human consumption in the other Member States. It is desirable to afford to Member States and third countries alike, the same health guarantees. Therefore during the period of application of these transitional measures, and taking control requirements into account, the export of products derived from ovine and caprine animals to other Member States and to third countries should be prohibited.
(5) The measures granted to Cyprus for adapting the implementation of Regulation (EC) No 999/2001 for a transitional period should be reviewed as soon as possible and should in any case and in accordance with the Act of Accession be limited to a maximum period of three years.
(6) The measures provided for in this Decision are in accordance with the opinion of the Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health,