2001/783/EC: Commission Decision 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 (Text with EEA relevance) (notified under document number C(2001) 3421)

Commission Decision
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
(notified under document number C(2001) 3421)
(Text with EEA relevance)
(2001/783/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) Following evidence of bluetongue outbreaks in four Member States in 2000, Commission Decision 2001/138/EC of 9 February 2001 establishing protection and surveillance zones in the Community in relation with bluetongue(2) was adopted pursuant to Directive 2000/75/EC.
(2) In the light of the evolution of the situation in the Community and in particular in Italy, it is necessary to modify the zones established by that Decision.
(3) The geographical, ecological and epidemiological data available in relation to the situation in Italy make it possible to specifically demarcate the protection zones in that Member State in accordance with Article 8(2)(d) of Directive 2000/75/EC. The situation in Lazio and Toscana, where a few isolated outbreaks have been registered, must be dealt with in a specific way with the aim of eradicating the disease. Accordingly, movements into those regions from the other regions infected with the same serotype must not be allowed.
(4) Three serotypes (4, 9, 16) have been isolated in Greece in the past. Only serotype 9 has been isolated in the south of Italy during 2001. Only serotype 2 has been isolated in Corsica, Sardinia, northern continental Italy and in the Balearic Islands.
(5) Chapter 2.1.9 of the International Zoosanitary Code lays down the conditions under which the dispatch from infected zones of live animals of species susceptible to bluetongue and their sperm, ova and embryos may take place. Accordingly provision should be made for movements from surveillance and protection zones in compliance with those conditions, pursuant to Article 12 of Directive 2000/75/EC.
(6) In view of those different situations, it is necessary to demarcate distinct restricted areas corresponding to protection zones with no movements from and between them, and to prohibit dispatch from these areas, and from the whole territory of Greece, unless the conditions established under the International Zoosanitary Code are met.
(7) Taking account of the epidemiological specificity of bluetongue (vector born disease) it is possible to envisage under strict conditions movements of live animals, in particular animals for slaughter, between infected and non-infected regions inside the territory of a Member State.
(8) Transit of animals through a restricted area for a short period should be permitted under conditions protecting the animals from vector attacks at all times during transit.
(9) Decision 2001/138/EC should therefore be repealed.
(10) The measures provided for in this Decision are in accordance with the opinion of the Standing Veterinary Committee,