97/592/EC: Commission Decision of 29 July 1997 amending Decision 96/534/EC and Decision 96/535/EC on financial assistance from the Community for storage of antigen for production of foot-and-mouth disease vaccine in Italy and the United Kingdom

COMMISSION DECISION of 29 July 1997 amending Decision 96/534/EC and Decision 96/535/EC on financial assistance from the Community for storage of antigen for production of foot-and-mouth disease vaccine in Italy and the United Kingdom (97/592/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 Decision 94/370/EC (2), and in particular Article 14 thereof,
Whereas by virtue of Council Decision 91/666/EEC of 11 December 1991 establishing Community reserves of foot-and-mouth disease vaccines (3), establishment of antigen banks is part of the Community's action to create Community reserves of foot-and-mouth vaccine;
Whereas Article 3 of that Decision designates the Istituto Zooprofilatico Sperimentale die Brescia in Italy and the Institute for Animal Health, Pirbright, United Kingdom as antigen banks holding Community reserves;
Whereas the functions and duties of these antigen banks are specified in Article 4 of that Decision; whereas Community assistance must be conditional on accomplishment of these;
Whereas Community financial assistance should be granted to these banks to enable them to carry out the said functions and duties;
Whereas by Commission Decision 96/534/EC of 4 September 1996 on financial assistance from the Community for storage in Italy of antigen for production of foot-and-mouth disease vaccine (4) the Community provided financial assistance to Italy for the stocking of antigen for production of foot-and-mouth disease vaccine for the period 1 August 1996 to 31 July 1997;
Whereas by Commission Decision 96/535/EC of 4 September 1996 on financial assistance from the Community for storage in the United Kingdom of antigen for production of foot-and-mouth disease vaccine (5) the Community provided financial assistance to the United Kingdom for the stocking of antigen for the production of foot-and-mouth disease vaccine for the period 1 August 1996 to 31 July 1997;
Whereas it is found desirable to extend the arrangements for granting Community financial assistance for a period of five months;
Whereas the measures provided for in this Decision are in accordance with the opinion of the Standing Veterinary Committee,