2005/177/EC: Commission Decision of 7 March 2005 with regard to the transit of live bovine animals through the United Kingdom (notified under document number C(2005) 509) (Text with EEA relevance)

8.3.2005 EN Official Journal of the European Union L 61/28
COMMISSION DECISION
of 7 March 2005
with regard to the transit of live bovine animals through the United Kingdom
(notified under document number C(2005) 509)
(Text with EEA relevance)
(2005/177/EC)
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 transmission spongiform encephalopathies (1), and in particular Article 15(3) thereof,
Whereas:
(1) Council Decision 98/256/EC of 16 March 1998 concerning emergency measures to protect against bovine spongiform encephalopathy, amending Decision 94/474/EC and repealing Decision 96/239/EC (2) provides that the United Kingdom is to ensure that live bovine animals are not dispatched from its territory to other Member States or to third countries.
(2) The imminent withdrawal of service by ferry companies currently carrying live cattle from Ireland to continental Europe will seriously affect the trade of live bovine animals between Ireland and other Member States.
(3) Therefore, rules should be laid down to allow the transit of live bovine animals from Ireland via the United Kingdom. However, such transit should be subject to strict conditions and controls in order not to weaken the measures in force under Decision 98/256/EC.
(4) The measures provided for in this Decision are in accordance with the opinion of the Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health,