2011/78/EU: Commission Decision of 3 February 2011 on certain measures to prevent the transmission of the African swine fever virus from Russia to the Union (notified under document C(2011) 503)  Text with EEA relevance

4.2.2011 EN Official Journal of the European Union L 30/40
COMMISSION DECISION
of 3 February 2011
on certain measures to prevent the transmission of the African swine fever virus from Russia to the Union
(notified under document C(2011) 503)
(Text with EEA relevance)
(2011/78/EU)
THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION
,
Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,
Having regard to Council Directive 97/78/EC of 18 December 1997 laying down the principles governing the organisation of veterinary checks on products entering the Community from third countries (1), and in particular the third indent of Article 22(1) thereof,
Whereas:
(1) African swine fever is a highly contagious virus infection of domestic pigs and wild boars, with the potential for very serious and rapid spread, irrespective of national borders.
(2) Since 2007, Russia has been reporting numerous outbreaks of African swine fever in pigs and wild boars throughout the country.
(3) In January 2011 an outbreak of African swine fever was reported close to the Union border, in the region of Saint Petersburg. The presence of that disease close to the Union border constitutes a serious risk to the livestock population in the Union.
(4) The transporter should ensure that for each vehicle used for the transport of animals a register containing information on cleansing and disinfection is retained for a minimum period of 3 years according to Council Directive 64/432/EEC (2).
(5) Import of pigs and pig meat products is not permitted from Russia, however the virus causing the disease persists also in a contaminated environment outside the host animal and can be introduced into the Union with vehicles which have transported pigs.
(6) It is therefore necessary to adopt certain protection measures at Union level taking into account the risk of the spread of the disease, virus survival in the environment and potential routes of its transmission. In particular, it is necessary to ensure that vehicles which have transported pigs and which enter the Union from Russia are appropriately cleansed and disinfected.
(7) The measures provided for in this Decision are in accordance with the opinion of the Standing Committee of the Food Chain and Animal Health,