98/271/EC: Commission Decision of 22 April 1998 amending for the third time Decision 97/285/EC concerning certain protection measures relating to classical swine fever in Spain (Text with EEA relevance)

COMMISSION DECISION of 22 April 1998 amending for the third time Decision 97/285/EC concerning certain protection measures relating to classical swine fever in Spain (Text with EEA relevance) (98/271/EC)
THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES
,
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,
Having regard to Council Directive 90/425/EEC of 26 June 1990 concerning veterinary and zootechnical checks applicable in intra-Community trade in certain live animals and products with a view to the completion of the internal market (1), as last amended by Directive 92/118/EEC (2), and in particular Article 10(4) thereof,
Whereas outbreaks of classical swine fever have occurred in Spain;
Whereas in view of the trade in live pigs, semen, embryos and ova, these outbreaks are liable to endanger the herds of other Member States;
Whereas Spain has taken measures within the framework of Council Directive 80/217/EEC of 22 January 1980, introducing Community measures for the control of classical swine fever (3), as last amended by the Act of Accession of Austria, Finland and Sweden;
Whereas, as a result of the disease situation the Commission adopted Decision 97/285/EC of 30 April 1997 concerning protection measures relating to classical swine fever in Spain (4);
Whereas, as a result of the disease evolution the Commission adopted Decision 97/446/EC (5) and Decision 98/93/EC (6), amending Decision 97/285/EC;
Whereas Spain has implemented the national serosurveillance programme for classical swine fever adopted by Commission Decision 98/176/EC (7);
Whereas in the light of the evolution of the disease it is necessary to amend for the third time measures adopted by Commission Decision 97/285/EC;
Whereas during the implementation of the national serosurveillance programme no antibodies against classical swine fever virus were detected in pigs kept in the provinces of Segovia, Madrid and Toledo; whereas therefore it appears justified that pigs for breeding and production can be sent from these provinces to the rest of Spain if measures are enforced to prevent the spread of disease;
Whereas the measures provided for in this Decision are in accordance with the opinion of the Standing Veterinary Committee,