Commission Regulation (EC) No 581/97 of 1 April 1997 adopting exceptional support measures for the market in pigmeat in Belgium

COMMISSION REGULATION (EC) No 581/97 of 1 April 1997 adopting exceptional support measures for the market in pigmeat in Belgium
THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES
,
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,
Having regard to Council Regulation (EEC) No 2759/75 of 29 October 1975 on the common organization of the market in pigmeat (1), as last amended by Regulation (EEC) No 3290/94 (2), and in particular Article 20 and the second paragraph of Article 22 thereof,
Whereas, because of the outbreak of classical swine fever in certain production regions in the Netherlands situated in the border region with Belgium, surveillance zones have been established by the Belgian authorities pursuant to Article 9 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 Decision 93/384/EEC (4); whereas, as a result, trade in live pigs, fresh pigmeat and pigmeat products which have not undergone heat treatment is temporarily prohibited in those zones;
Whereas restrictions on the free movement of goods resulting from the application of veterinary measures are likely to cause a serious disturbance of the pigmeat market in Belgium; whereas it is therefore necessary to adopt exceptional market support measures limited to live animals from the areas directly affected and to apply for no longer than is strictly necessary;
Whereas, with the aim of preventing a further spread of the disease, pigs produced in the said zones should be separated from normal trade in products intended for human consumption and processed into products intended for uses other than human consumption, in accordance with the provisions of Article 3 of Council Directive 90/667/EEC (5), as amended by Directive 92/118/EEC (6), and the Belgian authorities should be allowed to organise buying-in operations as required by the health and veterinary situation in the zones in question;
Whereas a price should be set for the buying-in of live piglets and pigs, where necessary, by the intervention agency in the surveillance zone; whereas the premises in which the animals may be killed should also be specified;
Whereas, in view of the extent of the disease and, in particular, of its duration, and consequently of the magnitude of the efforts needed to support the market, it would be appropriate for such measures to be shared by the Community and the Member State concerned;
Whereas provision should be made for the Belgian authorities to adopt all necessary control and surveillance measures and to inform the Commission thereof;
Whereas the restrictions in the free movement of live pigs have been operative for several weeks in the zones in question, provoking a substantial increase in the weight of the animals and consequently leading to an intolerable situation where the welfare of the animals is concerned; whereas retroactive application of this Regulation from 18 March 1997 is therefore justified;
Whereas the measures provided for in this Regulation are in accordance with the opinion fo the Management Committee for Pigmeat,