2009/255/EC: Commission Decision of 20 March 2009 amending Decision 2003/135/EC as regards the eradication and emergency vaccination plans for classical swine fever in feral pigs in certain areas of the Federal States of North Rhine-Westphalia and Rhineland-Palatinate (Germany) (notified under document number C(2009) 1669)

21.3.2009 EN Official Journal of the European Union L 75/24
COMMISSION DECISION
of 20 March 2009
amending Decision 2003/135/EC as regards the eradication and emergency vaccination plans for classical swine fever in feral pigs in certain areas of the Federal States of North Rhine-Westphalia and Rhineland-Palatinate (Germany)
(notified under document number C(2009) 1669)
(Only the French and German texts are authentic)
(2009/255/EC)
THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES
,
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,
Having regard to Council Directive 2001/89/EC of 23 October 2001 on Community measures for the control of classical swine fever (1), and in particular Article 16(1) and 20(2) thereof,
Whereas:
(1) Commission Decision 2003/135/EC of 27 February 2003 on the approval of the plans for the eradication of classical swine fever and the emergency vaccination of feral pigs against classical swine fever in Germany, in the Federal States of Lower Saxony, North Rhine-Westphalia, Rhineland-Palatinate and Saarland (2) was adopted as one of a number of measures to combat classical swine fever.
(2) Germany has informed the Commission about the recent evolution of that disease in feral pigs in certain areas of the Federal States of North Rhine-Westphalia and Rhineland-Palatinate.
(3) That information indicates that classical swine fever in feral pigs has been eradicated in certain areas of those Federal States. Accordingly, the eradication and emergency vaccination plans for classical swine fever in feral pigs no longer need to be applied in those areas.
(4) New cases of classical swine fever in feral pigs in a region on both sides of the border between North Rhine-Westphalia and Rhineland-Palatinate which was free of the disease so far have been reported. Accordingly, the eradication and emergency vaccination plans for classical swine fever in feral pigs needs to be applied in those areas.
(5) Decision 2003/135/EC should therefore be amended accordingly.
(6) The measures provided for in this Decision are in accordance with the opinion of the Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health,