96/526/EC: Commission Decision of 30 August 1996 concerning certain protection measures with regard to foot-and-mouth disease in Greece and repealing Commission Decision 96/440/EC (Text with EEA relevance)

COMMISSION DECISION of 30 August 1996 concerning certain protection measures with regard to foot-and-mouth disease in Greece and repealing Commission Decision 96/440/EC (Text with EEA relevance) (96/526/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 thereof,
Having regard to Council Directive 89/662/EEC of 11 December 1989, concerning veterinary checks in intra-Community trade with a view to the completion of the internal market (3), as last amended by Directive 92/118/EEC, and in particular Article 9,
Whereas since 5 July 1996 a number of outbreaks of foot-and-mouth disease have been declared in the province of Evros in Greece;
Whereas the foot-and-mouth disease situation in Greece was considered liable to endanger the herds of other Member States in view of the trade in live biungulate animals and certain of their products; whereas it was therefore necessary to take a safeguard measure, under Commission Decision 96/440/EC of 18 July 1996 concerning certain protection measures with regard to foot and mouth disease (4), for the whole of Greece concerning trade in live biungulate animals and these products;
Whereas no other cases of foot-and-mouth disease have since been declared elsewhere in Greece;
Whereas Greece has taken measures in accordance with Council Directive 85/511/EEC (5), of 18 November 1985 introducing Community measures controlling foot-and-mouth disease as last amended by Decision 92/380/EEC (6), and furthermore has introduced additional measures within Evros;
Whereas the Greek authorities have presented information to the Commission which has indicated that outbreaks of the disease have been restricted to Evros; whereas the controls in place are judged to be sufficient to prevent the spread of foot-and-mouth disease from the infected areas to other parts of Greece or to other Member States;
Whereas the foot-and-mouth disease situation in South Eastern Europe requires an intensified disease surveillance in the border areas of Greece;
Whereas it is therefore appropriate to replace the existing safeguard measure with one that is applicable only to the areas recognised as being infected with foot-and-mouth disease; whereas it is therefore necessary to repeal Commission Decision 96/440/EC;
Whereas the measures provided for in this Decision are in accordance with the opinion of the Standing Veterinary Committee,