COMMISSION DECISION of 5 November 1993 for the purchase by the Community of foot-and-mouth disease antigens within the framework of the Community action concerning reserves of foot-and-mouth disease vaccines
(93/590/EC)THE COMMISSION OF  THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES
,
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,
Having regard to Council Decision 90/424/EEC of 26 June 1990 on expenditure in the veterinary field (1), as last amended by Commission Decision 93/439/EEC (2), and in particular Article 14 thereof,
Having regard to Council Decision 91/666/EEC of 11 December 1991 establishing Community reserves of foot-and-mouth disease vaccines (3), and, in particular, Articles 5 and 7 thereof,
Whereas, in conformity with Decision 91/666/EEC, the purchase of antigens is a part of the Community action to establish Community reserves of foot and mouth disease vaccines;
Whereas the Commission has issued a call for tenders for the supply of antigens;
Whereas the Commission has examined the submitted tenders taking into account the following factors:
- the technical requirements of Annex II to Decision 91/666/EEC and other criteria mentioned in Article 5 of that Decision,
- that some establishments are unable to supply the full number of doses of some antigens,
- the need for the producing establishment to be in full conformity with the guidelines for good manufacturing practices (GMP);
Whereas the Commission has selected Rhône-Mérieux to supply five million doses of each of subtypes A5, A22, O1 European strain and O1 Middle East strain as a first step; whereas the establishments which will supply the other strains in Annex I to  Decision 91/666/EEC will be decided after a further call for tenders;
Whereas financial provisions should be made to allow the Commission to purchase these strains from Rhône-Mérieux;
Whereas, under the provisions of Article 7 of Decision 91/666/EEC, it is necessary to lay down the rules for the distribution of antigen reserves between the antigen banks, nominated in Article 1 of the said Decision;
Whereas it is appropriate that each strain should be divided equally between two banks; whereas the strains stored in each bank should be related geographically to the most likely area of risk;
Whereas in accordance with Article 40 of Council Decision 90/424/EEC, checks provided for in Articles 8 and 9 of Council Regulation (EEC) No 729/70 of 21 April 1970 concerning the financing of the common agricultural policy (4) shall apply; whereas,  moreover, certain particular provisions should be made;
Whereas the measures provided for in this Decision are in accordance with the opinion of the Standing Veterinary Committee,
1. The Community shall purchase five million doses of each of the following strains of foot-and-mouth disease antigen:
- A5 European,
- A22 Middle East,
- O1 Middle East,
- O1 European,
up to a maximum cost of ECU 4 065 million.
2. The antigen mentioned in paragraph 1 shall be supplied by Rhône-Mérieux, Pirbright Laboratory, Ash Road, Surrey, United Kingdom.
1. To meet the objectives of Article 1, the Commission shall conclude a contract, in the name of the European Community, with Rhône-Mérieux.
2. The Director General of Directorate General for Agriculture shall be authorized to sign the contract on behalf of the Commission of the European Communities.
3. Payment to Rhône-Mérieux shall be made in accordance with the terms of the contract provided for in paragraph 1.
The antigen shall be divided between the four antigen banks as follows:
(a) Bayer, Cologne and the Institute for Animal health, Pirbright: 2,5 million doses of each of O1 European strain and A5 in each bank;
(b) LNPB, Lyon and 1ZP, Brescia: 2,5 million doses of each of O1 Middle East strain and A22 in each bank.
This Decision is addressed to the Member States.