Commission Decision of 8 November 2005 concerning animal health protection measures against swine vesicular disease in Italy (notified under document number C(2005) 4273) (Text with EEA relevance) (2005/779/EC) (repealed)

CHAPTER I U.K. SUBJECT MATTER, SCOPE AND DEFINITIONS

Article 1 U.K. Subject matter and scope

This Decision lays down animal health rules as regards swine vesicular disease for regions of Italy that are recognised as free from swine vesicular disease and for regions not recognised as free from that disease.

Article 2 U.K. Definitions

For the purposes of this Decision:

1.

the definitions in Directive 92/119/EEC shall apply;

2.

‘assembly centre for pigs’ means the holding of a trader to which and from which acquired pigs are regularly moved within 30 days of acquisition.

CHAPTER II U.K. RECOGNITION OF REGIONS AND HOLDINGS IN ITALY AS FREE FROM SWINE VESICULAR DISEASE

Article 3 U.K. Recognition of regions

1. The regions of Italy listed in Annex I are recognised as free from swine vesicular disease.

2. The regions of Italy listed in Annex II are not recognised as free from swine vesicular disease.

Article 4 U.K. Recognition of holdings

1. Italy shall ensure that paragraphs 2 to 6 are complied with.

2. In regions recognised as free from swine vesicular disease, a pig holding shall be recognised as free from that disease if:

(a) on two occasions at an interval of 28 to 40 days, sampling for serological testing has been carried out on a number of breeding pigs sufficient to detect a prevalence of swine vesicular disease of 5 % with a confidence interval of 95 % and the results have been negative, and

(b) where no breeding pigs are kept on holdings in regions recognised as free from swine vesicular disease, any pigs moved to such holdings originate in holdings recognised as free from that disease.

3. In regions not recognised as free from swine vesicular disease, a pig holding shall be recognised as free from that disease if on two occasions at an interval of 28 to 40 days, sampling for serological testing has been carried out on a number of pigs sufficient to detect prevalence of swine vesicular disease of 5 % with a confidence interval of 95 % and the results were negative;

4. A pig holding recognised as free from swine vesicular disease shall retain that status if:

(a) sampling and checking procedures are carried out in accordance with Article 5(1) and Article 6 and the results are negative, and

(b) pigs moved to such a holding originate in holdings recognised as free from swine vesicular disease.

5. The recognition of a holding as free from swine vesicular disease:

(a) shall be suspended where any seropositive case is detected and confirmed by further investigations, until such time as the pig concerned is slaughtered under official supervision, or

(b) shall be withdrawn where two or more seropositive cases are detected.

6. A pig holding shall be recognised once more as free from swine vesicular disease if the sampling and checking procedures set out in paragraphs 2 or 3, as the case may be, have been carried out and the results are negative.

CHAPTER III U.K. SURVEILLANCE

Article 5 U.K. Surveillance in regions recognised as free from swine vesicular disease

1. Italy shall ensure that sampling and checking procedures to detect swine vesicular disease are carried out as set out in paragraphs 2 and 3 in regions recognised as free from that disease.

2. On holdings where more than two breeding pigs are kept, sampling for serological testing shall be carried out at the following intervals on a random sample of 12 breeding pigs or on all breeding pigs where there are fewer than 12 breeding pigs on the holding:

(a) once a year where the holding mainly produces pigs for slaughter,

(b) twice a year in other cases.

3. At assembly centres for pigs, sampling of faeces for virological testing shall be carried out at monthly intervals in every pen where pigs are usually kept.

Article 6 U.K. Surveillance in regions not recognised as free from swine vesicular disease

1. Italy shall ensure that sampling and checking procedures to detect swine vesicular disease are carried out as set out in paragraphs 2 and 3 in regions not recognised as free from swine vesicular disease.

2. On holdings recognised as free from swine vesicular disease where breeding pigs are kept and at assembly centres for pigs, the provisions laid down in Article 5 shall apply.

3. On holdings recognised as free from swine vesicular disease where no breeding pigs are kept, sampling for serological testing shall be carried out twice a year on a random sample of 12 pigs or on all pigs where there are fewer than 12 pigs on the holding. Sampling of the pigs of a holding may, however, take place at the slaughterhouse at the time of slaughter.

CHAPTER IV U.K. MOVEMENT OF LIVE PIGS WITHIN ITALY AND TO OTHER MEMBER STATES

SECTION I U.K. Movement within Italy

Article 7 U.K. Measures as regards the movement of live pigs within Italy

1. Italy shall ensure that paragraphs 2, 3 and 4 are complied with for movement of live pigs within Italy.

2. Where pigs from holdings not recognised as free from swine vesicular disease are moved to a slaughterhouse for slaughter, sampling for serological testing shall be carried out on a number of pigs sufficient to detect prevalence of swine vesicular disease of 5 % with a confidence interval of 95 %.

3. The movement of pigs from holdings not recognised as free from swine vesicular disease to other holdings is prohibited.

4. The movement of pigs from regions not recognised as free from swine vesicular disease to other regions of Italy is prohibited.

Article 8 U.K. Derogations and conditions

By way of derogation from Article 7(4), the Italian authorities may authorise the movement of pigs from holdings in regions not recognised as free from swine vesicular disease to other regions of Italy on condition that:

(a)

the holding of origin has been recognised as free from swine vesicular disease for at least two years without interruption;

(b)

in the 60 days prior to movement, the holding of origin has not been located in a protection or surveillance zone following an outbreak of swine vesicular disease;

(c)

no pigs were introduced onto the holding of origin in the 12 months prior to movement from holdings where swine vesicular disease was suspected;

(d)

pigs on the holding of origin are sampled between 20 and 30 days before movement and serologically testing is carried out on a number of pigs sufficient to detect prevalence of swine vesicular disease of 5 % with a confidence interval of 95 %;

(e)

pigs on the holding of destination are sampled at least 28 days after movement and serologically testing is carried out on a number of pigs sufficient to detect prevalence of swine vesicular disease of 5 % with a confidence interval of 95 %. Pigs may not be moved from the holding of destination until testing has been carried out and the results are negative;

(f)

the animals moved are transported in sealed vehicles under the supervision of the authorities;

(g)

movement of the pigs is notified at least 48 hours in advance to the local veterinary authority responsible for the holding of destination;

(h)

the vehicles used for transporting the pigs are cleaned and disinfected under official supervision before and after movement.

SECTION II U.K. Intra-Community movement

Article 9 U.K. Dispatch of live pigs from Italy to other Member States

1. Italy shall ensure that paragraphs 2 and 3 are complied with.

2. The dispatch of pigs from regions not recognised as free from swine vesicular disease to other Member States is prohibited.

3. Pigs dispatched from regions recognised as free from swine vesicular disease to other Member States shall come from holdings that are recognised as free from that disease.

Article 10 U.K. Obligation regarding certification

Italy shall ensure that health certificates as provided for in Article 5(1) of Directive 64/432/EEC accompanying pigs dispatched from Italy to other Member States in accordance with Article 9 of this Decision are endorsed with the following wording:

‘Animals in accordance with Commission Decision 2005/779/EC concerning animal health protection measures against swine vesicular disease in Italy’.

CHAPTER V U.K. OBLIGATION OF COMMUNICATION

Article 11 U.K. Communication to the Commission and the Member States

The Italian authorities shall forward any relevant information on the application of this Decision to the Commission and the Member States every six months through the Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health.

CHAPTER VI U.K. FINAL PROVISIONS

Article 12 U.K. Addresses

This Decision is addressed to the Member States.

Done at Brussels, 8 November 2005.

For the Commission

Markos Kyprianou

Member of the Commission