Commission Decision of 1 September 2006 amending Decision 2005/393/EC as regards the restricted zones in relation to bluetongue (notified under document number C(2006) 3947) (Text with EEA relevance) (2006/591/EC)

Commission Decision

of 1 September 2006

amending Decision 2005/393/EC as regards the restricted zones in relation to bluetongue

(notified under document number C(2006) 3947)

(Text with EEA relevance)

(2006/591/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) and in particular Article 10(4) thereof,

Having regard to Council Directive 2000/75/EC of 20 November 2000 laying down specific provisions for the control and eradication of bluetongue(2), and in particular the second subparagraph of Article 6(1), Article 8(2)(d) and (3), Article 9(1)(c) and the third paragraph of Article 19 thereof,

Whereas:

(1) Directive 2000/75/EC lays down control rules and measures to combat bluetongue in the Community, including the establishment of protection and surveillance zones and a ban on animals leaving those zones.

(2) Commission Decision 2005/393/EC of 23 May 2005 on protection and surveillance zones in relation to bluetongue and conditions applying to movements from or through these zones(3) provides for the demarcation of the global geographic areas where protection and surveillance zones (‘the restricted zones’) are to be established by the Member States in relation to bluetongue.

(3) On 17, 19 and 21 August 2006 respectively, the Netherlands, Belgium and Germany informed the Commission of a number of suspected clinical cases of bluetongue in sheep and cattle holdings in areas in the Netherlands, Belgium and Germany, close to Luxembourg and France, located in a radius of 50 km from Kerkrade, the Netherlands, where the first suspected case was notified.

(4) To avoid the spread of the disease from the affected area, the Commission adopted Decision 2006/577/EC of 22 August 2006 on certain protective measures against bluetongue(4), laying down rules on movements of animals of species susceptible to bluetongue and their semen, ova and embryos from the affected areas.

(5) Then, the Community Reference Laboratory for bluetongue in Pirbright (United Kingdom) has confirmed the occurrence of bluetongue and that the virus in question is of serotype 8. This serotype has never been reported in Europe before.

(6) In view of that finding, Decision 2005/393/EC should be amended in order to insert a new restricted zone including the affected area and Decision 2006/577/EC should be repealed.

(7) Taking into account the farming practises, specific movements of susceptible animals can be allowed, without jeopardising disease control, under the supervision of the competent authorities concerned.

(8) To prevent the further spread of the disease, this Decision should apply as a matter of urgency.

(9) The measures provided for in this Decision are in accordance with the opinion of the Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health,

HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:

(1)

OJ L 224, 18.8.1990, p. 29. Directive as last amended by Directive 2002/33/EC (OJ L 315, 19.11.2002, p. 14).

(2)

OJ L 327, 22.12.2000, p. 74.

(3)

OJ L 130, 24.5.2005, p. 22. Decision as last amended by Decision 2006/572/EC (OJ L 227, 19.8.2006, p. 60).

(4)

OJ L 229, 23.8.2006, p. 10.