Commission Decision

of 9 June 2005

amending Decision 2005/393/EC as regards exemptions from the exit ban for domestic movements of animals from the restricted zones

(notified under document number C(2005) 1689)

(Text with EEA relevance)

(2005/434/EC)

THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,

Having regard to Council Directive 2000/75/EC of 20 November 2000 laying down specific provisions for the control and eradication of bluetongue1, and in particular point (c) of Article 9(1), and the third paragraph of Article 19 thereof,

Whereas:

(1)

Council 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/EC2 provides for the demarcation of the global geographical areas where protection and surveillance zones (the restricted zones) are to be established by the Member States in relation to bluetongue. It also sets out the conditions for exempting certain movements of animals, their sperm, ova and embryos from the exit ban provided for in Directive 2000/75/EC (the exit ban).
(3)

When a vaccination programme has been conducted in a herd, the virus circulation has been reduced to such a level that movements of young animals from the restricted zone to holdings outside the zone where vectors are under control should be considered as representing an acceptable risk.

(4)

On 14 March 2005, a Commission working group on the Terrestrial Animal Health Code of the Office international des épizooties (OIE) issued a report on different aspects of the rules which should apply to movements of animals as regard bluetongue.

(5)

That working group concluded that viremia exceeding 60 days should not be considered as representing a significant risk for movements of live animals and as a consequence animals protected from vectors attack for more than 60 days should be considered as safe.

(6)

In addition, the working group concluded that as 28 days is the maximum period for a seroconversion after infection, an animal is safe when it has been protected from vectors attack for a period exceeding 28 days and it has tested negatively serologicaly on one occasion only after that period of 28 days.

(7)

The working group also concluded that as a virological test is always positive seven days after the infection, an animal is safe when it has been protected from vectors attack for more than seven days and it has tested negatively virologicaly on one occasion after that period of seven days.

(8)

Decision 2005/393/EC should therefore be amended accordingly.

(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: