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 susceptible species leaving those zones.

Article 6(1)(c) of Directive 2000/75/EC provides that where the presence of the bluetongue virus is officially confirmed, the official veterinarian is to extend certain measures provided for in Article 4 of that Directive to holdings located within a radius of 20 kilometres around the infected holding. Those measures aim at containing the disease in an initial state after virus introduction into a newly infected zone.

However, in accordance with Article 6(2) those measures may be modulated by the affected Member State on the basis of the positive outcome of a risk assessment which takes into account geographical, epidemiological, ecological, entomological, meteorological and historical data and active surveillance results, including percentage of seropositive animals, virus serotype circulating and occurrence of vectors likely to be competent.

It is therefore appropriate to lay down requirements for the exemption from the movement ban for animals leaving the 20 kilometres area around the infected holding, including animals destined for intra-Community trade and export, after having obtained the prior approval of the competent authority of the place of destination.

It is appropriate to provide for the conditions for the treatment of the animals and the means of transport with authorised insecticides at the place of loading from the restricted zones destined for or passing through areas outside a restricted zone. When during the transit through a restricted zone, a rest period is foreseen in a control post the animals must be protected from any attacks by vectors.

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

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