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 bluetongue(1), and in particular the second subparagraph of Article 6(1), Article 11 and Article 12 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 susceptible species leaving those zones.
(2) 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.
(3) 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.
(4) 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.
(5) 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(2) 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.
(6) Commission Decision 93/444/EEC of 2 July 1993 on detailed rules governing intra-Community trade in certain live animals and products intended for exportation to third countries(3) provides that animals intended for export must be accompanied until the exit point from the Community by a certificate which contains, where necessary, the additional guarantees provided for by Community legislation for animals intended for slaughter. Accordingly, the certificate covering animals for export should include a reference to any insecticide treatment carried out pursuant to Decision 2005/393/EC.
(7) 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.
(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:
OJ L 327, 22.12.2000, p. 74. Directive as last amended by the Directive 2006/104/EC (OJ L 363, 20.12.2006, p. 352).
OJ L 130, 24.5.2005, p. 22. Decision as last amended by Decision 2007/227/EC (OJ L 98, 13.4.2007, p. 23).