Commission Decision of 19 July 2007 concerning a financial contribution from the Community towards a survey on the prevalence and antimicrobial resistance of Campylobacter spp. in broiler flocks and on the prevalence of Campylobacter spp. and Salmonella spp. in broiler carcasses to be carried out in the Member States (notified under document number C(2007) 3440) (2007/516/EC)

Commission Decision

of 19 July 2007

concerning a financial contribution from the Community towards a survey on the prevalence and antimicrobial resistance of Campylobacter spp. in broiler flocks and on the prevalence of Campylobacter spp. and Salmonella spp. in broiler carcasses to be carried out in the Member States

(notified under document number C(2007) 3440)

(2007/516/EC)

THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,

Having regard to Council Decision 90/424/EEC of 26 June 1990 on expenditure in the veterinary field(1), and in particular Article 20 thereof,

Whereas:

(1) Decision 90/424/EEC lays down procedures governing a financial contribution by the Community towards specific veterinary measures, including technical and scientific measures. It provides for the Community to undertake, or assist Member States in undertaking the technical and scientific measures necessary for the development of Community veterinary legislation and for the development of veterinary education or training.

(2) According to the Report of the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) on Trends and Sources of zoonoses, zoonotic agents and antimicrobial resistance in the Community in 2005(2), a total of 194 695 cases of campylobacteriosis in humans were reported in 22 Member States. Broiler meat is considered the most common source of infection. Up to 66,4 % positive samples in broiler meat were reported. In broiler flocks, 0,2 to 86 % of the reported samples were positive.

(3) In addition, according to the EFSA report, a total of 168 929 cases of human salmonellosis were reported in 22 Member States in 2005. Typical contamination rates of fresh poultry meat vary from 4 to 10 %, being the highest rates of all foodstuffs analysed.

(4) The EFSA also indicates in its report that a relatively high proportion of Campylobacter and Salmonella isolates from animals and food were resistant to antimicrobials commonly used in treatment of human diseases. This specially applies to the case of resistance to fluoroquinolones in Campylobacter isolates from poultry, where up to 94 % of isolates were reported resistant to ciprofloxacin. Food-borne infections caused by these resistant bacteria pose a particular risk to humans due to possible treatment failure.

(5) In accordance with Commission Decision 2005/636/EC of 1 September 2005 concerning a financial contribution by the Community towards a baseline survey on the prevalence of Salmonella spp. in broiler flocks of Gallus gallus to be carried out in the Member States(3), comparable information was collected with regard to the prevalence of Salmonella in such flocks. It is, however, very difficult to compare prevalence of Campylobacter in broiler flocks and broiler meat, and of Salmonella in broiler meat from different Member States as there is no harmonised monitoring.

(6) Under Article 5 of Directive 2003/99/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 17 November 2003 on the monitoring of zoonoses and zoonotic agents, amending Council Decision 90/424/EEC and repealing Council Directive 92/117/EEC(4), coordinated monitoring programmes may be established, especially when specific needs are identified, to assess risks and to establish baseline values related to zoonoses and zoonotic agents at the level of Member States.

(7) Scientific experts in collaboration with the EFSA prepared technical specifications for a baseline study on a harmonised monitoring of Campylobacter in broiler flocks. Training was organised in 2006 for laboratory staff in all Member States on the detection methods for Campylobacter in such flocks and is scheduled in 2007 with regard to the enumeration method for Campylobacter on carcasses.

(8) The Task Force on Monitoring of Zoonoses Data Collection of EFSA adopted during its meeting on 16 and 17 October 2006 the report on proposed technical specifications for a coordinated monitoring programme for Salmonella and Campylobacter in broiler meat in the EU(5).

(9) The Task Force also adopted a Report including a proposal for a harmonised monitoring scheme of antimicrobial resistance in Salmonella in fowl (Gallus gallus), turkeys and pigs and Campylobacter jejuni and C. coli in broilers(6) on 20 February 2007. The report makes recommendations on a harmonised monitoring scheme and harmonised methodology for susceptibility testing.

(10) Pursuant to Article 7(3) and Annex II(B) of Directive 2003/99/EC, detailed rules should be laid down on the antimicrobial resistance monitoring of Campylobacter jejuni and Campylobacter coli in poultry. Data needs to be collected in order for such rules to be laid down Therefore, testing of the antimicrobial resistance should be included in the survey in order to gather the necessary data.

(11) Taking into account the high number of Salmonella and Campylobacter cases in humans, the importance of broilers and broiler meat as source of infection and the increasing concern on antimicrobial resistance development, comparable data on the prevalence of Campylobacter in broilers and broiler meat, Salmonella in broiler meat in the Member States should be collected to consider the need, feasibility, cost and benefit of Community-wide control measures.

(12) The survey is to provide technical information necessary for the development of Community veterinary legislation including on the use of antimicrobials in zoonoses control programmes in poultry. Given the importance of collecting comparable data on the prevalence of Salmonella and Campylobacter in broilers and broiler meat and antimicrobial resistance of Campylobacter in broiler flocks in the Member States, they should be granted a Community financial contribution for implementing the specific requirements of the survey. It is appropriate to reimburse 100 % of the costs incurred on the laboratory testing, subject to a ceiling. All other costs incurred, such as costs for sampling, travel and administration should not be eligible for any Community financial contribution.

(13) A financial contribution from the Community should be granted provided that the survey is carried out in accordance with Community law and subject to compliance with certain other conditions.

(14) A financial contribution from the Community should be granted insofar as the actions provided for are effectively carried out and provided that the competent authorities furnish all the necessary information within the time limits provided for in this Decision.

(15) For reasons of administrative efficiency all expenditure presented for a financial contribution by the Community should be expressed in euro. In accordance with Council Regulation (EC) No 1290/2005 of 21 June 2005 on the financing of the common agricultural policy(7), the conversion rate for expenditure in a currency other than euro should be the rate most recently set by the European Central Bank prior to the first day of the month in which the application is submitted by the Member State concerned.

(16) 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. 19. Decision as last amended by Decision 2006/965/EC (OJ L 397, 30.12.2006, p. 22).

(2)

The EFSA Journal (2006) 94.

(3)

OJ L 228, 3.9.2005, p. 14.

(4)

OJ L 325, 12.12.2003, p. 31. Directive as amended by Council Directive 2006/104/EC (OJ L 363, 20.12.2006, p. 352).

(5)

The EFSA Journal (2007) 96, 1-46.

(6)

The EFSA Journal (2006) 403, 1-62.

(7)

OJ L 209, 11.8.2005, p. 1. Regulation as last amended by Regulation (EC) No 378/2007 (OJ L 95, 5.4.2007, p. 1).