Commission Decision

of 18 December 2006

amending Decision 2005/779/EC concerning animal health protection measures against swine vesicular disease in Italy

(notified under document number C(2006) 6574)

(Text with EEA relevance)

(2007/9/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 market1, and in particular Article 10(4) thereof,

Whereas:

(1)
Commission Decision 2005/779/EC of 8 November 2005 concerning animal health protection measures against swine vesicular disease in Italy2 was adopted in response to the presence of that disease in Italy. It lays down animal health rules as regards swine vesicular disease for regions of that Member State that are recognised as free of that disease and for regions not so recognised.
(2)

In the light of the information now provided by Italy, the measures provided for in Decision 2005/779/EC as regards the surveillance on holdings and assembly centres for pigs, and in particular as regards the testing and sampling to be carried out, should be increased in the interests of the prevention of the spread of the disease. In addition, the movement of pigs from holdings and regions that are not recognised as free from swine vesicular disease should be made more restrictive.

(3)

Decision 2005/779/EC should therefore be amended accordingly.

(4)

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: