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.

In order to set the Community target for the reduction of the prevalence of zoonoses and zoonotic agents as foreseen in Article 4 of Regulation (EC) No 2160/2003 and to consider the best approach to evaluate in the future the achievement of such target, comparable data on the percentage of Salmonella infected holdings of breeding pigs in the Member States needs to be available. Such information is not available and a special survey should therefore be carried out to monitor the prevalence of Salmonella in breeding pigs over a suitable period in order to take account of possible seasonal variations. The survey should be based on the Salmonella report.

The Salmonella report also recommends additional sampling for the estimation of within-holding prevalence. Such sampling should be carried out by a number of Member States geographically representing the different situations in the Community.

Meticilline-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infections have been recognised as an important risk in hospitals for several decades. MRSA is resistant to the most commonly used antibiotics and it is particularly dangerous for patients with a decreased immunity. The number of deaths attributed to MRSA in the United Kingdom has been estimated at around 3 000 per year. The costs for treatment per patient are estimated at EUR 12 000 to 15 000. Additional expenses are incurred due to hygiene and control programmes to prevent or limit the infection in hospitals.

A new strain of MRSA (ST398) has recently been detected in production animals in several Member States. In particular, pigs have been recognised as an important source of infection for pig farmers or their relatives by direct contact with pigs. Infection with the new strain may also enter hospitals as previously MRSA did in several Member States.

In order to increase awareness and to assess whether it is necessary to take measures to detect and control MRSA in order to reduce their prevalence and the risk they pose to public health, comparable data on the percentage of MRSA (ST398) infected holdings of breeding pigs in the Member States are needed. Such information is not available and a special survey should therefore be carried out to monitor the prevalence of MRSA in breeding pigs over a suitable period in order to take account of possible seasonal variations.

The survey is to provide technical information necessary for the development of Community veterinary legislation as appropriate. Given the importance of collecting comparable data on the prevalence of MRSA in breeding pigs in the Member States, the Member States 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 purchase of swabs and the laboratory testing, subject to a ceiling. All other costs incurred, such as costs for sampling, travelling and administration, should not be eligible for any Community financial contribution.

The financial contribution from the Community should be granted provided that the survey is carried out in accordance with the relevant provisions of Community law and that certain other conditions are complied with, including transmission of results within prescribed deadlines.

In order to ensure the coherence in carrying out the surveys, this Decision should apply from 1 January 2008, date of application of Decision 2007/636/EC.

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