Commission Implementing Decision

of 8 October 2014

amending Annexes I and II to Decision 2004/558/EC as regards the approval of a control programme for eradicating infectious bovine rhinotracheitis in Belgium and the infectious bovine rhinotracheitis-free status of the Federal State of Thuringia in Germany

(notified under document C(2014) 7113)

(Text with EEA relevance)

(2014/703/EU)

THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION,

Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,

Having regard to Council Directive 64/432/EEC of 26 June 1964 on animal health problems affecting intra-Community trade in bovine animals and swine1, and in particular Articles 9(2) and 10(2) thereto,

Whereas:

(1)

Directive 64/432/EEC lays down rules for trade within the Union in bovine animals. Article 9 thereof provides that a Member State which has a compulsory national control programme for one of the contagious diseases listed in Annex E(II) thereto, may submit its programme to the Commission for approval. That list includes infectious bovine rhinotracheitis. Infectious bovine rhinotracheitis is the description of the most prominent clinical signs of the infection with the bovine herpes virus type 1 (BHV1).

(2)

Article 9 of Directive 64/432/EEC also provides for the definition of the additional guarantees which may be required in intra-Union trade.

(3)

In addition, Article 10 of Directive 64/432/EEC provides that where a Member State considers that its territory or part thereof is free from one of the diseases listed in Annex E(II) to that Directive, it is to present appropriate supporting documentation to the Commission. That Article also provides for the definition of the additional guarantees which may be required in intra-Union trade.

(4)
Commission Decision 2004/558/EC2 approves the programmes for the control and eradication of BHV1 presented by the Member States listed in Annex I thereto for the regions listed in that Annex and for which additional guarantees apply in accordance with Article 9 of Directive 64/432/EEC.
(5)

In addition, Annex II to Decision 2004/558/EC lists the regions of the Member States that are considered free of BHV1 and to which additional guarantees apply in accordance with Article 10 of Directive 64/432/EEC.

(6)Belgium has submitted to the Commission a programme with the aim of eradicating BHV1 infection in the whole of its territory. That programme complies with the criteria set out in Article 9(1) of Directive 64/432/EEC. That programme also provides for rules for the national movement of bovine animals which are equivalent to those previously implemented in certain Member States or regions thereof, which were successful in eradicating the disease in those Member States or regions.

The programme presented by Belgium and the additional guarantees presented in accordance with Article 9 of Directive 64/432/EEC should be approved.

(7)

Annex I to Decision 2004/558/EC should therefore be amended accordingly.

(8)

All regions of Germany, with the exception of the Federal State of Bavaria, are currently listed in Annex I to Decision 2004/558/EC. The Federal State of Bavaria is free of BHV1 and is therefore listed in Annex II to that Decision.

(9)Germany has now submitted to the Commission supporting documentation for the Federal State of Thuringia to be considered free of BHV1 and for the additional guarantees in accordance with Article 10 of Directive 64/432/EEC.

Following the evaluation of the supporting documentation submitted by that Member State, the Federal State of Thuringia should no longer be listed in Annex I to Decision 2004/558/EC, but instead be listed in Annex II thereto and the application of the additional guarantees in accordance with Article 10 of Directive 64/432/EEC should be extended to it.

(10)

Annex II to Decision 2004/558/EC should therefore be amended accordingly.

(11)

Decision 2004/558/EC should therefore be amended accordingly.

(12)

The measures provided for in this Decision are in accordance with the opinion of the Standing Committee on Plants, Animals, Food and Feed,

HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:

Article 1

Annexes I and II to Decision 2004/558/EC are replaced by the text in Annex to this Decision.

Article 2

This Decision is addressed to the Member States.

Done at Brussels, 8 October 2014.

For the Commission

Tonio Borg

Member of the Commission

ANNEX

Annexes I and II to Decision 2004/558/EC are replaced by the following:

‘ANNEX I

Member States

Regions of Member States to which the additional guarantees for infectious bovine rhinotracheitis apply in accordance with Article 9 of Directive 64/432/EEC

Belgium

All regions

Czech Republic

All regions

Germany

All regions, except the Federal State of Bavaria and the Federal State of Thuringia

Italy

Region Friuli-Venezia Giulia

Region Valle d'Aosta

Autonomous Province of Trento

ANNEX II

Member States

Regions of Member States to which the additional guarantees for infectious bovine rhinotracheitis apply in accordance with Article 10 of Directive 64/432/EEC

Denmark

All regions

Germany

The Federal State of Bavaria

The Federal State of Thuringia

Italy

The Autonomous Province of Bolzano

Austria

All regions

Finland

All regions

Sweden

All regions’