THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION,
Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,
Having regard to Council Directive 91/68/EEC of 28 January 1991 on animal health conditions governing intra-Community trade in ovine and caprine animals, and in particular Section II of Chapter 1 of Annex A thereto,
Whereas:
(1)
Directive 91/68/EEC defines the animal health conditions governing trade in the Union in ovine and caprine animals. It lays down the conditions whereby Member States or regions thereof may be recognised as being officially brucellosis-free.
(2)
Annex II to Commission Decision 93/52/EEC lists the regions of Member States which are recognised as officially free of brucellosis (B. melitensis) in accordance with Directive 91/68/EEC.
(3)
France has submitted to the Commission documentation demonstrating compliance with the conditions laid down in Directive 91/68/EEC to be recognised as officially free of brucellosis (B. melitensis) for 31 new administrative regions (départements) in addition to the 64 administrative regions (départements) already recognised as officially free of that disease and currently listed in Annex II to Decision 93/52/EEC.
(4)
Following an evaluation of the documentation submitted by France, those 31 administrative regions (départements) should be recognised as being officially free of brucellosis (B. melitensis).
(5)
The entry for France in Annex II to Decision 93/52/EEC should therefore be amended accordingly.
(6)
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: