Directive 64/432/EEC applies to intra-Union trade in bovine animals. It lays down the conditions whereby a Member State may be declared officially tuberculosis-free as regards bovine herds, as well as the conditions for retaining this status.

In November 2017 Malta reported an outbreak of bovine tuberculosis confirmed by the isolation of M. bovis on laboratory examination. During the follow-up investigations, bovine animals of another herd reacted positively to the test for bovine tuberculosis. This second herd had received animals from the index case.

Malta has taken the measures set out in Annex A(I) to Directive 64/432/EEC and in particular has withdrawn the officially free status of the first herd and suspended the status of the second herd. Consequently, Malta can no longer comply with the criteria for maintenance of the officially free status for bovine tuberculosis as set out in paragraph 4 of Annex A.I to Directive 64/432/EEC and moreover, the source of infection has remained inconclusive.

Following information from Malta about outbreaks of bovine tuberculosis, the Commission considers that there is evidence of a significant change in the situation as regards bovine tuberculosis in that Member State.

The officially bovine tuberculosis-free status of Malta should therefore be suspended until the results of surveillance testing and epidemiological investigations demonstrate that the outbreaks are under control, measures are applied in accordance with paragraph 4(b), (c) and (d) of Annex A.I to Directive 64/432/EEC, and the percentage of bovine herds confirmed as infected with tuberculosis has not exceeded 0,1 % of all herds in a continuous 12-month period, at the end of which at least 99,9 % of bovine herds should achieve officially tuberculosis-free status.

Annex I to Decision 2003/467/EC should therefore be amended accordingly.

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