Directive 64/432/EEC lays down animal health rules in respect of trade within the Union in bovine animals. Article 9 of that Directive provides that a Member State which has a compulsory national control programme for one of the diseases listed in Annex E (II) thereto may submit its programme to the Commission for approval. It also provides that additional guarantees may be required for intra-Union trade in bovine animals. Infectious bovine rhinotracheitis, a disease caused by bovine herpes virus type 1 (BHV1), is listed for bovine animals in Annex E (II) to Directive 64/432/EEC.

In February 2020, France submitted to the Commission supporting documentation for approval of its national programme for the control and eradication of infectious bovine rhinotracheitis covering the French metropolitan departments, except for Corsica, and requested approval to apply additional guarantees for infectious bovine rhinotracheitis in accordance with Article 9 of Directive 64/432/EEC.

Article 10 of Directive 64/432/EEC provides for Member States that consider their territory or parts thereof to be free of one of the diseases listed in Annex E (II) thereto to present appropriate supporting documentation to the Commission. It also provides that additional guarantees may be required for intra-Union trade in bovine animals.

In January 2020, Czechia submitted to the Commission supporting documentation in order for the whole of its territory to be considered free of BHV1, and requested approval to apply additional guarantees for infectious bovine rhinotracheitis in accordance with Article 10 of Directive 64/432/EEC.

Following the evaluation of the supporting documentation submitted by France, the metropolitan departments of that Member State, except for Corsica, should be listed in Annex I to Decision 2004/558/EC, and the additional guarantees for infectious bovine rhinotracheitis should apply in accordance with Article 9 of Directive 64/432/EEC.

In addition, following the evaluation of the supporting documentation submitted by Czechia, it should no longer be listed in Annex I to Decision 2004/558/EC, but instead it should be listed in Annex II thereto, and the additional guarantees for infectious bovine rhinotracheitis should apply in accordance with Article 10 of Directive 64/432/EEC.

Annexes I and II to Decision 2004/558/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,