THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION,
Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,
Having regard to Regulation (EC) No 2160/2003 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 17 November 2003 on the control of salmonella and other specified food-borne zoonotic agents and, in particular the second subparagraph of Article 4(1) and Article 13 thereof;
Whereas:
(1)
The purpose of Regulation (EC) No 2160/2003 is to ensure that measures are taken to detect and control salmonella and other zoonotic agents at all relevant stages of production, processing and distribution, particularly at the level of primary production, in order to reduce their prevalence and the risk they pose to public health.
(2)
Regulation (EC) No 2160/2003 provides for Union targets to be established for the reduction of the prevalence of the zoonoses and zoonotic agents listed in Annex I thereto in the animal populations listed therein. It also lays down certain requirements for those targets.
(3)
Annex I to Regulation (EC) No 2160/2003 refers to all salmonella serotypes with public health significance in breeding flocks of Gallus gallus. Those breeding flocks may spread salmonella infection to their progeny, in particular to flocks of laying hens and broilers. Therefore, a reduction in the prevalence of salmonella in breeding flocks contributes to the control of that zoonotic agent in eggs and meat derived from the progeny, which is an important public health risk.
(4)
Commission Regulation (EC) No 1003/2005 of 30 June 2005 implementing Regulation (EC) No 2160/2003 as regards a Community target for the reduction of the prevalence of certain salmonella serotypes in breeding flocks of Gallus gallus
lays down a Community target for the reduction of the prevalence of certain salmonella serotypes in breeding flocks of Gallus gallus for a transitional period expiring on 31 December 2009. By that date, the maximum percentage of adult breeding flocks of Gallus gallus remaining positive for Salmonella enteritidis, Salmonella infantis, Salmonella hadar, Salmonella typhimurium and Salmonella virchow (the relevant Salmonella spp.) is to be 1 % or less. Accordingly, it is necessary to lay down a permanent Union target for the reduction of the relevant Salmonella spp. once that period has expired.
(5)
Regulation (EC) No 2160/2003 provides that experience gained under existing national measures and information forwarded to the Commission or to the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) under existing Union requirements, in particular in the framework of information provided for in Directive 2003/99/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 17 November 2003 on the monitoring of zoonoses and zoonotic agents, and in particular Article 5 thereof, is to be taken into account when setting the Union target.
(6)
In accordance with the requirements of Regulation (EC) No 2160/2003, the EFSA has been consulted on the setting of the permanent Union target for breeding flocks of Gallus gallus. Accordingly, on 26 March 2009, the Panel on Biological Hazards adopted on a request from European Commission a scientific Opinion on a Quantitative estimation of the impact of setting a new target for the reduction of salmonella in breeding hens of Gallus gallus
. It concluded that Salmonella enteritidis and Salmonella typhimurium have the greatest potential for transmission, from breeding hens to their progeny in the broiler meat and egg layer chains. It also concluded that EU control measures for these two serotypes in breeding hens are expected to contribute to the control of salmonella infections in production stock, and to reduce human health risks from poultry. That Scientific Opinion also stated that the marginal benefits of additional EU-wide control for other serotypes in breeders are relatively small: they are less frequently associated with human illness and have less potential for vertical transmission.
(7)
Taking into account the Scientific Opinion of the EFSA and considering that more time is needed to assess the trend of salmonella in flocks after the introduction of national control programmes, a Union target for the reduction of salmonella in adult breeding flocks of Gallus gallus similar to the one laid down in Regulation (EC) No 1003/2005 should be maintained.
(8)
In order to ascertain progress in the achievement of the Union target, it is necessary to provide for repeated sampling of breeding flocks of Gallus gallus.
(9)
National control programmes for the achievement of the target in 2010 have been approved in accordance with Commission Decision 2009/883/EC of 26 November 2009 approving annual and multiannual programmes and the financial contribution from the Community for the eradication, control and monitoring of certain animal diseases and zoonoses presented by the Member States for 2010 and the following years. These programmes were based on the legal provisions applicable at the time of submission of these programmes. The programmes in breeding flocks of Gallus gallus were approved based on the provisions in Regulation (EC) No 1003/2005. A transitional measure is therefore needed for the control programmes already approved.
(10)
The measures provided for in this Regulation are in accordance with the opinion of the Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health,
HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION: