THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION,
Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,
Having regard to Regulation (EC) No 999/2001 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 22 May 2001 laying down rules for the prevention, control and eradication of certain transmissible spongiform encephalopathies, and in particular the first paragraph of Article 23 and the introductory phrase and point (a) of Article 23a thereof,
Whereas:
(1)
Regulation (EC) No 999/2001 lays down rules for the prevention, control and eradication of transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSEs) in animals. It applies to the production and placing on the market of live animals and products of animal origin and in certain specific cases to exports thereof.
(2)
Point 4 of Chapter C of Annex X to Regulation (EC) No 999/2001 sets out a list of rapid tests approved for the monitoring of TSEs in bovine, ovine and caprine animals.
(3)
On 8 May 2012, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) published an opinion on the evaluation of new TSE rapid tests submitted in the framework of the Commission call for expression of interest 2007/S204-247339. EFSA recommended in this opinion that the test Prionics - Check PrioSTRIP SR (visual reading protocol) be considered suitable for approval as rapid test for detection of TSE in small ruminants’ central nervous system.
(4)
It is therefore appropriate to amend accordingly the lists of rapid tests approved for the monitoring of TSE in small ruminants, set out in point 4 of Chapter C of Annex X to Regulation (EC) No 999/2001.
(5)
Regulation (EC) No 999/2001 should therefore be amended accordingly.
(6)
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: