{
  "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/eu-decision-2003-422/introduction",
  "json_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/eu-decision-2003-422/introduction.json",
  "legislation": "eudn/2003/422",
  "legislation_title": "2003/422/EC: Commission Decision of 26 May 2003 approving an African swine fever diagnostic manual (Text with EEA relevance) (notified under document number C(2003) 1696)",
  "legislation_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/eu-decision-2003-422",
  "path": "introduction",
  "kind": "introduction",
  "number": null,
  "heading": "Introductory text",
  "text": "Commission Decision\nof 26 May 2003\napproving an African swine fever diagnostic manual\n(notified under document number C(2003) 1696)\n(Text with EEA relevance)\n(2003/422/EC)\nTHE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,\nHaving regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,\nHaving regard to Council Directive 2002/60/EC of 27 June 2002 laying down specific provisions for the control of African swine fever and amending Directive 92/119/EEC as regards Teschen disease and African swine fever, and in particular Article 18(3) thereof,\nWhereas:\n(1)\nIt is necessary pursuant to Directive 2002/60/EC to lay down uniform diagnostic procedures, sampling methods and criteria for the evaluation of the results of laboratory tests for the confirmation of African swine fever.\n(2)\nIn accordance with that Directive, the Community Reference Laboratory for African swine fever is to coordinate, in consultation with the Commission, the methods employed in the Member States for diagnosing the disease, by organising, inter alia, periodic comparative tests and the supplying of standard reagents at Community level.\n(3)\nAfrican swine fever virus is not considered to be a hazard for human health.\n(4)\nLaboratory tests have been developed to ensure rapid confirmation of African swine fever.\n(5)\nThe experience gained in the control of African swine fever in recent years has resulted in the identification of the most suitable sampling procedures and criteria for evaluation of laboratory test results for a proper diagnosis of this disease in different situations.\n(6)\nIt is therefore appropriate to approve the manual laying down those procedures and criteria.\n(7)\nThe national diagnostic laboratories should be authorised to modify the approved laboratory tests or use different tests, provided that equal sensitivity and specificity can be demonstrated.\n(8)\nThe measures provided for in this Decision are in accordance with the opinion of the Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health,\nHAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:",
  "extent": "E+W+S+N.I.",
  "status": null,
  "version": "current",
  "annotations": [
    {
      "type": "footnote",
      "label": "f1",
      "text": "OJ L 192, 20.7.2002, p. 27."
    }
  ],
  "outstanding_effects": [],
  "provenance": {
    "source": "legislation.gov.uk",
    "source_url": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/eudn/2003/422/introduction",
    "retrieved_at": "2026-11-01T15:18:22.461284+00:00"
  },
  "licence": "Open Government Licence v3.0",
  "licence_url": "https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/",
  "attribution": "Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives."
}