Introductory text

THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,

Having regard to Council Directive 91/496/EEC ^f1 of 15 July 1991 laying down the principles governing the organisation of veterinary checks and animals entering the Community from third countries and amending Directives 89/662/EEC, 90/425/EEC and 90/675/EEC as last amended by Council Directive 96/43/EC ^f2, and in particular Article 18(1) thereof,

Whereas:

Monkey-pox infection has been confirmed in certain parts of the United States of America.

Findings by the competent authorities in the United States of America indicate the possibility that the contamination of those prairie dogs is linked to contacts with rodents of non-domestic species (Gambian rat) imported from the African rain forest zone where the disease is endemic.

The known reservoirs in the endemic zone are squirrels and rodents of non-domestic species in the African rain forest. Unlike suggested by the name of the disease, monkeys and primates are infected accidentally through direct or close contact with infected reservoir hosts.

Monkey-pox is a zoonotic disease which is not present in the European Union.

It is appropriate to adopt the necessary protection measures rapidly at Community level with regard to prairie dogs originating in or coming from the United States of America.

It is therefore appropriate, in order to avoid the situation encountered in the United States of America, to suspend importation of reservoir species from the endemic zone.

It is however appropriate to leave the possibility for the Member States to allow the importation for specific purposes in the framework of Directive 92/65/EEC ^f3 of 13 July 1992 laying down animal health requirements governing trade in and imports into the Community of animals, semen, ova and embryos not subject to animal health requirements laid down in specific Community rules referred to in Annex A (I) to Directive 90/425/EEC, as last amended by Regulation (EC) No 1282/2002 ^f4.

The measures provided for in this Decision are in accordance with the opinion of the Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health,

HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION: