Introductory text

THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,

Having regard to Council Decision 90/424/EEC of 26 June 1990 on expenditure in the veterinary field^f1, and in particular Article 24(6) thereof,

Whereas:

Decision 90/424/EEC provides for the possibility of a financial contribution by the Community in the eradication and monitoring of certain animal diseases.

Most Member Sates have submitted programmes to the Commission for the eradication and monitoring of certain transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSEs).

After examination, the programmes submitted by the Member States for the eradication and the monitoring of TSEs were found to comply with Council Decision 90/638/EEC of 27 November 1990 laying down Community criteria for the eradication and monitoring of certain animal diseases^f2.

Those programmes appear on the priority list of programmes for the eradication and monitoring of certain TSEs qualifying for financial contribution from the Community in 2005 and which was established by Commission Decision 2004/696/EC of 14 October 2004 on the list of programmes for the eradication and monitoring of certain TSEs qualifying for a financial contribution from the Community in 2005^f3.

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^f4, provides for annual programmes for the eradication and monitoring of TSEs in bovine, ovine and caprine animals.

In the light of the importance to eradicate and monitor TSEs for the achievement of Community objectives in the field of animal and public health, it is appropriate to reimburse 100 % of the costs paid by the Member States for the TSE rapid tests performed up to a maximum amount per test and per TSE monitoring programme.

For the same reason it is appropriate to reimburse 100 % of the laboratory costs paid by the Member States for the performance of genotyping tests up to a maximum per test and per Scrapie eradication programme.

Council Regulation (EC) No 1258/1999 of 17 May 1999 on the financing of the common agricultural policy^f5, provides that programmes for the eradication and monitoring of animal diseases are to be financed under the Guarantee Section of the European Agricultural Guidance and Guarantee Fund. For financial control purposes, Articles 8 and 9 of that Regulation are to apply.

The Community’s financial contribution should only be granted subject to the condition that the programmes for the eradication and monitoring of TSEs are carried out efficiently and that the Member States supply all the necessary information within specified time limits laid down in this Decision.

There is a need to clarify the rate to be used for the conversion of the payment applications submitted in national currency as defined in Article 1(d) of Council Regulation (EC) No 2799/98 of 15 December 1998 establishing agrimonetary arrangements for the euro^f6.

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: