Introductory text

THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,

Having regard to Council Directive 90/425/EEC of 26 June 1990 concerning veterinary and zootechnical checks applicable in intra-Community trade in certain live animals and products with a view to the completion of the internal market^f1, and in particular Article 10(4) thereof,

Whereas:

In response to outbreaks of classical swine fever in certain Member States, Commission Decision 2003/526/EC of 18 July 2003 concerning protection measures relating to classical swine fever in certain Member States^f2 was adopted. That Decision establishes certain additional disease control measures concerning classical swine fever.

Germany has informed the Commission about the recent evolution of that disease in feral pigs in the federal state of North Rhine-Westphalia. In the light of the epidemiological information available, the areas in Germany where disease control measures apply should be amended to include certain areas in North Rhine-Westphalia and adjacent areas in Rhineland-Palatinate.

The disease situation in other areas of the federal state of Rhineland-Palatinate has significantly improved. The measures provided for in Decision 2003/526/EC concerning those areas should therefore no longer apply.

Decision 2003/526/EC should therefore be amended accordingly.

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: