Introductory text

THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,

Having regard to Council Directive 2000/75/EC of 20 November 2000 laying down specific provisions for the control and eradication of bluetongue^f1, and in particular Article 8(3) thereof,

Whereas:

Directive 2000/75/EC lays down control rules and measures to combat bluetongue in the Community, including the establishment of protection and surveillance zones and a ban on animals leaving those zones.

Commission Decision 2005/393/EC of 23 May 2005 on protection and surveillance zones in relation to bluetongue and conditions applying to movements from or through these zones^f2 provides for the demarcation of the global geographic areas where protection and surveillance zones (‘the restricted zones’) are to be established by the Member States in relation to bluetongue.

Following the notification of outbreaks of bluetongue in mid-August and early September 2006 by Belgium, Germany, France and the Netherlands, the Commission has amended several times Decision 2005/393/EC as regards the demarcation of the restricted zone concerned.

On 13 and 16 October 2006 respectively, France and Germany informed the Commission of new confirmed cases of bluetongue. In view of those findings, it is appropriate to amend the demarcation of the restricted zone in those countries.

Decision 2005/393/EC should 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: