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.

On 3 November 2006 Portugal informed the Commission that serotype 4 virus has been detected as circulating in a number of peripheral areas of restricted zone E. Consequently that zone should be extended, taking into account the data available on the ecology of the vector and the current meteorological situation.

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 6 November 2006 Germany informed the Commission of new outbreaks of bluetongue in North-Rhine-Westphalia, Rhineland-Palatinate and Lower Saxony. In view of those findings, it is appropriate to amend the demarcation of the restricted zone in Germany and France.

On 6 November 2006 Italy also informed the Commission that serotype 1 virus has been detected as circulating for the first time in Cagliari province in the Sardegna region already located in the restricted zone C. Consequently, in view of those new findings, it is appropriate to insert a new restricted zone including the affected area.

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: