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 20 thereof,

Whereas:

Eradication of transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSEs) in small ruminants, including bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) which is considered to be the cause of the fatal variant Creutzfeld Jacob disease in humans, is of major importance for animal health and consumer’s protection.

A bi-annual survey on TSEs resistant genotypes in goats was submitted by Cyprus in 2005, with a view to obtain financial support from the Community. The objectives of that survey are to further investigate the PrP gene of goats in that Member State in order to confirm the results of previous preliminary studies where specific PrP polymorphisms were found indicating resistance against TSEs and to evaluate the data in order to be able to determine the baseline prevalence of TSE resistant PrP genes in goats. Cyprus has a very high prevalence of TSEs in goats and is therefore the appropriate Member State to carry out such pilot project. The survey started on 1 January 2006.

In accordance with Article 3(2)(a) of Council Regulation (EC) No 1290/2005^f2 of 21 June 2005 on the financing of the common agricultural policy, animal disease eradication and control programmes (veterinary measures) are to be financed from the European Agricultural Guarantee Fund. For financial control purposes, Articles 9, 36 and 37 of that Regulation are to apply.

Commission Decision 2006/140/EC of 15 February 2006 concerning a specific financial contribution from the Community relating to the survey on TSE resistant PrP genes in goats presented by Cyprus for the year 2006^f3 granted a financial contribution from the Community for the year 2006 for the study of genetic resistance to TSE in goats in that Member State.

For budgetary reasons, Community assistance is decided each year. It is appropriate to grant a financial contribution from the Community for that survey to cover the year 2007. Decision 2006/140/EC should therefore be amended to cover that year.

The Annex to Decision 2006/140/EC lists the financial assistance of the Community and also the means of technical and financial reporting. That annex should be amended to take account of financial assistance for the year 2007 and also changes in reporting for that year.

For reasons of administrative efficiency all expenditure presented for a financial contribution by the Community should be expressed in euro. In accordance with Council Regulation (EC) No 1290/2005, the conversion rate for expenditure in a currency other than euro should be the rate most recently set by the European Central Bank prior to the first day of the month in which the application is submitted by Cyprus.

Decision 2006/140/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: