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:

Commission Decision 2005/779/EC of 8 November 2005 concerning animal health protection measures against swine vesicular disease in Italy^f2 was adopted in response to the presence of that disease in Italy. That Decision lays down animal health rules as regards swine vesicular disease for regions of that Member State that are recognised as free from swine vesicular disease and those not recognised as free from that disease.

Following outbreaks of swine vesicular disease in Italy during 2007 in certain provinces located in regions recognised as free from that disease, that Member State has taken measures in accordance with Council Directive 92/119/EEC of 17 December 1992 introducing general Community measures for the control of certain animal diseases and specific measures relating to swine vesicular disease^f3.

Additionally, Italy has suspended the disease-free status of such provinces where the risk of the further spread of vesicular swine disease is probable. Italy has also prohibited the movement of pigs from those provinces to other regions of Italy and to other Member States.

Those measures taken by Italy have proven to be effective. It is therefore appropriate to amend Decision 2005/779/EC in order to provide for the suspension of the disease-free status of a province located in a region recognised as free from swine vesicular disease, in order to enable Italy to respond quickly and transparently in the event of any outbreaks of that disease in regions recognised as free from that disease. The possibility to suspend should therefore be limited in time and, if the risk continues following the expiry of the period set, a Decision should be taken in accordance with Article 10(4) of Directive 90/425/EEC.

In addition, assembly centres for pigs are often a primary source for the spread of swine vesicular disease. Accordingly, Italy has taken measures to improve control of the movements of pigs from assembly centres and to prevent any possible spread of that disease. Such measures, as regards surveillance of assembly centres for pigs, and in particular as regards the testing and sampling to be carried out, should therefore also be increased.

Decision 2005/779/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: