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 Articles 17, 20, 37(2) and 37a(2) thereof,

Whereas:

Decision 90/424/EEC lays down the procedures governing the Community’s financial contribution towards specific veterinary measures, in particular as regards the information policy for animal health, animal welfare and food safety, technical and scientific measures and control.

Pursuant to Article 16 of Decision 90/424/EEC, the Community shall make a financial contribution to the establishment of an information policy in the field of animal health, animal welfare and food safety in products of animal origin, including the performance of studies necessary for the preparation and development of legislation in the field of animal welfare.

It is therefore appropriate for the Community to fund for the year 2009, studies, impact assessments, evaluations, and information policy covering the areas of food safety, animal health and welfare and zootechnics. The maximum amount to be allocated to these actions should be specified.

A feasibility study concerning the general revision of the Community farm animal welfare legislation and the integration of farm animal welfare indicators in the legislation should be performed. Furthermore, an impact assessment study concerning the animal welfare at transport and slaughter of farmed fish should be conducted. These studies will support the actions identified in the Community Action Plan on the Protection and Welfare of Animals 2006-2010.

The Community Action Plan on the Protection and Welfare of Animals 2006-2010^f2 in particular foresees an evaluation of the progress as well as follow-up programming beyond 2010. There is therefore a need for a global evaluation of the Community policy on animal welfare before 2010.

The Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions on a new Animal Health Strategy for the European Union (2007-2013) where ‘Prevention is better than cure’^f3 foresees the development of an EU Animal Health General Law and a harmonised EU framework of the criteria for responsibility and cost sharing schemes. Therefore, a study to support the Impact Assessment of the Animal Health General Law and a feasibility study for the revision of Decision 90/424/EEC should be conducted.

All the studies except for the feasibility study for the revision of Decision 90/424/EEC are subject to specific contracts under the DG SANCO Framework Contract on Evaluation, Impact Assessment and related services Lot 3 (Food Chain) (for which a call for tender was launched in 2004. Those specific contracts are to be signed between the Commission and the selected contractor as defined in the framework contract. A call for tender is to be launched in 2009 for carrying out the feasibility study for the revision of Decision 90/424/EEC.

Article 37a(1)(b) of Decision 90/424/EEC provides that a Community financial contribution may be granted for the computerisation of the veterinary procedures relating to hosting, management and maintenance of integrated computerised veterinary systems, including interfaces with national databases, where appropriate. A Community financial contribution should therefore be granted for the hosting, management and maintenance of the integrated computerised veterinary system Traces (Trade Control and Expert System), introduced by Commission Decision 2003/24/EC of 30 December 2002 concerning the development of an integrated computerised veterinary system^f4, in order to ensure that the system is available, secure and updated.

Article 37(1) of Decision 90/424/EEC provides that the introduction of systems for identifying animals and notifying diseases under legislation concerning veterinary checks in intra-Community trade in live animals, with a view to the completion of the internal market, may receive Community financial assistance. A Community financial contribution should therefore be granted in order to update the animal disease notification system (ADNS), based on Commission Decision 2005/176/EC of 1 March 2005 laying down the codified form and the codes for the notification of animal diseases pursuant to Council Directive 82/894/EEC^f5, with the necessary technical improvements.

The Communication on a new Animal Health Strategy for the European Union (2007-2013) acknowledges the importance of dialogue between citizens, civil society associations and the EC institutions (particularly the Commission). An effective communication strategy is therefore needed to promote animal health issues and the Animal Health Strategy principles to stakeholders, organisations and society as a whole.

Pursuant to Article 19 of Decision 90/424/EEC, the Community may undertake, or assist the Member States or international organisations in undertaking, the technical and scientific measures necessary for the development of Community veterinary legislation and for the development of veterinary education or training.

The World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) is the intergovernmental organisation responsible for improving animal health worldwide. It is recognised as a reference organisation by the World Trade Organisation (WTO) for setting standards for international trade of animals and their products.

The OIE is planning an International Conference on Foot and Mouth Disease. This conference will support the actions identified in the Communication on a new Animal Health Strategy for the European Union (2007-2013). Therefore it is appropriate for the Community to contribute to this initiative in order to achieve a better protection from this disease. Therefore, the Community should support this OIE initiative.

The OIE has a de facto monopoly in its sector, as mentioned in Article 168(1)(c) of Commission Regulation (EC, Euratom) No 2342/2002 of 23 December 2002 laying down detailed rules for the implementation of Council Regulation (EC, Euratom) No 1605/2002 on the Financial Regulation applicable to the general budget of the European Communities^f6; hence a call for proposals is not required in order for the Community to contribute to the organisation and hosting of an International Conference on Foot and Mouth Disease.

The present Decision constitutes a financing decision within the meaning of Article 75 of Council Regulation (EC, Euratom) No 1605/2002 of 25 June 2002 on the Financial Regulation applicable to the general budget of the European Communities^f7 and Article 90 of Regulation (EC, Euratom) No 2342/2002.

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 DECIDED AS FOLLOWS: