Introductory text

THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION,

Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,

Having regard to Council Decision 2009/470/EC of 25 May 2009 on expenditure in the veterinary field^f1, and in particular Article 31(1) thereof,

Having regard to Regulation (EC) No 882/2004 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 29 April 2004 on official controls performed to ensure the verification of compliance with feed and food law, animal health and animal welfare rules^f2, and in particular Article 32(7) thereof,

Whereas:

Pursuant to Article 31(1) of Decision 2009/470/EC European Union reference laboratories in the field of animal health and live animals may be granted Union aid.

Commission Regulation (EC) No 1754/2006 of 28 November 2006 laying down detailed rules for the granting of Community financial assistance to Community reference laboratories for feed and food and the animal health sector^f3 provides that the financial assistance from the Union is to be granted if the approved work programmes are efficiently carried out and the beneficiaries supply all the necessary information within certain time limits.

In accordance with Article 2 of Regulation (EC) No 1754/2006 the relationship between the Commission and European Union reference laboratories is laid down in a partnership agreement which is supported by a multiannual work programme.

The Commission has assessed the work programmes and corresponding budget estimates submitted by the European Union reference laboratories for the year 2011.

• Council Directive 92/35/EEC of 29 April 1992 laying down control rules and measures to combat African horse sickness^f4,

• Council Directive 92/66/EEC of 14 July 1992 introducing Community measures for the control of Newcastle disease^f5,

• Council Directive 92/119/EEC of 17 December 1992 introducing general Community measures for the control of certain animals diseases and specific measures relating to swine vesicular disease^f6,

• Council Directive 93/53/EEC of 24 June 1993 introducing minimum Community measures for the control of certain fish diseases^f7,

• Council Directive 95/70/EC of 22 December 1995 introducing minimum Community measures for the control of certain diseases affecting bivalve molluscs^f8,

• Council Decision 2000/258/EC of 20 March 2000 designating a specific institute responsible for establishing the criteria necessary for standardising the serological tests to monitor the effectiveness of rabies vaccines^f9,

• Council Directive 2000/75/EC of 20 November 2000 laying down specific provisions for the control and eradication of bluetongue^f10,

• Council Directive 2001/89/EC of 23 October 2001 on Community measures for the control of classical swine fever^f11,

• Council Directive 2002/60/EC of 27 June 2002 laying down specific provisions for the control of African swine fever and amending Directive 92/119/EEC as regards Teschen disease and African swine fever^f12,

• Council Directive 2003/85/EC of 29 September 2003 on Community measures for the control of foot-and-mouth disease repealing Directive 85/511/EEC and Decisions 89/531/EEC and 91/665/EEC and amending Directive 92/46/EEC^f13,

• Council Decision 96/463/EC of 23 July 1996 designating the reference body responsible for collaborating in rendering uniform the testing methods and the assessment of the results for pure-bred breeding animals of the bovine species^f14,

• Regulation (EC) No 882/2004 for brucellosis,

• Council Directive 2005/94/EC of 20 December 2005 on Community measures for the control of avian influenza and repealing Directive 92/40/EEC^f15,

• Council Directive 2006/88/EC of 24 October 2006 on animal health requirements for aquaculture animals and products thereof, and on the prevention and control of certain diseases in aquatic animals^f16,

• Commission Regulation (EC) No 180/2008 of 28 February 2008 concerning the Community reference laboratory for equine diseases other than African horse sickness and amending Annex VII to Regulation (EC) No 882/2004 of the European Parliament and of the Council^f17,

• Commission Regulation (EC) No 737/2008 of 28 July 2008 designating the Community reference laboratories for crustacean diseases, rabies and bovine tuberculosis, laying down additional responsibilities and tasks for the Community reference laboratories for rabies and bovine tuberculosis and amending Annex VII to Regulation (EC) No 882/2004 of the European Parliament and of the Council^f18.

Financial assistance for the operation and organisation of workshops of European Union reference laboratories should also be in conformity with the eligibility rules laid down in Regulation (EC) No 1754/2006.

Regulation (EC) No 1754/2006 lays down eligibility rules for the workshops organised by the European Union reference laboratories. It also limits the financial assistance to a maximum of 32 participants in workshops. Derogations to that limitation should be provided in accordance with Article 13(3) of Regulation (EC) No 1754/2006 to some European Union reference laboratories that needs support for attendance by more than 32 participants in order to achieve the best outcome of its workshops. Derogations can be obtained in case a European Union reference laboratory takes the leadership and responsibility of organising a workshop with another European Union reference laboratory.

In accordance with Articles 3(2)(a) and 13 of Council Regulation (EC) No 1290/2005 of 21 June 2005 on the financing of the common agricultural policy^f19, animal disease eradication and control programmes (veterinary measures) shall be financed from the European Agricultural Guarantee Fund (EAGF). Furthermore, Article 13, second paragraph of that regulation foresees that in duly justified exceptional cases, for measures and programmes covered by Decision 2009/470/EC, expenditure relating to administrative and personnel costs incurred by Member States and beneficiaries of aid from the EAGF shall be borne by the Fund. For financial control purposes, Articles 9, 36 and 37 of Regulation (EC) No 1290/2005 are to apply.

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: