Introductory text

THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION,

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

Having regard to Regulation (EC) No 999/2001 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 22 May 2001 laying down rules for the prevention, control and eradication of certain transmissible spongiform encephalopathies^f1, and in particular the second subparagraph of Article 13(1) thereof,

Whereas:

Regulation (EC) No 999/2001 lays down rules for the prevention, control and eradication of transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSEs) in animals. The first subparagraph of Article 13(1) of that Regulation provides for eradication measures to be applied when the presence of a TSE has been officially confirmed. Those measures consist in particular in the killing and complete destruction of the animals and products of animal origin which have been identified as being at risk (‘at risk bovine animals’) due to an epidemiological link with the affected animals.

Spain has submitted to the Commission a request for a decision to allow the use of at risk bovine animals until the end of their productive lives by way of derogation from point (c) of the first subparagraph of Article 13(1) of Regulation (EC) No 999/2001.

The control measures submitted by Spain provide for strict movement restriction and traceability of bovine animals in such a way that the current level of protection of human and animal health is not endangered.

On the basis of a favourable risk assessment, Spain should therefore be allowed to use at risk bovine animals until the end of their productive lives provided that certain conditions are met.

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: