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 3(3), 3(6) and Article 8 thereof,

Having regard to Regulation (EU, Euratom) No 966/2012 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 25 October 2012 on the financial rules applicable to the general budget of the Union and repealing Council Regulation (EC, Euratom) No 1605/2002^f2, and in particular Article 84 thereof,

Whereas:

As the plan approved by Commission Implementing Decision 2013/90/EU^f3 is a sufficiently detailed framework in the meaning of Article 94 of the Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) No 1268/2012 of 29 October 2012 on the rules of application of Regulation (EU, Euratom) No 966/2012 of the European Parliament and of the Council on the financial rules applicable to the general budget of the Union^f4, the present decision constitutes a financing decision for the expenditure provided for in the work programme for grants.

Classical swine fever is an infectious viral disease of domestic and feral pigs which causes disturbance to intra-Union trade and export to third countries.

In the event of an outbreak of classical swine fever, there is a risk that the disease agent might spread to other pig holdings within that Member State, to other Member States and to third countries through trade in live pigs, their products, semen, ova and embryos and also by feral pigs.

Council Directive 2001/89/EC of 23 October 2001 on Community measures for the control of classical swine fever^f5 lays down the measures that shall be taken in the event of an outbreak to prevent further spread of the virus.

In case of confirmation of the presence of classical swine fever virus in feral pigs and when the epidemiological data available suggest that it threatens to spread, oral vaccination of feral pigs in the area at risk is the most effective and efficient veterinary measure to contain the spread of the disease.

On 20 November 2012 Latvia notified two primary cases of classical swine fever in feral pigs in Dagda and Zilupe counties, very close to the border with Belarus and Russia.

Following these outbreaks Latvia implemented surveillance for classical swine fever in feral pigs and subsequently in domestic pigs in backyard holdings in the areas surrounding the primary cases to define the infected area.

Implementing Decision 2013/90/EU approved the plan presented by Latvia for the eradication of classical swine fever and the emergency vaccination of feral pigs as soon as the environmental conditions allow for it in the designed areas in accordance with Article 16(1) and the fourth subparagraph of Article 20(2) of Directive 2001/89/EC.

In accordance to the Latvian legislation, the outbreak of classical swine fever is considered as an emergency and with the agreement by the cabinet of Ministers it was allowed the urgent procedure for the purchase of the vaccine without an open tender to ensure the availability of the vaccine for the 2013 spring campaign.

Due to the vicinity of the infected area to Belarus it cannot be excluded that infected feral pigs cross the border between Latvia and Belarus, and also the Community veterinary emergency team after the visit on the spot in February 2013 recommended to extend the vaccination area to a 50 km buffer zone in Belarusian territories along the Latvian border.

To assess the epidemiological evolution of the disease in feral pigs and in pigs in backyard holdings at risk, it was appropriate to urgently establish harmonised surveillance activities and epidemiological surveys based on serological and virological laboratory tests for classical swine fever virus in domestic and feral pigs in certain high risk areas in the surroundings of the infected area within Latvia, Belarus and as well Lithuania.

Latvia has presented the estimated costs of the plan for classical swine fever emergency vaccination of feral pigs indicating the approximate number of vaccine doses needed for the territory of Latvia and the vaccination buffer zone in Belarus and the estimated costs of carrying out those vaccinations. The estimated cost for emergency vaccination amounts to EUR 221 800.

In the first week of April 2013, Latvia and Lithuania submitted an initial estimation of the costs to be incurred for the implementation of an epidemiological survey and classical swine fever surveillance measures in the context of the other emergency measures taken to combat the disease in the territory of Latvia, Lithuania and Belarus. The estimated cost for the surveillance measures amount to EUR 227 000 in Latvia and Belarus and EUR 17 000 in Lithuania.

The retroactive eligibility of the costs incurred by Latvia since the date of notification of the outbreaks and by Lithuania and Belarus since the date of starting of surveillance activities is justified because these actions are essential to define the vaccination area and therefore successfully eradicate the disease.

Article 3(6) of Decision 2009/470/EC provides that the financial contribution from the Union must be 100 % of the cost of supply of the vaccine and 50 % of the cost incurred in carrying out the vaccination. However, given the need to avoid excessive expenditure for the Union budget, maximum amounts must be established which reflect the reasonable payment for cost of supply of the vaccine and costs incurred in carrying out the vaccination. A reasonable payment is a payment for a material or a service at a proportionate price compared to the market price. Pending on-the-spot checks carried out by the Commission, it is now necessary to approve specific financial contribution from the Union to Latvia and fix the amount for payment of the first instalment of the Union’s financial contribution.

Under Council Regulation (EC) No 1290/2005 of 21 June 2005 on the financing of the common agricultural policy^f6, veterinary measures are to be financed under the European Agricultural Guarantee Fund. For financial control purposes, Articles 9, 36 and 37 of that Regulation are to apply.

The payment of the financial contribution shall be subject to the condition that the actions planned have actually been carried out and that the authorities supply all the necessary information to the Commission.

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: