Introductory text
United Kingdom
Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2017/675
of 7 April 2017
F1on measures to prevent the introduction into the Union of the foot-and-mouth disease virus from Algeria, Libya, Morocco and Tunisia
(notified under document C(2017) 2432)
(Text with EEA relevance)
THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION
Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,
Having regard to Council Directive 91/496/EEC of 15 July 1991 laying down the principles governing the organisation of veterinary checks on animals entering the Community from third countries and amending Directives 89/662/EEC, 90/425/EEC and 90/675/EECf1, and in particular Article 18(6) thereof,
Having regard to Council Directive 97/78/EC of 18 December 1997 laying down the principles governing the organisation of veterinary checks on products entering the Community from third countriesf2, and in particular Article 22(5) thereof,
Whereas:
(1)
Directive 91/496/EEC lays down the principles of veterinary checks on animals entering the Union from third countries. It lays down the measures which can be adopted by the Commission, if a disease liable to present a serious threat to animal or public health manifests itself or spreads in the territory of a third country.
(2)
Directive 97/78/EC lays down the principles of veterinary checks on products entering the Union from third countries. It lays down the measures which can be adopted by the Commission, if a disease liable to present a serious threat to animal or public health manifests itself or spreads in the territory of a third country.
(3)
Foot-and-mouth disease is one of the most contagious diseases of cattle, sheep, goats and pigs. The virus causing the disease has the potential for rapid spread, notably through products obtained from infected animals and contaminated inanimated objects including means of transport like livestock vehicles. The virus can also persist in a contaminated environment outside the host animal for several weeks depending on the temperature.
(4)
On 31 March 2017 Algeria notified to the World Organisation for Animal Health (‘OIE’) the confirmation of an outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease of serotype A in the western part of its territory. The immediate notification mentions no other measures than vaccination to control the disease.
(5)
The presence of foot-and-mouth disease in Algeria is liable to constitute a serious risk to the livestock population of the Union.
(6)
The foot-and-mouth disease situation in Algeria remains uncertain and a significant number of consignments of live bovine animals is exported from EU Member States to that country.
(7)
Therefore, the foot-and-mouth disease situation in Algeria requires to adopt protection measures at Union level which take into account the survival of the foot-and-mouth disease virus in the environment and potential transmission routes of that virus.
(8)
Livestock vehicles and vessels used for the transport of live animals to Algeria may be contaminated with the foot-and-mouth disease virus in those countries and therefore constitute a risk of introducing the disease upon their return to the Union.
(9)
Appropriate cleansing and disinfection of livestock vehicles and vessels is the most appropriate way to reduce the risk of rapid virus transmission over large distances.
(10)
It is therefore appropriate to ensure that all livestock vehicles and vessels which have transported live animals to destinations in Algeria are appropriately cleansed and disinfected and that such cleansing and disinfection is properly documented in a declaration to be submitted by the operator or driver to the competent authority at the point of entry into the Union.
(11)
In addition, as Morocco and Tunisia are potential countries of transit for the livestock vehicles returning from Algeria to the Union, those measures should also be applicable to vehicles and vessels from Algeria and transiting through those countries.
(12)
The operator or driver should ensure that for each livestock vehicle and vessel which has transported live animals to destinations in Algeria, a cleansing and disinfection certificate is retained for a minimum period of three years.
(13)
Member States should also have the possibility to subject vehicles which transport feed from or have transported feed to infected countries, and for which a significant risk of introduction of foot-and-mouth disease into the territory of the Union cannot be excluded, to on-the-spot disinfection of the wheels or any other part of the vehicle deemed necessary to mitigate that risk.
(14)
The measures provided for by this Decision should apply for a period of time which allows a full evaluation of the evolution of the foot-and-mouth disease in the affected areas.
(15)
The measures provided for in this Decision are in accordance with the opinion of the Standing Committee on Plants, Animals, Food and Feed,
HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION: