Introductory text

THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,

Having regard to Council Directive 90/426/EEC of 26 June 1990 on animal health conditions governing the movement and import from third countries of equidae^f1, and in particular Article 19(iv) 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(5) thereof,

Whereas:

Directive 90/426/EEC lays down animal health conditions for the movement between Member States and importation into the Community from third countries of live equidae.

In accordance with Article 19(iv) of Directive 90/426/EEC, the Commission may designate a Community reference laboratory for one or more of the diseases of equidae listed in Annex A to that Directive. In addition, it provides for the functions, tasks and procedures regarding collaboration with laboratories responsible for diagnosing infectious diseases of equidae in the Member States to be stipulated by the Commission.

Following the completion of a selection procedure, the successful laboratory, Agence Française de Sécurité Sanitaire des Aliments (AFSSA), with its research laboratories for animal pathology and zoonoses, Maisons-Alfort and for equine pathology and diseases, Dozulé, France, should be designated as the Community reference laboratory for equine diseases other than African horse sickness, for a period of five years from 1 July 2008.

Regulation (EC) No 882/2004 lays down the general tasks, duties and requirements for Community reference laboratories for food and feed and for animal health. The Community reference laboratories for animal health and live animals are listed in Chapter II of Annex VII to that Regulation. The designated Community reference laboratory for equine diseases other than African horse sickness should be included in that list.

Regulation (EC) No 882/2004 should therefore be amended accordingly.

The measures provided for in this Regulation are in accordance with the opinion of the Standing Committee of the Food Chain and Animal Health,

HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION: