HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.01 Transitional//EN"L 34/72
EN
Official Journal of the European Union
9.2.2011
COMMISSION DECISION
of 8 February 2011
concerning a financial contribution by the Union to the Netherlands for studies on Q fever
(notified under document C(2011) 554)
(Only the Dutch text is authentic)
(2011/89/EU)
THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION,
(4) According
to
the
EFSA
opinion
of
27
April
2010
( 4 ), the
overall impact of Q fever on the health of humans and
domestic ruminants in EU Member States is limited.
Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European
However, in certain epidemiological circumstances and
Union,
for particular risk groups the public health impact and
thereby also the impact on society and/or the economy
can be significant.
Having regard to Council Decision 2009/470/EC of 25 May
2009 on expenditure in the veterinary field ( 1 ), and in particular
Article 23 thereof,
(5) In
the
years
2008
and
2009,
a
major
increase
of
human
cases of Q fever was observed in the Netherlands, with
Having regard to Council Regulation (EC, Euratom) No
several human deaths. The epidemiological investigations
1605/2002 of 25 June 2002 on the Financial Regulation
indicated a link with large dairy goat holdings in the area,
applicable to the general budget of the European Commu
where this particular type of milk production has
nities ( 2 ) (hereinafter referred to as the ‘Financial Regulation’),
developed rapidly over the past decade. However, the
and in particular Article 75 thereof,
abovementioned EFSA opinion highlighted that the
precise reasons for the emergence of clinical problems
in the animal population in 2005, and the increase of
Having regard to Commission Regulation (EC, Euratom) No
cases in the human population in 2007 are still unclear.
2342/2002 of 23 December 2002 laying down detailed rules
for the implementation of Council Regulation (EC, Euratom) No
1605/2002 on the Financial Regulation applicable to the
general budget of the European Communities ( 3 ) (hereinafter
referred to as the ‘Implementing Rules’), and in particular
(6) On
24
March
2010,
the
Dutch
Ministry
of
Agriculture,
Article 90 thereof,
Nature and Food Quality submitted a request for co-
financing in the framework of Decision 2009/470/EC
for technical and scientific studies on disease dynamics
Whereas:
and the effectiveness of possible control measures

applicable to domestic ruminants, such as vaccination
of goats.
(1) In
accordance
with
Article
75
of
the
Financial
Regulation
and Article 90(1) of the Implementing Rules, the
commitment of expenditure from the budget of the
European Union shall be preceded by a financing
(7) The
studies
for
which
the
Netherlands
has
requested
co
decision setting out the essential elements of the action
financing for will address among other things the
involving expenditure and adopted by the institution or
following topics: (i) characterisation of the different
the authorities to which powers have been delegated by
genotypes of Coxiella burnetii that exist in different
the institution.
animal species in the Netherlands and their difference
in virulence, if any; (ii) pathogenicity of Coxiella burnetii
in pregnant and non-pregnant goats; (iii) the survival of
(2) Q
fever
is
a
highly
contagious
zoonotic
disease
caused
by
Coxiella burnetii in manure; and (iv) suitable means of
pathogen Coxiella burnetii which is commonly present in
disinfection.
almost all countries worldwide. Many domesticated and
wild animals can be carriers of the disease but cattle,
goats and sheep are the main reservoirs.
(8) Pursuant
to
Article
22
of
Decision
2009/470/EC,
the
Union may undertake, or assist the Member States or
(3) In
the
EU,
there
are
no
harmonised
rules
as
regards
international organisations in undertaking, the technical
notification or control of Q fever in animals. Disease
and scientific measures necessary for the development of
control measures are normally taken on national,
EU veterinary legislation and for the development of
regional or even farm level.
veterinary education or training.
( 1 ) OJ L 155, 18.6.2009, p. 30.
( 4 ) EFSA Panel on Animal Health and Welfare (AHAW); Scientific
( 2 ) OJ L 248, 16.9.2002, p. 1.
Opinion on Q Fever. EFSA Journal 2010; 8(5):1595. [114 pp.].
( 3 ) OJ L 357, 31.12.2002, p. 1.
doi:10.2903/j.efsa.2010.159.

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EN
9.2.2011 Official
Journal
of
the
European
Union L
34/73
(9) A
financial
contribution
should
be
granted
to
the
studies 2. The
following
conditions
must
be
fulfilled:
on Q fever in the Netherlands as the outcomes may lead
to new insights that may contribute to possible future
(a) the outcomes of the studies must be made available to the
development of veterinary legislation in the Union, in
Commission and all Member States and presented at the
particular as regards the possible adoption of harmonised
Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health;
rules on monitoring and reporting of this disease.
(b) the Netherlands must forward a final technical and financial
report to the Commission on 31 March 2012 at the latest,
(10) Under Council Regulation (EC) No 1290/2005 of
the financial report accompanied by supporting documents
21 June 2005 on the financing of the common agri
justifying evidence as to the costs incurred and the results
cultural policy
( 1 ), veterinary measures are to be
attained.
financed under the European Agricultural Guarantee
Fund. For financial control purposes, Articles 9, 36 and
Article 2
37 of that Regulation are to apply.
1. The
maximum
contribution
authorised
by
this
Decision
for the costs incurred for the work referred to in Article 1(1)
is set at EUR 500 000 to be financed from the following
(11) The
payment of the financial contribution must be
Budgetary Line of the General Budget of the European Union
subject to the condition that the studies planned have
for 2011:
actually been carried out and that the authorities
supply all the necessary information to the Commission.
— Budgetary Line No 17 04 02 01: EUR 500 000.
2. The
Union’s
financial
assistance
shall
be
paid
following
(12) The
measures provided for in this Decision are in
presentation of the reports and supporting documents referred
accordance with the opinion of the Standing
to Article 1(2)(b).
Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health,
Article 3
This Decision is addressed to the Netherlands.
HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:
Done at Brussels, 8 February 2011.
Article 1
1. The
Union
shall
grant
the
Netherlands
financial
assistance
For the Commission
for their studies on Q fever, as summarised in the Annex. The
present Decision constitutes a financing decision in the meaning
John DALLI
of Article 75 of the Financial Regulation.
Member of the Commission
( 1 ) OJ L 209, 11.8.2005, p. 1.

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L 34/74
EN
Official Journal of the European Union
9.2.2011
ANNEX
Description of the technical and scientific studies on the epidemiology of Q fever and the effectiveness of
possible control measures applicable to domestic ruminants, referred to in Article 1(1)
Project 1: ‘Q fever in goats’ involves the cultivation of C. burnetii and the characterisation of C. burnetii of the different
genotypes that exist in the Netherlands. It also involves the survival of C. burnetii in manure, the different
infection routes, the development of immunity, the shedding of C. burnetii in pregnant and non-pregnant goats
and general information on the pathogeneses of C. burnetii.
Project 2: ‘Assessment of the virulence of C. burnetii strains in goats’ addresses the question if the current Dutch strain in
goats is more virulent than other C. burnetii strains.
Project 3: ‘Pathogeneses of Q fever’ studies the pathogenesis of C. burnetii infections in goats; the role of pregnancy in the
pathogenesis of C. burnetii infections; the build up of cellular and humoral immunity; differences in virulence
of C. burnetii strains in goats and the protective immunity of natural infection. With the knowledge of the
pathogenesis and the within herd transmission, the results of diagnostic testing can better be understood.
Project 4: ‘Inventory of Q fever strains in cattle, sheep, dogs and cats’ studies the relation between Q fever human
patients and possible animal sources. The aim is to compare Q fever strains found in different animal species
with the strains found in human patients. This is important to be able to exclude animals other than dairy
goats as a source of human infections.
Project 5: ‘Effectiveness of vaccination’ compares field studies previously carried out in particular in France with new
field studies in the Netherlands to assess the effectiveness of vaccination of goats against Q fever.
Project 6: ‘Search for suitable means of disinfection’ aims at identifying suitable products for disinfection and to assess
whether materials like wood, straw, ground and manure can be effectively disinfected. The project includes: (i)
the definition of criteria for disinfection products; (ii) the inactivation of C. burnetii and C. burnetii spores in
clean fluids; (iii) the inactivation of C. burnetii and C. burnetii spores on complex materials and in manure; and
(iv) the inactivation of C. burnetii and C. burnetii spores on complex surfaces.

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