COMMISSION DECISION

of 15 July 1999

establishing the officially tuberculosis-free status of bovine herds of certain Member States or regions of Member States and repealing Decision 97/76/EC

(notified under document number C(1999) 2124)

(Text with EEA relevance)

(1999/467/EC)

THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,

Having regard to Council Directive 64/432/EEC of 26 June 1964 on animal health problems affecting intra-Community trade in bovine animals and swine(1), as last amended by Council Directive 98/99/EC(2), and in particular Annex AI(4) thereof,

(1) Whereas Member States or regions of Member States may be declared officially tuberculosis-free if they meet certain conditions set up in Directive 64/432/EEC;

(2) Whereas, Commission Decision 97/76/EC(3) of 17 December 1996 laying down the methods of control for maintaining the officially tuberculosis-free status of bovine herds in certain Member States and regions of Member States, specifies the Member States and regions within Member States that fulfil these criteria;

(3) Whereas this Decision will not be adapted to the legal situation on 1 July 1999 since Directive 64/432/EEC was amended by Directive 98/46/EC(4); whereas moreover certain provisions for the recognition as officially tuberculosis-free Member State or region have been modified by Directive 98/46/EC; whereas it is necessary to repeal Decision 97/76/EC;

(4) Whereas in accordance with the provisions of Directive 64/432/EEC Member States or regions may be declared officially tuberculosis-free if they meet the conditions of Annex AI(4) and they retain their status as long as the conditions of Annex AI(5) are fulfilled;

(5) Whereas the Commission may decide to suspend or revoke the officially tuberculosis-free status of Member States in accordance with the provisions in Annex AI(5) of that Directive;

(6) Whereas in accordance with Annex AI(4)(b) an identification system allowing the identification of herds of origin and transit for each bovine animal in accordance with Council Regulation (EC) No 820/97(5) is a prerequisite for granting the officially free status for bovine tuberculosis;

(7) Whereas the measures provided for in this Decision are in accordance with the opinion of the Standing Veterinary Committee,

HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:

Article 1

The Member States and regions thereof referred to respectively in Annexes I and II are declared officially free of bovine tuberculosis.

Article 2

The Decision shall be reviewed by 31 December 1999.

Article 3

Decision 97/76/EC is hereby repealed.

Article 4

This Decision shall apply from 1 July 1999.

Article 5

This Decision is addressed to the Member States.

Done at Brussels, 15 July 1999.

For the Commission

Franz FISCHLER

Member of the Commission

(1) OJ 121, 29.7.1964, p. 1977/64.

(2) OJ L 358, 31.12.1998, p. 107.

(3) OJ L 19, 22.1.1997, p. 34.

(4) OJ L 198, 15.7.1998, p. 22.

(5) OJ L 117, 7.5.1997, p. 1.

ANNEX I

MEMBER STATES DECLARED OFFICIALLY FREE OF BOVINE TUBERCULOSIS UNTIL 31 DECEMBER 1999

Denmark

Germany

Luxembourg

Netherlands

Austria

Finland

Sweden

ANNEX II

REGIONS OF MEMBER STATES DECLARED OFFICIALLY FREE OF BOVINE TUBERCULOSIS UNTIL 31 DECEMBER 1999

Province Bolzano (Italy)

Province Trento (Italy)