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23.12.2011 Official
Journal
of
the
European
Union L
343/119
COMMISSION IMPLEMENTING DECISION
of 21 December 2011
concerning the adoption of a financing decision to support voluntary surveillance studies on
honeybee colony losses
(notified under document C(2011) 9597)
(2011/881/EU)
THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION,
(5) The
main
actions
Commission
proposed
were
the
appointment of an EU reference laboratory (EURL) for
Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European
bee health and the launch of surveillance studies on
Union,
honeybee colony losses supported for the technical
aspects by the EURL, and co-financed by the
Commission.
Having regard to Council Decision 2009/470/EC of 25 May
2009 on expenditure in the veterinary field ( 1 ), and in particular
Articles 22 to 24 thereof,
(6) The
first
step
has
been
already
completed
as
the
EURL
for bee health has been appointed with Commission
Regulation (EU) No 87/2011 ( 5 ) and it is operational
Having regard to Council Regulation (EC, Euratom) No
since 1 April 2011 (ANSES — Sophia Antipolis — FR).
1605/2002 of 25 June 2002 on the Financial Regulation
applicable to the general budget of the European Commu
nities (
(7)
As requested by the Commission, the EURL for bee

2 ), and in particular Article 75(2) thereof,
health has produced a technical document ‘Basis for a
pilot surveillance project on honey bee colony losses’
Having regard to Commission Regulation (EC, Euratom) No
(available at http://ec.europa.eu/food/animal/liveanimals/
2342/2002 of 23 December 2002 laying down detailed rules
bees/bee_health_en.htm) providing guidance to Member
for the implementation of Council Regulation (EC, Euratom) No
States to elaborate their surveillance studies.
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
(8) In
order
to
improve
the
availability
of
data
on
bee
health
Article 90 thereof,
it is appropriate to assist and support certain surveillance
studies in Member States on honeybee losses.
Whereas:
(9)
Member States were invited to send to the Commission
their surveillance studies based on the technical
(1) Decision
2009/470/EC
lays
down
the
procedures
document of the EURL for bee health by 30 September
governing the Community’s financial contribution on
2011.
expenditure in the veterinary field.
(10) 20
Member
States
have
sent
their
proposals
for
the
(2) In
particular,
Article
22
of
Decision
2009/470/EC
surveillance studies. These proposals are being technically
provides that the Community may undertake or assist
and financially evaluated in order to assess their
the Member States in undertaking the technical and
conformity with the technical document ‘Basis for a
scientific measures necessary for the development of
pilot surveillance project on honey bee colony losses’.
Community veterinary legislation.
After the evaluation and selection process the rate of
co-financing that will not exceed 70 % and the amount
(3) The
Communication
from
the
Commission
to
the
of the individual contribution to each Member State will
European Parliament and the Council on honeybee
be fixed by means of a subsequent Commission Decision.
health ( 4 ) gives an overview of the Commission’s
actions already undertaken and ongoing as regards
honeybee health in the EU. The main issue addressed
(11) The
surveillance
studies
need
to
include
controls
on
by the communication is the mortality of bees. Such
apiaries in the period preceding the winter followed by
mortalities have been reported in several countries in
a visit after the winter. Another visit is planned during
the world and also in the EU.
the summer. Therefore, depending on the design of the

Member States programmes, the first visit is expected to
be carried out before winter of 2012 while the second is
(4) In
2009
the
EFSA
project
‘Bee
mortality
and
bee
expected to be carried out the following year. For this
surveillance in Europe’ concluded that the surveillance
reason, it is opportune to consider the period of appli
systems in the EU are, in general, weak and that there
cation of this Decision starting from 1 January 2012
is a lack of data at Member States level and a lack of
until 30 June 2013.
comparable data at EU level.
(12) It is appropriate to establish financing by the Union for
( 1 ) OJ L 155, 18.6.2009, p. 30.
the studies by allocating EUR 3 750 000.
( 2 ) OJ L 248, 16.9.2002, p. 1.
( 3 ) OJ L 357, 31.12.2002, p. 1.
( 4 ) COM(2010) 714 final.
( 5 ) OJ L 29, 3.2.2011, p. 1.

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L 343/120
EN
Official Journal of the European Union
23.12.2011
(13) This
Decision
constitutes
a
financing
decision
within
the
(i) carry out laboratory tests; and
meaning of Article 75(2) of Regulation (EC, Euratom) No
1605/2002 and Article 90 of Regulation (EC, Euratom)
(ii) staff specifically allocated for:
No 2342/2002.
— carrying out sampling, and
(14) The
measures provided for in this Decision are in
accordance with the opinion of the Standing
— monitoring the health status of apiaries and bee
Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health,
colonies.
HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:
Article 2
This Decision is addressed to the Member States.
Article 1
1. The contribution of the European Union for the imple
mentation of the surveillance studies on honeybee colony losses
Done at Brussels, 21 December 2011.
action is set at EUR 3 750 000. The contribution applies to the
period from 1 January 2012 to 30 June 2013.
For the Commission
2. The
contribution
referred
to
in
paragraph
1
for
a
John DALLI
maximum of 70 % is limited to costs relating to:
Member of the Commission

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