COMMISSION DECISION of 15 December 1997 amending for the fourth time Council Directive 82/894/EEC on the notification of animal diseases within the Community and temporarily amending the frequency of notification for bovine spongiform encephalopathy (Text with EEA relevance) (98/12/EC)

THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,

Having regard to Council Directive 82/894/EEC of 21 December 1982 on the notification of animal diseases within the Community (1), as last amended by Commission Decision 92/450/EEC (2), and in particular Article 5 (2) thereof,

Whereas outbreaks of bovine spongiform encephalopathy continue within Community territory; whereas that disease should accordingly be kept on the list of diseases notifiable under Directive 82/894/EEC;

Whereas, in the light of experience gained, the requirement to notify outbreaks of that disease should be extended; whereas, as a derogation until 31 December 2002, weekly reporting of outbreaks containing the information normally required for secondary outbreaks appears sufficient;

Whereas provisions adopted previously concerning notification of the disease should be repealed;

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

'Bovine spongiform encephalopathy` is hereby added to Annex I to Directive 82/894/EEC.

Article 2

By way of a derogation from Article 3 (1) of Directive 82/894/EEC, all outbreaks of bovine spongiform encephalopathy shall be notified until 31 December 2002 in accordance with Article 4 of that Directive.

Article 3

Decision 92/450/EEC is hereby repealed.

Article 4

This Decision is addressed to the Member States.

Done at Brussels, 15 December 1997.

For the Commission

Franz FISCHLER

Member of the Commission

(1) OJ L 378, 31. 12. 1982, p. 58.

(2) OJ L 248, 28. 8. 1992, p. 77.