Epizootic disease surveillance programme — sampling rates and rules on sampling

11.11.2015

Question for written answer P-014638-15
to the Commission
Rule 130
Michel Reimon (Verts/ALE)

Under various pieces of EU legislation — Directive 64/432/EEC, Directive 91/68/EEC and Regulation (EC) No 999/2001 — EU Member States may, following appropriate inspections, have ‘officially cleared’ status and/or ‘additional guarantees’ recognised in respect of particular epizootic diseases.

Each year, on the basis of the outcome of surveillance programmes to be carried out regularly, the countries concerned must submit a statement of grounds for maintaining ‘officially clear’ status and additional guarantees.

Is it correct that, in order to maintain ‘officially clear’ status, the Commission insists on laying down sampling rules or the herd sampling rates required for that status to continue?

What specific risk-based sampling programmes for continued recognition of that status are there, in which Member States or regions, that have been accepted by the Commission?

Can a Member State suspend sampling or reduce the sampling rate on an agricultural holding where risk is minimal (e.g. on a holding with a closed herd, where all animals are born and raised and die, where no live animals or sperm are bought in or sold on, and to and from which there are no animal movements)?