(1)

On 13 October 2004 the bluetongue surveillance programme set up by Spain revealed an outbreak of the bluetongue virus in the east of the province of Cádiz in southern Spain.

(2)

To prevent the disease from spreading, the Spanish authorities have banned the movement of animals of species susceptible to bluetongue and their sperm, ova and embryos from the territory of the Provinces of Cádiz, Seville and Málaga and certain districts of the Provinces of Córdoba, Granada and Huelva.

(3)

Bluetongue appears on List A of the International Office of Epizootics (IOE). Its spread would be a grave risk to the Community and could have an international impact on trade.

(4)

For the sake of clarity and transparency, Community measures should be adopted to prevent the spread of the disease, particularly with regard to movements of animals of species susceptible to bluetongue and their sperm, ova and embryos from the territory of the regions placed under restriction by the Spanish authorities. Such measures will take account of the measures already adopted by the Spanish authorities.

(5)

Pending a meeting of the Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health and in collaboration with the Member State concerned, the Commission should take provisional protective measures with regard to movements of live animals of susceptible species from the territory of the regions affected,