51999AC0936

Opinion of the Economic and Social Committee on the "Proposal for a Council Decision amending Decision 91/666/CEE establishing Community reserves of foot-and-mouth disease vaccines"

(1999/C 368/05)

On 8 September 1999 the Council decided to consult the Economic and Social Committee, under Article 37 of the Treaty establishing the European Community, on the above-mentioned proposal.

The Section for Agriculture, Rural Development and the Environment, which was responsible for preparing the Committee's work on the subject, adopted its opinion on 28 September 1999. The rapporteur was Mr Donnelly.

At its 367th plenary session (meeting of 20 October 1999), the Economic and Social Committee adopted the following opinion by 105 votes to one with two abstentions.

1. Gist of the Commission document

1.1. Community measures for the control of foot-and-mouth diseases provide for emergency vaccination in cases the disease become extensive.

1.2. By Decision 91/666/EEC(1) the Council established the Community reserves of foot-and-mouth disease vaccines, and designated four antigen banks in different Member States. Meanwhile, two of those four antigen banks have relinquished their commitments to provide these services to the Community.(2)

1.3. Furthermore, the need may arise to relocate perhaps on short notice and in any case without undue delay, the antigen reserves to appropriate establishments within the Community. In order to allow immediate reaction to the needs to distribute or relocate the Community reserves of foot-and-mouth disease antigen for storage at different sites, an amendment of above mentioned Decision is proposed. In particular the designation of the two institutions is eliminated and the designation of any other establishment is carried out in future by the Commission in accordance with the Standing Veterinary Committee (with the procedures laid down in Article 10 of the decision).

2. Assessment of the proposal

2.1. The protection of the health status of the EU livestock herd is of the utmost importance. The need for a new legal base, as proposed by the Commission, which allows more efficient and immediate action in order to combat foot-and-mouth diseases is convincing.

2.2. The severity of foot-and-mouth disease, which is also widespread in neighbouring regions such as Turkey or some countries in North Africa may require the need for immediate reaction and the facility to distribute or relocate the Community reserves of foot-and-mouth disease antigen vaccines. The Committee therefore supports the proposal of the Commission that provides for the application of the Standing Veterinary Committee procedures as regards the designation of the Community antigen reserves.

Brussels, 20 October 1999.

The President

of the Economic and Social Committee

Beatrice RANGONI MACHIAVELLI

(1) OJ L 368, 31.12.1991, p. 21-25.

(2) The Institute for Animal Health (Pirbright-UK) and Bayer AG (Cologne-Germany).