(1)

Directive 2003/85/EC sets out minimum control measures to be applied in the event of an outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease and certain preventive measures aimed at increasing the awareness and preparedness of the competent authorities and the farming community concerning that disease.

(2)

The preventive measures set out in Directive 2003/85/EC include the provision that Member States are to ensure that the handling of live foot-and-mouth disease virus for research, diagnosis or manufacture is carried out only in approved laboratories listed in Annex XI to that Directive.

(3)

Part A of Annex XI to Directive 2003/85/EC lists national laboratories authorised to handle live foot-and-mouth disease virus for research and diagnostic purposes.

(4)

Denmark has officially informed the Commission of changes relating to the administration of its national reference laboratory for foot-and-mouth disease.

(5)

Latvia and Slovenia have officially informed the Commission that their respective national reference laboratories are no longer considered to meet the security standards laid down in Article 65(d) and should therefore bee deleted from the list in Part A of Annex XI to Directive 2003/85/EC.

(6)

The Netherlands have officially informed the Commission of changes relating to the name of their national reference laboratory for foot-and-mouth disease.

(7)

For security reasons it is important to keep the list of laboratories authorised to handle live foot-and-mouth disease virus in Directive 2003/85/EC updated.

(8)

Accordingly, it is necessary to replace the list of laboratories authorised to handle live foot-and-mouth disease virus in Part A of Annex XI to Directive 2003/85/EC by the list set out in the Annex to this Decision.

(9)

The measures provided for in this Decision are in accordance with the opinion of the Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health,