(1)

Article 54 of Council Regulation (EC) No 1782/2003 (1) provides that, in order to qualify for a payment under the single payment scheme, any set-aside entitlement must be accompanied by a hectare of land set aside from production.

(2)

At the beginning of the 2007/2008 marketing year the cereals market is experiencing exceptionally high prices, both at Community and world level. The low level of Community 2006/2007 closing stocks was a consequence of a smaller than expected 2006 harvest. There is considerable uncertainty as regards the rebuilding of those stocks, given the preliminary forecasts for the 2007 harvest. On the international market, closing stocks in 2007/2008 are expected to fall to a historically low level, especially in the major exporting countries. Against this backdrop, even if the 2008 harvest were normal, stocks would not increase significantly, while a poor harvest would expose the internal market to potentially serious risks. Furthermore, cereals prices and stocks have a significant impact on the availability and prices of other arable crops, such as oilseeds and protein crops, and on the livestock sector, which contributes to the risk of the crisis extending to these other sectors.

(3)

It is therefore appropriate, for 2008, to allow the use of set-aside land for agricultural purposes.

(4)

Given the urgency of the matter, it is imperative to grant an exception to the six-week period referred to in paragraph I(3) of the Protocol on the role of national Parliaments in the European Union, annexed to the Treaty on European Union and to the Treaties establishing the European Communities,

(1)

Regulation (EC) No 3223/94 lays down, pursuant to the outcome of the Uruguay Round multilateral trade negotiations, the criteria whereby the Commission fixes the standard values for imports from third countries, in respect of the products and periods stipulated in the Annex thereto.

(2)

In compliance with the above criteria, the standard import values must be fixed at the levels set out in the Annex to this Regulation,

(1)

Pursuant to Commission Regulation (EC) No 951/2006 of 30 June 2006 laying down detailed rules for the implementation of Council Regulation (EC) No 318/2006 as regards trade with third countries in the sugar sector (2), the cif import prices for raw sugar and white sugar. Those prices are fixed for the standard qualities defined in Annex I(II) and III to Regulation (EC) No 318/2006.

(2)

For the purpose of fixing the representative prices, account must be taken of all the information provided for in Article 23 of Regulation (EC) No 951/2006, except in the cases provided for in Article 24 of that Regulation.

(3)

For the purpose of adjusting prices not relating to the standard quality, the price increases or reductions referred to in Article 26(1)(a) of Regulation (EC) No 915/2006 must be applied to the offers taken into consideration in the case of white sugar. In the case of raw sugar, the corrective factors provided for in point (b) of that paragraph must be applied.

(4)

Where there is a difference between the trigger price for the product concerned and the representative price, additional import duties should be fixed under the terms laid down in Article 39 of Regulation (EC) No 951/2006.

(5)

The representative prices and additional import duties for the products concerned should be fixed in accordance with the second paragraph of Article 36 of Regulation (EC) No 951/2006.

(6)

The measures provided for in this Regulation are in accordance with the opinion of the Management Committee for Sugar,

(1)

Commission Regulation (EC) No 951/2006 of 30 June 2006 laying down detailed rules for the implementation of Council Regulation (EC) No 318/2006 as regards trade with third countries in the sugar sector (2), stipulates that the cif import price for molasses is to be considered the representative price. That price is fixed for the standard quality defined in Article 27 of Regulation (EC) No 951/2006.

(2)

For the purpose of fixing the representative prices, account must be taken of all the information provided for in Article 29 of Regulation (EC) No 951/2006, except in the cases provided for in Article 30 of that Regulation and those prices should be fixed, where appropriate, in accordance with the method provided for in Article 33 of Regulation (EC) No 951/2006.

(3)

Prices not referring to the standard quality should be adjusted upwards or downwards, according to the quality of the molasses offered, in accordance with Article 32 of Regulation (EC) No 951/2006.

(4)

Where there is a difference between the trigger price for the product concerned and the representative price, additional import duties should be fixed under the terms laid down in Article 39 of Regulation (EC) No 951/2006. Should the import duties be suspended pursuant to Article 40 of Regulation (EC) No 951/2006, specific amounts for these duties should be fixed.

(5)

The representative prices and additional import duties for the products concerned should be fixed in accordance with Article 34 of Regulation (EC) No 951/2006.

(6)

The measures provided for in this Regulation are in accordance with the opinion of the Management Committee for Sugar,

(1)

Article 32 of Regulation (EC) No 318/2006 provides that the difference between prices on the world market for the products listed in Article 1(1)(b) of that Regulation and prices for those products on the Community market may be covered by an export refund.

(2)

Given the present situation on the sugar market, export refunds should therefore be fixed in accordance with the rules and certain criteria provided for in Articles 32 and 33 of Regulation (EC) No 318/2006.

(3)

The first subparagraph of Article 33(2) of Regulation (EC) No 318/2006 provides that the world market situation or the specific requirements of certain markets may make it necessary to vary the refund according to destination.

(4)

Refunds should be granted only on products that are allowed to move freely in the Community and that comply with the requirements of Regulation (EC) No 318/2006.

(5)

The measures provided for in this Regulation are in accordance with the opinion of the Management Committee for Sugar,

(1)

Article 32 of Regulation (EC) No 318/2006 provides that the difference between prices on the world market for the products listed in Article 1(1)(c), (d) and (g) of that Regulation and prices for those products on the Community market may be covered by an export refund.

(2)

Given the present situation on the sugar market, export refunds should therefore be fixed in accordance with the rules and certain criteria provided for in Articles 32 and 33 of Regulation (EC) No 318/2006.

(3)

The first subparagraph of Article 33(2) of Regulation (EC) No 318/2006 provides that the world market situation or the specific requirements of certain markets may make it necessary to vary the refund according to destination.

(4)

Refunds should be granted only on products that are allowed to move freely in the Community and that comply with the requirements of Commission Regulation (EC) No 951/2006 of 30 June 2006 laying down detailed rules for the implementation of Regulation (EC) No 318/2006 as regards trade with third countries in the sugar sector (2).

(5)

Export refunds may be set to cover the competitive gap between Community and third country's exports. Community exports to certain close destinations and to third countries granting Community products a preferential import treatment are currently in a particular favourable competitive position. Therefore, refunds for exports to those destinations should be abolished.

(6)

The measures provided for in this Regulation are in accordance with the opinion of the Management Committee for Sugar,

(1)

Commission Regulation (EC) No 900/2007 of 27 July 2007 on a standing invitation to tender to determine refunds on exports of white sugar for the 2007/2008 marketing year (2) requires the issuing of partial invitations to tender.

(2)

Pursuant to Article 8(1) of Regulation (EC) No 900/2007 and following an examination of the tenders submitted in response to the partial invitation to tender ending on 27 September 2007, it is appropriate to fix a maximum export refund for that partial invitation to tender.

(3)

The measures provided for in this Regulation are in accordance with the opinion of the Management Committee for Sugar,

(1)

Commission Regulation (EC) No 38/2007 of 17 January 2007 opening a standing invitation to tender for the resale for export of sugar held by the intervention agencies of Belgium, the Czech Republic, Spain, Ireland, Italy, Hungary, Poland, Slovakia and Sweden (2) requires the issuing of partial invitations to tender.

(2)

Pursuant to Article 4(1) of Regulation (EC) No 38/2007 and following an examination of the tenders submitted in response to the partial invitation to tender ending on 26 September 2007, it is appropriate to decide that no award shall be made for that partial invitation to tender.

(3)

The measures provided for in this Regulation are in accordance with the opinion of the Management Committee for Sugar,

(1)

Article 13 of Regulation (EC) No 1784/2003 and Article 14 of Regulation (EC) No 1785/2003 provide that the difference between quotations or prices on the world market for the products listed in Article 1 of those Regulations and prices for those products within the Community may be covered by an export refund.

(2)

Article 14 of Regulation (EC) No 1785/2003 provides that when refunds are being fixed account must be taken of the existing situation and the future trend with regard to prices and availabilities of cereals, rice and broken rice on the Community market on the one hand and prices for cereals, rice, broken rice and cereal products on the world market on the other. The same Articles provide that it is also important to ensure equilibrium and the natural development of prices and trade on the markets in cereals and rice and, furthermore, to take into account the economic aspect of the proposed exports, and the need to avoid disturbances on the Community market.

(3)

Article 2 of Commission Regulation (EC) No 1518/95 (3) on the import and export system for products processed from cereals and from rice defines the specific criteria to be taken into account when the refund on these products is being calculated.

(4)

The refund to be granted in respect of certain processed products should be graduated on the basis of the ash, crude fibre, tegument, protein, fat and starch content of the individual product concerned, this content being a particularly good indicator of the quantity of basic product actually incorporated in the processed product.

(5)

There is no need at present to fix an export refund for manioc, other tropical roots and tubers or flours obtained therefrom, given the economic aspect of potential exports and in particular the nature and origin of these products. For certain products processed from cereals, the insignificance of Community participation in world trade makes it unnecessary to fix an export refund at the present time.

(6)

The world market situation or the specific requirements of certain markets may make it necessary to vary the refund for certain products according to destination.

(7)

The refund must be fixed once a month. It may be altered in the intervening period.

(8)

Certain processed maize products may undergo a heat treatment following which a refund might be granted that does not correspond to the quality of the product; whereas it should therefore be specified that on these products, containing pregelatinised starch, no export refund is to be granted.

(9)

The Management Committee for Cereals has not delivered an opinion within the time limit set by its chairman,

(1)

Article 13 of Regulation (EC) No 1784/2003 provides that the difference between quotations or prices on the world market for the products listed in Article 1 of that Regulation and prices for those products within the Community may be covered by an export refund.

(2)

Commission Regulation (EC) No 1517/95 of 29 June 1995 laying down detailed rules for the application of Regulation (EC) No 1784/2003 as regards the arrangements for the export and import of compound feedingstuffs based on cereals and amending Regulation (EC) No 1162/95 laying down special detailed rules for the application of the system of import and export licences for cereals and rice (2) in Article 2 lays down general rules for fixing the amount of such refunds.

(3)

That calculation must also take account of the cereal products content. In the interest of simplification, the refund should be paid in respect of two categories of ‘cereal products’, namely for maize, the most commonly used cereal in exported compound feeds and maize products, and for ‘other cereals’, these being eligible cereal products excluding maize and maize products. A refund should be granted in respect of the quantity of cereal products present in the compound feedingstuff.

(4)

Furthermore, the amount of the refund must also take into account the possibilities and conditions for the sale of those products on the world market, the need to avoid disturbances on the Community market and the economic aspect of the export.

(5)

The current situation on the cereals market and, in particular, the supply prospects mean that the export refunds should be abolished.

(6)

The measures provided for in this Regulation are in accordance with the opinion of the Management Committee for Cereals,

(1)

Commission Regulation (EEC) No 1722/93 of 30 June 1993 laying down detailed rules for the application of Council Regulations (EEC) No 1766/92 and (EEC) No 1418/76 concerning production refunds in the cereals and rice sectors respectively (2) lays down the conditions for granting production refunds. The basis for calculating the refund is laid down in Article 3 of that Regulation. The refund thus calculated, differentiated where necessary for potato starch, must be fixed once a month and may be amended if the price of maize and/or wheat changes significantly.

(2)

The production refunds fixed in this Regulation should be adjusted by the coefficients listed in the Annex II to Regulation (EEC) No 1722/93 to establish the exact amount to be paid.

(3)

The Management Committee for Cereals has not delivered an opinion within the time limit set by its chairman,

(a)

EUR/tonne 0,00 for starch from maize, wheat, barley and oats;

(b)

EUR/tonne 0,00 for potato starch.

(1)

Commission Regulation (EC) No 1555/96 of 30 July 1996 on rules of application for additional import duties on fruit and vegetables (2) provides for surveillance of imports of the products listed in the Annex thereto. That surveillance is to be carried out in accordance with the rules laid down in Article 308d of Commission Regulation (EEC) No 2454/93 of 2 July 1993 laying down provisions for the implementation of Council Regulation (EEC) No 2913/92 establishing the Community Customs Code (3).

(2)

For the purposes of Article 5(4) of the Agreement on Agriculture (4) concluded during the Uruguay Round of multilateral trade negotiations and in the light of the latest data available for 2004, 2005 and 2006, the trigger levels for additional duties on tomatoes.

(3)

As a result, Regulation (EC) No 1555/96 should be amended.

(4)

The measures provided for in this Regulation are in accordance with the opinion of the Management Committee for Fresh Fruit and Vegetables,

(1)

The present situation on the market for milk and milk products has allowed Commission Regulation (EC) No 660/2007 of 14 June 2007 fixing the export refunds for milk and milk products (2) not to provide for export refunds from 15 June 2007. This situation is likely to remain for some months.

(2)

Article 2(2) of Commission Regulation (EC) No 581/2004 (3) and Article 2(2) of Commission Regulation (EC) No 582/2004 (4), lay down the application period for tender export refund certificates for butter and skimmed milk powder. Given the current market situation and with a view to avoid unnecessary administrative procedures and charges it is appropriate and found sufficient to have one single tender application period per month in the last quarter of 2007.

(3)

It is therefore necessary to derogate from Regulations (EC) No 581/2004 and (EC) No 582/2004.

(4)

The measures provided for in this Regulation are in accordance with the opinion of the Management Committee for Milk and Milk Products,

(a)

for October 2007 the tendering period shall begin on 9 and end on 16 October;

(b)

for November 2007 the tendering period shall begin on 6 and end on 13 November;

(c)

for December 2007 the tendering period shall begin on 4 and end on 11 December.

(a)

for October 2007 the tendering period shall begin on 9 and end on 16 October;

(b)

for November 2007 the tendering period shall begin on 6 and end on 13 November;

(c)

for December 2007 the tendering period shall begin on 4 and end on 11 December.

(1)

Article 31(1) of Regulation (EC) No 1255/1999 provides that the difference between prices in international trade for the products listed in Article 1(a), (b), (c), (d), (e), and (g) of that Regulation and prices within the Community may be covered by an export refund.

(2)

Commission Regulation (EC) No 1043/2005 of 30 June 2005 implementing Council Regulation (EC) No 3448/93 as regards the system of granting export refunds on certain agricultural products exported in the form of goods not covered by Annex I to the Treaty, and the criteria for fixing the amount of such refunds (2), specifies the products for which a rate of refund is to be fixed, to be applied where these products are exported in the form of goods listed in Annex II to Regulation (EC) No 1255/1999.

(3)

In accordance with the first paragraph of Article 14 of Regulation (EC) No 1043/2005, the rate of the refund per 100 kilograms for each of the basic products in question is to be fixed each month.

(4)

However, in the case of certain milk products exported in the form of goods not covered by Annex I to the Treaty, there is a danger that, if high refund rates are fixed in advance, the commitments entered into in relation to those refunds may be jeopardised. In order to avert that danger, it is therefore necessary to take appropriate precautionary measures, but without precluding the conclusion of long-term contracts. The fixing of specific refund rates for the advance fixing of refunds in respect of those products should enable those two objectives to be met.

(5)

Article 15(2) of Regulation (EC) No 1043/2005 provides that, when the rate of the refund is being fixed, account is to be taken, where appropriate, of production refunds, aids or other measures having equivalent effect applicable in all Member States in accordance with the Regulation on the common organisation of the market in the product in question to the basic products listed in Annex I to Regulation (EC) No 1043/2005 or to assimilated products.

(6)

Article 12(1) of Regulation (EC) No 1255/1999 provides for the payment of aid for Community-produced skimmed milk processed into casein if such milk and the casein manufactured from it fulfil certain conditions.

(7)

Commission Regulation (EC) No 1898/2005 of 9 November 2005 laying down detailed rules for implementing Council Regulation (EC) No 1255/1999 as regards measures for the disposal of cream, butter and concentrated butter (3), lays down that butter and cream at reduced prices should be made available to industries which manufacture certain goods.

(8)

The measures provided for in this Regulation are in accordance with the opinion of the Management Committee for Milk and Milk Products,

(1)

Article 13(1) of Regulation (EC) No 1784/2003 and Article 14(1) of Regulation (EC) No 1785/2003 provide that the difference between quotations or prices on the world market for the products listed in Article 1 of each of those Regulations and the prices within the Community may be covered by an export refund.

(2)

Commission Regulation (EC) No 1043/2005 of 30 June 2005 implementing Council Regulation (EC) No 3448/93 as regards the system of granting export refunds on certain agricultural products exported in the form of goods not covered by Annex I to the Treaty, and the criteria for fixing the amount of such refunds (3), specifies the products for which a rate of refund is to be fixed, to be applied where these products are exported in the form of goods listed in Annex III to Regulation (EC) No 1784/2003 or in Annex IV to Regulation (EC) No 1785/2003 as appropriate.

(3)

In accordance with the first paragraph of Article 14 of Regulation (EC) No 1043/2005, the rate of the refund per 100 kilograms for each of the basic products in question is to be fixed each month.

(4)

The commitments entered into with regard to refunds which may be granted for the export of agricultural products contained in goods not covered by Annex I to the Treaty may be jeopardised by the fixing in advance of high refund rates. It is therefore necessary to take precautionary measures in such situations without, however, preventing the conclusion of long-term contracts. The fixing of a specific refund rate for the advance fixing of refunds is a measure which enables these various objectives to be met.

(5)

Taking into account the settlement between the European Community and the United States of America on Community exports of pasta products to the United States, approved by Council Decision 87/482/EEC (4), it is necessary to differentiate the refund on goods falling within CN codes 1902 11 00 and 1902 19 according to their destination.

(6)

Pursuant to Article 15(2) and (3) of Regulation (EC) No 1043/2005, a reduced rate of export refund has to be fixed, taking account of the amount of the production refund applicable, pursuant to Commission Regulation (EEC) No 1722/93 (5), for the basic product in question, used during the assumed period of manufacture of the goods.

(7)

Spirituous beverages are considered less sensitive to the price of the cereals used in their manufacture. However, Protocol 19 of the Act of Accession of the United Kingdom, Ireland and Denmark provides that the necessary measures must be decided to facilitate the use of Community cereals in the manufacture of spirituous beverages obtained from cereals. Accordingly, it is necessary to adapt the refund rate applying to cereals exported in the form of spirituous beverages.

(8)

The Management Committee for Cereals has not delivered an opinion within the time limit set by its chairman,

(1)

Article 32(1) and (2) of Regulation (EC) No 318/2006 provides that the differences between the prices in international trade for the products listed in Article 1(1)(b), (c), (d) and (g) of that Regulation and prices within the Community may be covered by an export refund where these products are exported in the form of goods listed in Annex VII to that Regulation.

(2)

Commission Regulation (EC) No 1043/2005 of 30 June 2005 implementing Council Regulation (EC) No 3448/93 as regards the system of granting export refunds on certain agricultural products exported in the form of goods not covered by Annex I to the Treaty, and the criteria for fixing the amount of such refunds (2), specifies the products for which a rate of refund is to be fixed, to be applied where these products are exported in the form of goods listed in Annex VII to Regulation (EC) No 318/2006.

(3)

In accordance with the first paragraph of Article 14 of Regulation (EC) No 1043/2005, the rate of the refund per 100 kilograms for each of the basic products in question is to be fixed each month.

(4)

Article 32(4) of Regulation (EC) No 318/2006 lays down that the export refund for a product contained in goods may not exceed the refund applicable to that product when exported without further processing.

(5)

The refunds fixed under this Regulation may be fixed in advance as the market situation over the next few months cannot be established at the moment.

(6)

The commitments entered into with regard to refunds which may be granted for the export of agricultural products contained in goods not covered by Annex I to the Treaty may be jeopardised by the fixing in advance of high refund rates. It is therefore necessary to take precautionary measures in such situations without, however, preventing the conclusion of long-term contracts. The fixing of a specific refund rate for the advance fixing of refunds is a measure which enables these various objectives to be met.

(7)

The measures provided for in this Regulation are in accordance with the opinion of the Management Committee for Sugar,

(1)

Regulation (EC) No 327/98 opened and provided for the administration of certain import tariff quotas for rice and broken rice, broken down by country of origin and split into several subperiods in accordance with Annex IX to the Regulation.

(2)

September is the fourth subperiod for the quota laid down in Article 1(1)(a) of Regulation (EC) No 327/98, the third subperiod for the quotas laid down in Article 1(1)(d) and the first subperiod for the quota laid down in Article 1(1)(e).

(3)

The notifications presented under Article 8(a) of Regulation (EC) No 327/98 show that, for the quotas with serial numbers 09.4130, 09.4117, 09.4118, 09.4119 and 09.4168, the applications lodged in the first 10 working days of September 2007 under Article 4(1) of the Regulation cover a quantity greater than that available. The extent to which import licences may be issued should therefore be determined by establishing the allocation coefficient to be applied to the quantities requested under the quota[s] in question.

(4)

It is also clear from the notifications that, for the quotas with serial numbers 09.4127, 09.412, 09.4129 and 09.4112, the applications lodged in the first 10 working days of September 2007 under Article 4(1) of the Regulation (EC) No 327/98, cover a quantity less than or equal to that available.

(5)

The quantities not used for the September subperiod of the quotas with serial numbers 09.4127, 09.4128 and 09.4129 are transferred to the quota with serial number 09.4138 for the following subperiod under Article 2 of Regulation (EC) No 327/98.

(6)

The total quantities available for the following subperiod should therefore be fixed for the quotas with serial numbers 09.4138 and 09.4168, in accordance with the first subparagraph of Article 5 of Regulation (EC) No 327/98,

(1)

By Decision 2006/524/EC, Euratom appointing Czech, German, Estonian, Spanish, French, Italian, Latvian, Lithuanian, Luxembourg, Hungarian, Maltese, Austrian, Slovenian and Slovak members of the European Economic and Social Committee (1), and Decision 2006/651/EC, Euratom appointing Belgian, Greek, Irish, Cypriot, Dutch, Polish, Portuguese, Finnish, Swedish and British members and two Italian members of the European Economic and Social Committee (2), the Council appointed the Italian members of the European Economic and Social Committee for the period from 21 September 2006 to 20 September 2010.

(2)

An Italian member’s seat on the Committee has fallen vacant following the resignation of Mr Paolo NICOLETTI,

(1)

On 24 January 2007 the Commission adopted the Communication entitled ‘Action Programme for Reducing Administrative Burdens in the European Union’ (1), in which it announced its intention to take a transparent approach towards implementing this Action Programme by involving stakeholders from all over the European Union and continuously benefiting from their input.

(2)

The Action Programme was endorsed by the 2007 Spring European Council which underlined the goal of reducing administrative burdens by 25 % by 2012.

(3)

The Commission is already consulting and cooperating on this topic with Member States' experts through the High Level Group of National Regulatory Experts on Better Regulation, but with a view to ensuring an equally effective interaction with the other stakeholders, whose input is indispensable for reaching the ambitious reduction target, and in accordance with the aforementioned Communication, the Commission may need to call upon the expertise of specialists in an advisory body.

(4)

It is therefore necessary to set up a group of experts in the field of reduction of administrative burdens and to define its tasks and its structure.

(5)

The group should advise the Commission with regard to the Action Programme, in particular on administrative burden reduction measures suggested by the consultants, through internet consultation and local workshops in the Member States.

(6)

The group should be composed of high level independent stakeholders selected on the basis of their expertise in Better Regulation and/or the policy areas covered by the Action Programme. The Commission should ensure that the interests of small and large businesses, social partners, consumer and environmental organisations, including non-governmental organisations, are adequately represented.

(7)

Rules on disclosure of information by members of the group should be provided for, without prejudice to the Commission’s rules on security as set out in the Annex to Commission Decision 2001/844/EC, ECSC, Euratom (2).

(8)

Personal data relating to members of the group should be processed in accordance with Regulation (EC) No 45/2001 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 18 December 2000 on the protection of individuals with regard to the processing of personal data by the Community institutions and bodies and on the free movement of such data (3).

(9)

It is appropriate to fix a period for the application of this Decision. The Commission will in due course consider the advisability of an extension,

—

provide advice on administrative burden reduction measures suggested by the consultants, through internet consultation and local workshops in Member States,

—

advise the Commission at its request on methodological issues that may arise in the Action Programme,

—

suggest which additional pieces of existing legislation could be included in the EU-wide measurement exercise, as necessary.

(1)

Commission Decision 2006/800/EC of 23 November 2006 approving the plans for the eradication of classical swine fever in feral pigs and the emergency vaccination of those pigs against that disease in Bulgaria (2) was adopted as one of a number of measures to combat classical swine fever.

(2)

The Bulgarian authorities have informed the Commission about the evolution of the disease in Bulgaria.

(3)

Given the epidemiological situation in Bulgaria it is appropriate to prolong the application of the approved eradication and emergency vaccination plans.

(4)

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

(1)

Commission Decision 2006/802/EC of 23 November 2006 approving the plans for the eradication of classical swine fever in feral pigs and the emergency vaccination of those pigs and of pigs in holdings against that disease in Romania (2) was adopted as one of a number of measures to combat classical swine fever.

(2)

The Romanian authorities have informed the Commission about the evolution of the disease in Romania.

(3)

Given the epidemiological situation in Romania it is appropriate to prolong the application of the approved eradication and emergency vaccination plans.

(4)

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