Directive 2003/99 - Monitoring of zoonoses and zoonotic agents - Main contents

official title

 

Legal instrument	Directive
Number legal act	Directive 2003/99
Original proposal	COM(2001)452
CELEX number i	32003L0099

Avis juridique important

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Directive 2003/99/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 17 November 2003 on the monitoring of zoonoses and zoonotic agents, amending Council Decision 90/424/EEC and repealing Council Directive 92/117/EEC

Official Journal L 325 , 12/12/2003 P. 0031 - 0040

Directive 2003/99/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council

of 17 November 2003

on the monitoring of zoonoses and zoonotic agents, amending Council Decision 90/424/EEC and repealing Council Directive 92/117/EEC

THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, and in particular Article 152(4)(b) thereof,

Having regard to the proposal from the Commission(1),

Having regard to the opinion of the European Economic and Social Committee(2),

After consulting the Committee of the Regions,

Acting in accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 251 of the Treaty(3),

Whereas:

• (1) 

  Live animals and food of animal origin appear on the list in Annex I to the Treaty. Livestock farming and the placing on the market of food of animal origin constitute an important source of income for farmers. The implementation of veterinary measures aimed at raising the level of public and animal health in the Community assists the rational development of the farming sector.

• (2) 

  The protection of human health against diseases and infections transmissible directly or indirectly between animals and humans (zoonoses) is of paramount importance.

• (3) 

  Zoonoses transmissible through food may cause human suffering, as well as economic losses to food production and the food industry.

• (4) 

  Zoonoses transmitted through sources other than food, especially from wild animal and pet animal populations, are also a matter of concern.

• (5) 

  Council Directive 92/117/EEC of 17 December 1992 concerning measures for protection against specified zoonoses and specified zoonotic agents in animals and products of animal origin in order to prevent outbreaks of food-borne infections and intoxications(4) provided for the establishment of a monitoring system for certain zoonoses both at the level of Member States and at Community level.

• (6) 

  With the assistance of the Community reference laboratory for the epidemiology of zoonoses, the Commission collects the results of monitoring yearly from Member States and compiles them. Publication of the results has taken place yearly since 1995. They provide a basis for the evaluation of the current situation concerning zoonoses and zoonotic agents. However, the data collection systems are not harmonised and therefore do not permit comparisons between Member States.

• (7) 

  Other Community legislation provides for the monitoring and control of certain zoonoses in animal populations. In particular, Council Directive 64/432/EEC of 26 June 1964 on animal health problems affecting intra-Community trade in bovine animals and swine(5) deals with bovine tuberculosis and bovine brucellosis. Council Directive 91/68/EEC of 28 January 1991 on animal health conditions governing intra-Community trade in ovine and caprine animals(6) deals with ovine and caprine brucellosis. This Directive should not create any unnecessary duplication of those existing requirements.

• (8) 

  Moreover, a future regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on the hygiene of foodstuffs should cover specific elements necessary for prevention, control and monitoring of zoonoses and zoonotic agents and include specific requirements for the microbiological quality of food.

• (9) 

  Directive 92/117/EEC provides for collection of data on human cases of zoonoses. The aim of Decision No 2119/98/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 24 September 1998 setting up a network for the epidemiological surveillance and control of...

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