2002/765/EC: Commission Decision of 25 September 2002 on financial aid from the Community towards the eradication of bluetongue in Spain in 2000 (notified under document number C(2002) 3537)

• Articles: 6

Article 1

Spain may receive Community financial assistance for the adequate compensation of owners for the compulsory slaughter of their animals under eradication measures related to outbreaks of bluetongue which occurred in 2000, in accordance with the provisions of Article 3(2) of Decision 90/424/EEC.

Article 2

For the purposes of this Decision the following definitions shall apply:

1. "swift and adequate compensation" means payment, without prejudice to the provisions of Article 4(2) of Commission Regulation (EC) No 296/96(4), within 90 days of the slaughtering of the animals, of compensation corresponding to the value of the animals immediately before they became infected or were slaughtered;

2. "destruction, cleaning, disinfection and disinsectisation costs" means the costs, excluding VAT, of purchasing products to clean, disinfect and disinsectise affected holdings, as well as the costs of services required to destroy carcasses.

Article 3

1. Under the Community financial assistance referred to in Article 1, an advance of EUR 166000 shall be paid on the basis of supporting documents submitted by Spain concerning the swift and adequate compensation of owners for compulsory slaughter, the destruction of animals and, where appropriate, for the products used to clean, disinfect and disinsectise holdings and equipment, as well as for the destruction of contaminated feedingstuffs and equipment, and subject to the results of the checks referred to in Article 4.

2. The supporting documents referred to in paragraph 1 shall include an epidemiological report covering each holding on which animals have been slaughtered and destroyed, and a financial report.

The financial report shall take account of the categories of the animals destroyed, or slaughtered and destroyed, on each holding on account of bluetongue. The information shall be provided in electronic form in accordance with the model in the Annex.

3. The supporting documents referred to in paragraph 1 shall be forwarded no later than 60 days after the date on which Spain is notified of this Decision.

Article 4

The Commission may make on-the-spot checks, with the cooperation of the competent national authorities, on the application of the measures referred to in Article 1 and the related expenditure. The Member States will be informed of the results of these checks.

Article 5

This Decision is addressed to the Kingdom of Spain.

Done at Brussels, 25 September 2002.

For the Commission

David Byrne

Member of the Commission

(1) OJ L 224, 18.8.1990, p. 19.

(2) OJ L 203, 28.7.2001, p. 16.

(3) OJ L 160, 26.6.1999, p. 103.

(4) OJ L 39, 17.2.1996, p. 5.

Schedules & Appendices

ANNEX I

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ANNEX II

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