2003/676/EC: Commission Decision of 24 September 2003 on an additional financial contribution from the Community towards the costs of the eradication of foot-and-mouth disease in the United Kingdom in 2001 (notified under document number C(2003) 3325)

• Articles: 7

Article 1

Payment of an advance to the financial contribution from the Community to the United Kingdom

Subject to budgetary availability of the corresponding funds the United Kingdom may obtain an advance payment of EUR 40 million to the additional financial contribution from the Community for the eradication of foot-and-mouth disease in the United Kingdom in 2001. This additional contribution may cover eligible expenditure for the costs of the measures foreseen in Article 11(4) under (a)(i) to (iv) and (b) of Council Decision 90/424/EEC, except for compensation for the value of the animals, already provided for in accordance with Decisions 2001/654/EC and 2003/23/EC.

Article 2

Definitions

For the purpose of this Decision, the following definitions shall apply:

(a) "reasonable payments", means payments for the purchase of materials or services at proportionate prices compared to the market prices before the outbreak of the foot-and-month disease;

(b) "justified payments", means payments for the purchase of materials or services of which the nature and the direct link with the compulsory slaughter of animals in the holdings is demonstrated.

Article 3

The eligible expenditure covered by the financial contribution from the Community

1. The financial contribution from the Community as referred to in Article 1 shall only be made in respect of justified and reasonable payments for the eligible costs as set out in the Annex.

2. The financial contribution from the Community as referred to in Article 1 shall exclude:

(a) value added tax;

(b) salaries of civil servants;

(c) use of public material other than consumables.

Article 4

Conditions for payment and supporting documentation

1. The balance of the financial contribution by the Community shall be fixed in a later Decision taken in accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 41 of Decision 90/424/EEC. It will be based on:

(a) the claim submitted on 27 February 2003 as eventually completed within the time limit as provided for in paragraph 2;

(b) detailed documents confirming the figures in the claim referred to in point (a);

(c) the results of the on-the-spot checks by the Commission as referred in Article 5.

The documents referred to in point (b) shall be made available for on-the-spot audits by the Commission.

2. The complement to the claim referred to in paragraph 1(a) shall be provided in computerised form identical to the claim of 27 February 2003 within 30 calendar days of the date of notification of this Decision. When that time limit is not observed, the financial contribution from the Community to the eligible expenditure of this complement shall be reduced by 25 % for every month of delay.

Article 5

On-the-spot checks by the Commission

The Commission may make on-the-spot checks, with the cooperation of the competent national authorities, on the implementation of the foot-and-mouth eradication measures referred to in Article 1 and the related costs incurred.

Article 6

Addressee

This Decision is addressed to the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

Done at Brussels, 24 September 2003.

For the Commission

David Byrne

Member of the Commission

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

(2) OJ L 122, 16.5.2003, p. 1.

(3) OJ L 315, 26.11.1985, p. 11.

(4) OJ L 7, 11.1.2003, p. 82.

(5) OJ L 230, 28.8.2001, p. 16.

(6) OJ L 8, 14.1.2003, p. 41.

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

(8) OJ L 71, 15.3.2003, p. 19.

Schedules & Appendices

ANNEX

Eligible costs as referred to in Article 3

1. Costs for the slaughter of the animals:

(a) salaries and fees of the slaughter-men;

(b) consumables and specific equipment used for the slaughter;

(c) materials used for the transport of the animals to the slaughter-place.

2. Costs for the destruction of animals:

(a) rendering: transport of carcases to the rendering plant, treatment of carcases in the rendering plant and destruction of the meal;

(b) burying: staff specifically employed, materials specifically rented for the transport and the burying of the carcases and products used for the disinfection of the holding;

(c) burning: staff specifically employed, combustibles or other materials used, materials specifically rented for the transport of the carcases and products used for the disinfection of the plant.

3. Cost for the destruction of milk:

(a) compensation at market price of the milk;

(b) destruction of the milk.

4. Costs for the cleaning, disinfection and disinsectisation of holdings:

(a) products used for cleaning, disinfection and disinsectisation;

(b) salaries and fees for the staff specifically employed.

5. Costs for the destruction of contaminated feedingstuffs:

(a) compensation at purchase price of the feedingstuffs;

(b) destruction of the feedingstuffs.

6. Cost for the compensation of contaminated equipment at market value and destruction of such equipment. Costs of compensation for reconstruction or renewal of farm buildings and infrastructure costs are ineligible.