20.12.2001 Official Journal of the European Communities L 337/39 amending for the fourth time Decision 2001/740/EC concerning certain protection measures with COMMISSION COMMISSION DECISION of 19 December 2001 regard to foot-and-mouth disease in the United Kingdom (notified under document number C(2001) 4601) (Text with EEA relevance) (2001/911/EC) THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES, Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, Having regard to Council Directive 90/425/EEC of 26 June 1990 concerning veterinary and zootechnical checks applicable in intra-Community trade in certain live animals and products with a view to the completion of the internal market ('), as last amended by Directive 92/118/EEC (), and in particular Article 10 thereof, Having regard to Council Directive 89/662/EEC of 11 December 1989 concerning veterinary checks in intra- Community trade with a view to the completion of the internal market (}), as last amended by Directive 92/118/EEC, and in particular Article 9 thereof, Whereas: (1)  Commission Decision 2001/740/EC (%), as last amended by Decision 2001/848/EC (), concerns certain protec- tion measures with regard to foot-and-mouth disease in the United Kingdom. (2)  Certain counties in Great Britain, which are listed in Annex III, have had no outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease during this epidemic, while others have remained free from the disease for more than 3 months. It appears therefore appropriate to further enlarge the area from which dispatch of certain meats is authorized. (3)  The improved animal health situation would allow to lay down conditions for the controlled dispatch from certain areas in Great Britain of live susceptible animals to other Member States. However such conditions must take into account the provisions of Council Decision () O] L 224, 18.8.1990, p. 29. () O] L 62, 15.3.1993, p. 49. () O] L 395, 30.12.1989, p. 13. () O] L 277, 20.10.2001, p. 30. () O] L 315, 1.12.2001, p. 64. 98/256/EC concerning emergency measures to protect against bovine spongiform encephalopathy (°). (4)  Furthermore, because there have been very few outbreaks of foot-and-mouth disease in pigs and more- over the most important pig breeding and rearing areas in Great Britain have remained free of the disease throughout this epidemic, it appears appropriate to allow under controlled conditions the dispatch of live porcine animals from Great Britain to other Member States. (5)  Certain residence and contact requirements necessary to ensure the certified health status may be reduced for pigs moving between holdings considered under the United Kingdom legislation as a single epidemiological group which would ensure that any movement of susceptible animals into one of the holdings subject to a single occupancy licence would prohibit the dispatch from any of the holdings covered by that licence under the terms of this Decision. (6) It is also considered appropriate to allow the collection of live animals for slaughter from a limited number of holdings situated in the areas listed in Annex Il and consequently to adapt the disinfection requirements. (7)  The test requirements for donor bulls and boars at semen collection centres situated in the areas listed in Annex III can be withdrawn and the certification of equidae dispatched from Great Britain can be eased. (8)  The situation shall be reviewed at the meeting of the Standing Veterinary Committee scheduled for 15-16 January 2002 and the measures adapted where neces- sary. (99  The measures provided for in this Decision are in accordance with the opinion of the Standing Veterinary Commiittee, () O] L 113, 15.4.1998, p. 38.