29.9.2009 Official Journal of the European Union L 256/35 (Acts adopted under the EC Treaty/Euratom Treaty whose publication is not obligatory) DECISIONS COMMISSION COMMISSION DECISION of 28 September 2009 authorising certain Member States to revise their annual BSE monitoring programmes (notified under document C(2009) 6979) (Text with EEA relevance) (2009/719/EC) THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES, Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, Having regard to Regulation (EC) No 999/2001 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 22 May 2001 laying down rules for the prevention, control and eradication of certain transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (1), and in particular the second subparagraph of Article 6(1b) thereof, Whereas: categories laid down in points 2.1, 2.2 and 3.1 of Part I of Chapter A of Annex I to Regulation (EC) No 999/2001. Article 6(1b) of Regulation (EC) No 999/2001 says that Member States which can demonstrate an improvement in their epidemiological situation, according to certain criteria, may apply for their annual monitoring programmes to be revised. Annex IIT (Chapter A, Part I, Point 7) to Regulation (EC) No 999/2001 says which information has to be submitted to the Commission and which epidemiological criteria have to be complied with by Members States wishing to revise their annual monitoring programmes. (1) Regulation (EC) No 999/2001 lays down rules for the prevention, control and eradication of transmissible . spongiform encephalopathies (TSEs) in animals and ¢} Onl7 ]uly.2008, th? European F 00(12 Safer A‘”h(?my requires each Member State to carry out an annual moni- (EFSA) pubhshed a scientific 0p1n1(.)r.1 () WhICh prov1ded toring programme for TSEs based on active and passive an assessment on the leve} of adlelonal tisk to human surveillance, in accordance with Annex III to that Regu- anq anlmal. health f9110w1ng the implementation of a lation. revised bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) moni- toring regime in the 15 countries which were members of the Community before 1 May 2004. The opinion concluded that less than one BSE case would be missed (2)  Those annual monitoring programmes are to cover as a annually in those Member States if the age of bovine minimum certain sub-populations of bovine animals as provided in Regulation (EC) No 999/2001. Those sub- populations are to include all bovine animals above 24 animals covered by the programme was increased from 24 months to 48 months. (3) ‘Scientific Opinion of the Panel on Biological Hazards on a request or 30 months of age, the age limit dep endlng on from the European Commission on the risk for human and animal health related to the revision of the BSE monitoring regime in some () O] L 147, 31.5.2001, p. 1. Member States’, The EFSA Journal (2008) 762, p. 1.