L 323/26 Official Journal of the European Communities 7.12.2001 COMMISSION COMMISSION DECISION of 3 December 2001 concerning a specific financial contribution by the Community relating to the surveillance programme of Campylobacter in broilers presented by Sweden (notified under document number C(2001) 3820) (Only the Swedish text is authentic) (2001/866/EC) THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES, Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, Having regard to Council Decision 90/424[EEC of 26 June 1990 on expenditure in the veterinary field (!), as last amended by Decision 2001/572/EC () and, in particular, Article 19 and Article 20 thereof, Whereas: 1) () ) The protection of human health against diseases and infections directly or indirectly transmissible from animals to man (zoonoses) is of paramount importance. The Community is currently in the process of reviewing its policy on the control and prevention of zoonoses. In this framework, the Scientific Committee on Veter- inary Measures relating to Public Health was requested to express an opinion on the basis of zoonosis-control policies, where special attention should be paid to the assessment of risks related to zoonotic diseases causing major concern to public health. In its conclusions of the opinion of 12 April 2000, the Scientific Committee on Veterinary Measures relating to Public Health identified Salmonella and Campylobacter as the most important food-borne zoonoses currently, if referring to the number of reported human cases. It is recognised that a number of gaps exist in the knowledge of the epidemiology of Campylobacter as a food-borne zoonosis and the above opinion indicated in particular that the efficiency of establishing strict hygiene barriers at poultry farm level should be docu- mented, and that the efficiency of procedures to lower L 224, 18.8.1990, p. 19. L 203, 28.7.2001, p. 16. the prevalence of Campylobacter at farm level needs further scrutiny. A surveillance programme for broilers operated by the Swedish poultry meat industry association started in 1991. The surveillance programme, which included sampling of slaughter groups at the abattoir and volun- tary measures in farms, showed some success in reducing the prevalence of Campylobacter in the slaughter groups of broilers. The Swedish authorities presented on 31 May 2000, with a view to obtaining financial support from the Community, a multiannual national surveillance programme of Campylobacter in broilers, and a revised programme on 13 October 2000, to estimate the base- line prevalence both in primary production and in the food chain, and to progressively reinforce implementa- tion of hygienic measures in farms with a view to lowering the prevalence at farm level and subsequently along the food chain. The programme started on 1 July 2001. The said programme can provide technical and scientific information potentially valuable for the development of Community veterinary legislation. In the light of the importance of Campylobacter as a zoonosis, it is useful to provide financial assistance for an appropriate period of time within a maximum of four years, to cover certain costs incurred by Sweden and to collect valuable technical and scientific informa- tion. For budgetary reasons, Community assistance is decided each year. By Commission Decision 2001/ 29/EC (}), the Community provided financial assistance for the second semester of the year 2001. () O] L 6, 11.1.2001, p. 22.