6. 6. 97 Official Journal of the European Communities No L 148/27 COMMISSION DECISION of 23 May 1997 for the purchase by the Community of foot-and-mouth disease antigens and for the formulation, production, bottling and distribution of vaccines against ‘ foot-and-mouth disease (Text with EEA relevance) (97/348/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 94/370/EC (3, and in particular Article 14 thereof, Having regard to Council Decision 91/666/EEC of 11 December 1991 establishing Community reserves of foot- and-mouth disease vaccines (%), and in particular Articles 5 and 7 thereof, Whereas in conformity with Decision 91/666/EEC, the purchase of antigens is a part of the Community action to establish Community reserves of foot-and-mouth disease vaccines; Whereas by Commission Decision 93/590/EC of § November 1993 for the purchase by the Community of foot-and-mouth disease antigens within the framework of the Community action concerning reserves of foot-and- mouth disease vaccines (*), as last amended by Decision 95/471/EC (), arrangements were made for purchase of foot-and-mouth disease antigen; Whereas the arrangements made in 1993 covered antigen of the virus strains AS, A22, and O1; Whereas due to the disease situation, additional antigens are required; Whereas the Commission, on 16 November 1996, issued a call for tenders for inactivated concentrated antigens of the foot-and-mouth disease virus and formulation, production, bottling and distribution of vaccines used against foot-and-mouth disease (%); Whereas the call for tender included a call for 2 million doses of A22 Iraq antigens, 5 million doses of C1 (Euro- pean origin) and 5 million doses of ASIA 1 and the () OJ No L 224, 18. 8. 1990, p. 19. () O] No L 168, 2. 7. 1994, p. 31. () OJ No L 368, 31. 12. 1991, p. 21. (9 OJ No L 280, 13. 11. 1993, p. 33. () OJ No L 269, 11. 11. 1995, p. 29. () O] No C 346, 16. 11. 1996, p. 27. formulation, production, bottling and distribution of vaccines produced from the abovementioned antigens and a call for the formulation, production, bottling and dis- tribution of vaccines produced from antigens already in stock in banks established by Commission Decision 93/590/EC; Whereas in response to the call for tender, the Commis- sion received requests for participation by three manufac- turers of antigens of foot-and-mouth disease virus; Whereas the Commission has examined the submitted tenders taking into account the following factors: — the technical requirements of Annex II to Decision 91/666/EEC and other criteria mentioned in Article § of that Decision, — that some establishments are unable to supply the full number of doses of some antigens, — the need for a well-established quality control and quality assurance programme by the manufacturer, — the shelf-life of vaccines; Whereas the Commission has selected Rhone Mérieux to supply 2 million doses of A22 Iraq antigens, § million doses of C1 and 5 million doses of ASIA 1 and to under- take, at the request of the Commission, formulation, production, bottling and distribution of vaccine against foot-and-mouth disease produced from the said antigens and from antigens already in stock in existing banks; Whereas financial provision should be made to allow the Commission to purchase antigens from Rhone Mérieux and to make arrangements with this firm for formulation, production, bottling and distribution of vaccines against foot-and-mouth disease; Whereas, pursuant to the provisions of Article 7 of De- cision 91/666/EEC, it is necessary to lay down the rules for the distribution of antigen reserves between the antigen banks, nominated in Article 1 of the said De- cision; Whereas it is appropriate that the purchased strains should be stored in different banks; Whereas the measures provided for in this Decision are in accordance with the opinion of the Standing Veterinary Committee,