5.7.2003 Official Journal of the European Union L 16823 COMMISSION DECISION of 3 July 2003 on a financial contribution from the Community towards the eradication of classical swine fever in Luxembourg in 2002 (Only the French text is authentic) (2003/491/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 Regulation (EC) No 806/2003 (3, and in particular Article 3(3) and Article 5(3) thereof, Whereas: (1)  Outbreaks of classical swine fever occurred in Luxem- bourg in 2002. The emergence of this disease represents a serious risk to the Community's livestock population. (2)  With a view to helping to eradicate the disease as rapidly as possible, the Community may contribute financially to eligible costs incurred by the Member State, as provided for in Decision 90/424/EEC. (3)  Pursuant to Article 3(2) of Council Regulation (EC) No 1258/1999 of 17 May 1999 on the financing of the common agricultural policy (°), veterinary and plant health measures undertaken in accordance with Commu- nity rules shall be financed under the ‘Guarantee’ section of the European Agricultural Guidance and Guarantee Fund. The auditing of these measures comes under Arti- cles 8 and 9 of the said Regulation. (4)  The payment of the Community financial contribution must be subject to the condition that the planned activ- ities were actually implemented and the authorities provide all the necessary information within certain deadlines. (5)  On 5 August 2002, Luxembourg submitted an official request for reimbursement for all the expenditure incurred on its territory. (6) It is now time to set the amount of an advance on the Community financial contribution, pending checks carried out by the Commission. This advance must be 50 % of the Community contribution calculated on the basis of the number of pigs culled (19 000) at a unit cost of EUR 100 and limiting, for the moment, the ‘other costs’ to 10 % of the amount of this reimbursement. (7)  The terms ‘swift and adequate compensation of the live- stock farmers’ used in Article 3 of Decision 90/424/EEC, ‘reasonable payments’ and fustified payments’ and the OJ L 224, 18.8.1990, p. 19. () OJ L 122,16.5.2003, p. 1. 0J L 160, 26.6.1999, p. 103. categories of eligible expenditure under ‘other costs’ associated with the compulsory slaughter must all be defined. (8)  The measures provided for in this Decision are in accor- dance with the opinion of the Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health, HAS DECIDED AS FOLLOWS: Atrticle 1 Granting of a financial contribution from the Community to Luxembourg In order to eradicate classical swine fever in 2002, Luxembourg may benefit from a Community financial contribution of 50 % of the expenditure incurred for the: (a) swift and adequate compensation of farmers forced to cull their animals as part of the measures to eradicate the outbreaks of classical swine fever in 2002, pursuant to the provisions of Article 3(2)(7) of Decision 90/424/EC and this Decision; Cx operational expenditure associated with the destruction of contaminated animals and products, the cleaning and disin- fecting of premises and the cleaning and disinfecting, or destruction if necessary, of contaminated equipment, under the conditions provided for in Article 3(2)(1), (2) and (3) of Decision 90/424/EEC and this Decision. Atticle 2 Definitions In this Decision, the following definitions shall apply: (a) ‘swift and adequate compensation”: the payment, without prejudice to Article 4(2) of Commission Regulation (EC) No 296/96 (*), within 90 days of the slaughter of the animals, of compensation corresponding to the market value that these animals had immediately prior to their contamination or slaughter; Cx ‘reasonable payments payments made for the purchase of equipment or services at proportionate prices compared to the market prices that applied before the outbreak; ) OJL39,17.2.1996, p. 5.