22.11.2003 [ EN | Official Journal of the European Union L 306/1 (Acts whose publication is obligatory) COUNCIL DIRECTIVE 2003/85/EC of 29 September 2003 on Community measures for the control of foot-and-mouth disease repealing Directive 85/511/ EEC and Decisions 89/531/EEC and 91/665/EEC and amending Directive 92/46/EEC (Text with EEA relevance) THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION, Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Com- munity, and in particular Article 37(3) thereof, Having regard to the proposal from the Commission (1), Having regard to the Opinion of the European Parliament (3, Having regard to the Opinion of the European Economic and Social Committee (3), Having regard to the Opinion of the Committee of the Regions (%), Whereas: (1)  One of the Community’s tasks in the veterinary field is to improve the state of health of livestock, thereby increasing the profitability of livestock farming and facilitating trade in animals and animal products. At the same time the Community is also a Community of values, and its policies to combat animal diseases must not be based purely on commercial interests but must also take genuine account of ethical principles. (2)  Foot-and-mouth disease is a highly contagious viral disease of biungulates. Although foot-and-mouth disease has no public health importance, due to its exceptional economic importance, it is on the top of list A diseases of the Office International des Epizooties (OIE). (1) Proposal of 18 December 2002. (®) Opinion delivered on 15 May 2003 (not yet published in the Official Journal). () Opinion delivered on 14 May 2003 (not yet published in the Official Journal). (*) Opinion delivered on 2 July 2003 (not yet published in the Official Journal). (3) Foot-and-mouth disease is a compulsorily notifiable disease and outbreaks must be notified by the Member State affected to the Commission and other Member States, in accordance with Council Directive 82/894/ EEC of 21 December 1982, on the notification of animal diseases within the Community (°). (4)  The Community measures for the control of foot-and- mouth disease are laid down in Council Directive 85/ 511/EEC of 18 November 1985 introducing Community measures for the control of foot-and-mouth disease (°). That Directive has been significantly amended on many occasions. Now that new amendments are being made to the said Directive, it is desirable, in order to clarify matters, that the provisions in question should be recast. (5)  Following the adoption of Council Directive 90/423/ EEC of 26 June 1990 amending Directive 85/511/ EEC, Directive 64/432/EEC on animal health problems affecting intra-Community trade in bovine animals and swine and Directive 72/462/EEC on health and vet- erinary inspection problems upon importation of bovine animals and swine and fresh meat or meat products from third countries (7), prophylactic vaccination against foot-and-mouth disease was prohibited throughout the Community as of 1 January 1992. () OJ L 378, 31.12.1982, p. 58. Directive as last amended by Commission Decision 2000/556/EC (O] L 235, 19.9.2000, p. 27). () OJ L 315, 26.11.1985, p. 11. Directive as last amended by the 2003 Act of Accession. () OJL224,18.8.1990, p.13.