28.2.2003 Official Journal of the European Union L 5347 COMMISSION COMMISSION DECISION of 27 February 2003 on the approval of the plans for the eradication of classical swine fever and the emergency vacci- nation of feral pigs against classical swine fever in Germany, in the federal states of Lower Saxony, North Rhine-Westphalia, Rhineland-Palatinate and Saarland (notified under document number C(2003) 626) (Only the German and French texts are authentic) (Text with EEA relevance) (2003/135/EC) THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES, Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, Having regard to Council Directive 2001/89/EC of 23 October 2001 on Community measures for the control of classical swine fever ('), and in particular Article 16(1), Article 20(2), Article 25(3) and Article 29(2) thereof, Whereas: 1 In the last decade classical swine fever was confirmed in the feral pig population in Germany in the federal States of Baden-Wiirttemberg, Brandenburg, Lower-Saxony, Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, North Rhine-West- phalia, Rhineland-Palatinate, Saarland and Saxony Anbhalt. Plans to eradicate classical swine fever in the feral pig population of Baden-Wiirttemberg, Brandenburg, Lower- Saxony, Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, Rhineland- Palatinate and Saxony Anhalt were approved by Commission Decisions 1999/39/EC of 21 December 1998 approving the plan presented by Germany for the eradication of classical swine fever in feral pigs in Bran- denburg, Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, and Lower Saxony and repealing Commission Decision 96/552/ EC (%), 1999/335/EC of 7 May 1999 approving the plan presented by Germany for the eradication of classical swine fever in feral pigs in Baden Wiirttemberg and Rhineland-Palatinate (*) and Commission Decision 2000/ 281/EC of 31 March 2000 approving the plan presented by Germany for the eradication of classical swine fever in feral pigs in Saxony-Anhalt (¥). L 316, 1.12.2001, p. 5. L 11, 16.1.1999, p. 47. L 126, 20.5.1999, p. 21. L 92, 31.3.2000, p. 27. 3) Plans for the eradication of classical swine fever in feral pigs in North Rhine-Westphalia and for the emergency vaccination of feral pigs against classical swine fever in North Rhine-Westphalia, Rhineland-Palatinate and Saar- land were approved by Commission Decision 2002/161/ EC of 22 February 2002 approving the plans submitted by Germany for the eradication of classical swine fever in feral pigs in Rhineland-Pfalz and Saarland (%), as last amended by Decision 2002/791/EC (°). Germany has submitted information suggesting that clas- sical swine fever has been successfully eradicated from Baden-Wiirttemberg, ~ Brandenburg, = Mecklenburg- Western Pomerania and Saxony Anhalt. It is therefore appropriate to repeal the measures adopted by the Commission to control the disease in these areas of Germany. Measures to control classical swine fever are still neces- sary in Lower-Saxony, North Rhine-Westphalia, Rhine- land-Palatinate and Saarland. Germany has submitted updated plans for the eradica- tion of classical swine fever in feral pigs from Lower- Saxony and Rhineland-Palatinate to bring them in line with Directive 2001/89/EC. In the light of the epidemiological situation, Germany has submitted an amended plan for the emergency vacci- nation of feral pigs in Rhineland-Palatinate and a plan for the emergency vaccination of feral pigs in Lower- Saxony. () OJ L 53, 23.2.2002, p. 43. (% OJ L 274, 11.10.2002, p. 40.