L 15548 Official Journal of the European Union 22.6.2010 COMMISSION DECISION of 18 June 2010 on protective measures with regard to equine infectious anaemia in Romania (notified under document C(2010) 3767) (Text with EEA relevance) (2010/346/EU) THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION, Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, Having regard to Council Directive 90/425/EEC of 26 June 1990 concerning veterinary and zootechnical checks applicable in intra-Community trade in certain live animals and products with a view to the completion of the internal market (!), and in particular Article 10(4) thereof, Whereas: (1) Equine infectious anaemia (EIA’) is a viral disease affecting only animals of the family Equidae. The incu- bation period is normally one to three weeks, but may be as long as three months. Infected equidae remain infectious for life and can potentially transmit the infection to other equidae. Infection with EIA tends to become inapparent if death does not result from one of the acute clinical attacks during viraemia, and thus the likelihood of transmission is substantially increased. Local transmission occurs by the transfer of blood from an infected equine animal via interrupted feeding of blood- sucking horseflies and in utero to the foetus. The main means of the long distance spread of the disease is the movement of infected animals, their semen, ova and embryos, and the use of contaminated needles or infusion of blood products containing the virus. EIA is a compulsorily notifiable disease in accordance with Annex A to Council Directive 90/426/EEC of 26 June 1990 on animal health conditions governing the movement and import from third countries of equidae (3. In addition, Council Directive 82/894/EEC of 21 December 1982 on the notification of animal diseases within the Community () provides that outbreaks of EIA are to be notified to the Commission and other Member States through the Animal Disease Notification System (‘ADNS’). Article 4(5) of Directive 90/426/EEC provides for restrictions concerning the movement of equidae from holdings where the presence of EIA has been 224, 18.8.1990, p. 29. oJ L O] L 224, 18.8.1990, p. 42. oJL 378, 31.12.1982, p. 58. confirmed until, following the slaughter of the infected animals, the remaining animals have undergone two Coggins tests with negative results. Unlike the animal health situation in other Member States, EIA is endemic in Romania and the immediate slaughter of infectious equidae is not implemented. For that reason, Commission Decision 2007/269/EC of 23 April 2007 on protective measures with regard to equine infectious anaemia in Romania (*) was adopted. However, recent cases of EIA in equidae for breeding and production dispatched from Romania to other Member States, and the recently published outcome of a veterinary inspection mission carried out by the Commission’s services in 2009 in that Member State in accordance with Article 10 of Directive 90/426/EEC (%), indicate  that Decision 2007/269/EC is poorly implemented, enforced and monitored. In view of trade in live equidae, their semen, ova and embryos, the disease situation in Romania presents an animal health risk for equidae in the Union. It is therefore appropriate to adopt protective measures laying down a specific regime for the movement of and trade in equidae and equine semen, ova and embryos, as well as certain equine blood products from Romania in order to safeguard the health and welfare of equidae in the Union. The prevalence of the disease is not equally distributed throughout Romania and between various categories of equidae in that Member State. This situation allows applying less stringent conditions for the movement of certain registered horses for competition and races and should allow, in future, defining disease free regions. In accordance with Article 7(2) of Directive 90/426EEC, the Member State of destination may, on a general or restricted basis, grant derogation from some of the requirements of Article 4(5) for any animal bearing a special mark indicating that it is scheduled for slaughter, provided that the health certificate mentions such dero- gation. In the case of granting such derogation equidae for slaughter must be transported directly to the designated slaughterhouse and be slaughtered within five days of arrival at the slaughterhouse. (% O] L 115, 3.5.2007, p. 18. (°) DG(SANCO) 2009-8256 — MR FINAL (http://ec.europa.eu/food/fvo/ rep_details_en.cfmPrep_id=2341).