2000/111/EC: Commission Decision of 21 December 1999 designating a new antigen bank and making provisions for the transfer and storage of antigens within the framework of the Community action concerning reserves of foot-and-mouth disease vaccines (notified under document number C(1999) 4782
8. 2. 2000 EN Official Journal of the European Communities L 33/19 COMMISSION COMMISSION DECISION of 21 December 1999 designating a new antigen bank and making provisions for the transfer and storage of antigens within the framework of the Community action concerning reserves of foot-and-mouth disease vaccines (notified under document number C(1999) 4782) (2000/111/EC) THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES, (3) Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, Commission Decision 97/348/EC of 23 May 1997 for foot-and-mouth the purchase by the Community of disease antigens and for the formulation, production, bottling and distribution of vaccines against food-and- mouth disease (7), details the distribution of newly purchased antigen to designated antigen banks. Having regard to Council Decision 90/424/EEC of 26 June 1990 on expenditure in the veterinary field (1), as last amended by Council Regulation (EC) No 1258/99 (2), and in particular Article 14 thereof, (4) Having regard to Counicl Decision 91/666/EEC of 11 December 1991 establishing Community reserves of foot-and- last amended by Council mouth disease vaccines (3), as Decision 1999/762/CE (4), and in particular Articles 3(1), third indents and 7 thereof, Whereas: (1) (2) In accordance with Article 3 of Decision 91/666/EEC the Commission, in accordance with the procedures laid down in Article 10 of that Decision, may designate premises for storage of Community reserves of foot-and- mouth disease antigen as long as they comply with the provisions of Articles 4 and 6 of that Decision. antigens within Article 3 of Commission Decision 93/590/EC of 5 November 1993, for the purchase of foot-and-mouth the framework disease Community action concerning reserves of foot-and- mouth disease vaccines (5), as last amended by Decision 95/471/EC (6), makes provisions for the antigen to be stored at three specified locations. the of the Institute of Animal Health, The premises of Pirbright, United Kingdom, are no longer a designated Community antigen bank. Moreover, the former antigen bank at Pirbright refused to receive the quantities and types of antigen assigned by Decision 97/348/EC and this antigen has been stored in the premises of the manufacturer Merial SAS, Pirbright. (5) With a view to necessary expenses and the revision of relevant legislation it appears appropriate to designate the manufacturer of the antigen, Meril SAS, Pirbright United Kingdom, as Community antigen bank and consequently to make provisions for the transfer of antigen stored at Institute for Animal Health, Pirbright, United Kingdom, for storage in the premises of Merial SAS, Pirbright. (6) The Director-General of the Directorate-General respon- sible for Community veterinary legislation in the field of animal health shall be authorised to sign contracts with designated vaccine banks in private property. (1) OJ L 224, 18. 8. 1990, p. 19. (2) OJ L 160, 26. 6. 1999, p. 103. (3) OJ L 368, 31. 12. 1991, p. 21. (4) OJ L 301, 24. 11. 1999, p. 6. (5) OJ L 280, 13. 11. 1993, p. 33. (6) OJ L 269, 11. 11. 1995, p. 29. (7) Whereas the measures provided for in this Decision are in accordance with the opinion of the Standing Veter- inary Committee, (7) OJ L 148, 6. 6. 1997, p. 27. L 33/20 EN Official Journal of the European Communities 8. 2. 2000 HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION: Article 1 1. Without prejudice to Article 3(1), first and second indent, of Decision 91/666/EEC an antigen bank shall be established at Merial SAS, Pirbright, United Kingdom. 2. The quantities and types of antigen stored in accordance with Decision 93/590/EC in the Community antigen bank at Institute for Animal Health, Pirbright, United Kingdom, shall be transferred for storage to Merial SAS, Pirbright, United Kingdom. The transfer shall be carried out under the respons- ability of Merial SAS. The antigen purchased by the Community and assigned 3. to the Community antigen bank in the premises of the Institute of Animal Health, Pirbright, in accordance with Decision 97/ 348/EC shall be stored in the premises of Merial SAS, Pirbright, United Kingdom. the objectives of paragraphs 2 and 3, To meet 4. Commission shall conclude a contract, European Community, with Merial SAS. the in the name of the The Director-General of the Directorate-General respon- 5. sible for Community veterinary legislation in the field of animal health shall be authorised to sign the contract on the transfer and storage of the quantities and types of antigen on behalf of the Commission of the European Communities. Article 2 This Decision shall apply from 1 February 2000. Article 3 This Decision is addressed to the Member States. Done at Brussels, 21 December 1999. For the Commission David BYRNE Member of the Commission