2004/631/: 2004/631/EC: — Commission Decision of 13 August 2004 on a financial contribution from the Community towards the eradication of classical swine fever in the Slovak Republic in 2004 (notified under document number C(2004) 3087)

In order to eradicate classical swine fever in 2004, the Slovak Republic may benefit from a Community financial contribution for 50 % of the expenditure incurred for: (a) the 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 2004, pursuant to the provisions of the first and seventh indents of Article 3(2) of Decision 90/424/EC and in accordance with this Decision; (b) the operational expenditure associated with the culling of animals, the destruction of carcasses and products, the cleaning and disinfecting of premises and the cleaning and disinfecting, or destruction if necessary, of contaminated equipment, pursuant to the provisions of the first, the second and third indents of Article 3(2) of Decision 90/424/EEC and in accordance with this Decision.

In this Decision, the following definitions shall apply: (a) ‘swift and adequate compensation’ means payment, within 90 days of the culling of the animals, for compensation corresponding to the market value as defined in Article 3(1); (b) ‘reasonable payments’ means payments for the purchase of materials or services at proportionate prices compared to the market prices before the outbreak of the classical swine fever; (c) ‘justified payments’ means payments for the purchase of materials or services of which the nature and the direct link with the compulsory culling of animals, as referred to in Article 1(a) is demonstrated.

1 The maximum eligible amount per animal of the compensation to the owners of the animals shall be based on the market value the animals had before their contamination or culling.

2 When the compensation payments made by the Slovak Republic pursuant to Article 1(a) are effected after the 90 days deadline laid down in Article 2(a), the eligible amounts shall be reduced for expenditure effected after the deadline as follows: 25 % for payments made between 91 and 105 days after the culling of the animals, 50 % for payments made between 106 and 120 days after the culling of the animals, 75 % for payments made between 121 and 135 days after the culling of the animals, 100 % for payments beyond 135 days after the culling of the animals. However, the Commission will apply a different time-scale and/or lower reductions or none at all, if exceptional management conditions are encountered for certain measures, or if other well-founded justifications are introduced by the Slovak Republic.

3 The costs referred to in Article 1(b) eligible for a financial contribution shall only be those set out in Annex III.

4 The calculation of the financial contribution from the Community shall exclude: (a) value added tax, (b) salaries of civil servants, (c) use of public material other than consumables.

1 The financial contribution from the Community shall be fixed in accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 41 of Council Decision 90/424/EEC on the basis of: (a) a claim submitted in accordance with Annexes I and II within the time limit provided for in paragraph 2; (b) detailed documents confirming the figures in the claim referred to in point (a); (c) the results of the on-the-spot checks, if any, by the Commission as referred in Article 5. The documents referred to in point (b) as well as relevant commercial information shall be made available for on-the-spot checks by the Commission.

2 The claim referred to in paragraph 1(a) shall be provided in computerised form in accordance with Annex I and Annex II within 60 calendar days after the notification of the present Decision. When this deadline is not observed, the financial contribution from the Community shall be reduced by 25 % for each month of delay.

The Commission may make on-the-spot checks, with the cooperation of the competent national authorities, on the implementation of the classical swine fever eradication measures and the related costs incurred.

This Decision is addressed to the Slovak Republic.