2006/668/EC: Commission Decision of 29 September 2006 concerning a financial contribution from the Community towards a baseline survey on the prevalence of Salmonella in slaughter pigs to be carried out in the Member States (notified under document number C(2006) 4306)

1 A survey shall be carried out to assess the prevalence of Salmonella spp. across the Community in slaughter pigs sampled in the slaughter house. The survey shall also be used to collect at the same time information on contamination of carcases in slaughterhouses and on the relation between bacteriological and serological tests.

2 The results of the survey shall be used to set Community targets as provided for in Article 4 of Regulation (EC) No 2160/2003 and to consider the best approach to evaluate in the future the achievement of the target.

3 The survey shall cover a one-year period commencing on 1 October 2006.

4 For the purposes of this Decision, ‘competent authority’ shall be the authority or authorities of a Member State as designated under Article 3 of Regulation (EC) No 2160/2003.

The survey in slaughter pigs shall be organised by the Member States and shall be performed from 1 October 2006 in slaughterhouses. Sampling and analysis shall be performed by the competent authority or under its supervision. Sampling and analysis shall be performed in accordance with the provisions in Annex I.

1 The competent authority responsible for preparing the yearly national report pursuant to Article 9(1) of Directive 2003/99/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council shall collect and assess the results achieved pursuant to Article 2 of this Decision and shall report all necessary data and its assessment to the Commission.

2 The Commission shall forward the results to the European Food Safety authority, which shall examine them.

3 National aggregated data and results shall be made available publicly in a form that ensures confidentiality.

1 The Community shall provide financial contribution for the costs incurred by the Member States on laboratory testing, i.e. bacteriological detection of Salmonella spp., serotyping of the relevant isolates and serology.

2 The maximum financial contribution from the Community shall be EUR 20 per test for bacteriological detection of Salmonella spp., EUR 30 for serotyping of the relevant isolates and EUR 10 for serology on meat juice.

3 The financial contribution from the Community shall not exceed the amounts set out in Annex II for the duration of the survey.

1 The financial contribution provided for in Article 4 shall be granted to the Member States provided that the survey is implemented in accordance with the relevant provisions of Community law, including the rules on competition and on the award of public contracts, and subject to compliance with the following conditions: (a) by 1 October 2006, the laws, regulations and administrative provisions required to implement the survey shall come into force; (b) a progress report covering the first three months of the survey shall be forwarded by 28 February 2007. The progress report should contain all information requested in Annex III of the Opinion of the Scientific Panel on Biological Hazards on the request from the Commission related to ‘Risk assessment and mitigation options of Salmonella in pig production’. (c) a final report shall be forwarded by 31 October 2007 at the latest on the technical execution of the survey, together with supporting evidence for the costs incurred and the results attained during the period 1 October 2006 to 30 September 2007; the evidence as to costs incurred shall comprise at least the information set out in Annex III; (d) the survey shall be implemented effectively.

2 An advance of 50 % of the total amount referred to in Annex II may be paid at the request of the Member State concerned.

3 Failure to comply with the time limit in paragraph 1(c) shall entail a progressive reduction of the financial contribution to be paid, amounting to 25 % of the total amount by 15 November 2007, 50 % by 1 December 2007 and 100 % by 15 December 2007.

The conversion rate for applications submitted in national currencies in month ‘n’ shall be that for the 10th day of month ‘n+1’ or the first day before that day for which a rate is quoted.

This Decision shall apply from 1 October 2006.

This Decision is addressed to the Member States.