THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Economic Community, and in particular Article 43 thereof,

Having regard to the proposal from the Commission1,

Having regard to the opinion of the European Parliament2,

Having regard to the opinion of the Economic and Social Committee3,

Whereas live animals are listed in Annex II to the Treaty; whereas the marketing of live animals constitutes an important source of revenue for the agricultural population;

Whereas it is necessary to establish at Community level the control measures to be taken in the event of outbreaks of disease, in order to ensure rational development of the farming sector and to contribute to the protection of animal health in the Community;

Whereas an outbreak of disease can quickly take on epizootic proportions, causing mortality and disturbances which may severely compromise the profitability of stock farming;

Whereas control measures must be taken as soon as the presence of a disease is suspected so that immediate and effective action can be implemented as soon as its presence is confirmed;

Whereas the measures to be taken must allow the spread of the disease to be prevented, in particular by carefully controlling movements of animals and products liable to spread the infection;

Whereas the prevention of diseases in the Community should normally be based on a non-vaccination policy; whereas, however, it is important to make provision for vaccination where a serious situation demands such action;

Whereas in order to ensure that all vaccinated animals are recognizable, it is necessary for these animals to be identified; whereas in order to give the necessary guarantees, the potency of the vaccine must be approved by a reference laboratory designated by the Community;

Whereas a thorough epidemiological enquiry is essential to prevent any spread of diseases; whereas the Member States must establish special units for this purpose;

Whereas in order to ensure the effectiveness of the system of control, diagnosis of the diseases must be harmonized and must be carried out under the auspices of responsible laboratories, the coordination of which may be carried out by a reference laboratory designated by the Community;

Whereas Article 3 of Council Decision 90/424/EEC of 26 June 1990 on expenditure in the veterinary field4 applies in the event of an outbreak of one of the diseases listed in Annex I;

Whereas common measures for the control of these diseases form a basis for maintaining a uniform standard of animal health;

Whereas specific provisions should also be laid down for each individual disease and, initially, for swine vesicular disease,

HAS ADOPTED THIS DIRECTIVE: