Expenditure in the veterinary field (amend. Decision 90/424/EEC)

PURPOSE: to present a proposal which amends Decision 90/424/EEC on the management of expenditure in the veterinary field. CONTENT: Council Decision 90/424/EEC on expenditure in the veterinary field lays down the procedure governing the Community's financial contribution towards specific veterinary measures and programmes for the eradication and monitoring of animal diseases. The specific veterinary measures include emergency measures for a number of animal diseases of importance for international trade such as, amongst others, African swine fever, classical swine fever and swine vesicular disease. Council Regulation 99/1258/EEC on the financing of the Common Agricultural Policy stipulates that from 01.01.2000, the actions defined in Council Decision 90/424/EEC shall be financed by the Guarantee Section of the European Agricultural Guidance and Guarantee Fund (EAGGF) in order to achieve the objectives set out in Article 33(1) of the Treaty. However, the disparate nature of veterinary expenditures makes its management incompatible with the mechanisms relating to the paying agencies of the EAGGF Guidance section, without prejudice to the EAGGF Guarantee section others rules. Against this background, the purpose of this proposed Council Decision is to amend Decision 90/424/EEC and clearly indicate the arrangements to be applied as regards the management of expenditure in the veterinary field. This means using the Regulatory Committee Procedure as well as continuing to apply the system of direct manangement by the Commission of the Community's financial contribution to veterinary measures. This proposal has no financial impact for the Community budget.�