- 10.6.92 Official Journal of the European Communities No L 157/19 COUNCIL DIRECTIVE 92/35/EEC of 29 April 1992 laying down control rules and measures to combat African horse sickness 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 Commission ('), Having regard to the opinion of the European Parliament (3), Having regard to the opinion of the Economic and Social Committee (3), " Whereas Council Directive 90/426/EEC of 26 June 1990 on animal health conditions governing the movement and import from third countries of equidae (*) seeks to liberalize the movement of equidae on Community territory; whereas, under Article S (4) thereof, Community measures must be introduced to harmonize rules for controlling and measures to combat African horse sickness; ’ Whereas such measures will make it possible to ensure rational development of the farming sector and contribute to the protection of animal health in the Community; Whereas an outbreak of this disease can quickly assume epizootic proportions, causing mortality and disturbance which may severely reduce ‘the profitability of livestock production; ) Whereas control measures must be taken as soon as the presence of the disease is suspected and whereas immediate and effective action must be implemented as soon as it is confirmed in order to guarantee animal health protection in the Community; Whereas the measures to be taken must aim at preventing the spread of African horse sickness; whereas the movement of animals liable to transmit the infection must be strictly controlled and insects must be eradicated from infected holdings; : Whereas the conditions under which vaccination -against African horse sickness may be carried out and the rules governing such vaccination must be specified; ' Whereas, in order to ensure more effective control of the disease, action should be taken to establish protection and (1) O] No C 312, 3. 12, 1991, p. 12. . (2) Opinion delivered on 10 April 1992 (not yet published in the Official Journal). (%) Opinion delivered on 29 April 1992 (not yet published in the Official Journal). (4) OJ No L 224, 18. 8. 1990, p 42. Directive as last amended by Decision 92/130/EEC (O] No L 47, 22. 2. 1992, p. 26). surveillance zones, taking into account geographical, administrative, ecological and epizootiological factors; Whereas a thorough epizootiological inquiry is essential in order to prevent any spread of the disease; Whereas Article 3 of Council Decision 90/424/EEC of 26 June 1990 on expenditure in the veterinary field (5) applies in the event of the occurrence of African. horse sickness, HAS ADOPTED THIS DIRECTIVE: Article 1 This Directive lays down control rules and measures to combat African horse sickness. Article 2 For the purposés of this Directive, the definitions given in Article 2 of Directive 90/426/EEC shall apply as and where . necessary. - However, bolding means holding within the meaning of Directive 90/426/EEC and nature reserves in which equidae live in freedom. Furthermore: (a) owner or keeper means any natural or legal person(s) having ownership of the equidae or charged with their keep, whether or not for finanical reward; {(b) wvector means an insect of the imicola Culicoides species or any other Culicoides insect liable to transmit African horse sickness, identifiable .under the procedure provided for in Article 19, following the opinion of the Scientific Veterinary Committee; (c) confirmation means the declaration, by the competent authority, of the presence of African horse sickness, based on laboratory results; however, in the event of an epidemic the competent authority may also confirm the disease on the basis of clinical and/or epidemiological results; (d) competent authority means the central authority of a Member State responsible for carrying out veterinary checks or any veterinary authority to which it has delegated that responsibility; (e) official veterinarian means the veterinarian appointed by the competent authority. (5) OJ No L 224, 18. 8. 1990, p.. 19. Decision as last amended by Regulation (EEC) No 3763/91 (O] No L 356, 24. 12. 1991, p. 1.).