(1)

Regulation (EC) No 999/2001 lays down rules for the prevention, control and eradication of transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSEs) in bovine, ovine and caprine animals. Article 15(1) of that Regulation provides, inter alia, that the placing on the market or, if need be, the export of bovine, ovine or caprine animals and their semen, embryos and ova are subject to the conditions laid down in Annex VIII thereto.

(2)

Section A of Chapter A of Annex VIII to Regulation (EC) No 999/2001 lays down, inter alia, the conditions which apply to the placing on the market of ovine and caprine animals and semen and embryos thereof. Point 2.1 of that Section provides that where a Member State considers that its territory or part of its territory poses a negligible risk of classical scrapie, it is to submit to the Commission appropriate supporting documentation demonstrating that the criteria laid down in that point are fulfilled. In addition, point 2.2 of that Section provides that the Commission may approve the negligible risk status for classical scrapie of the Member State or of the zone of the Member State. Point 2.3 of that Section lists the Member States whose negligible risk status for classical scrapie has been approved.

(3)

On 22 May 2022, Czechia submitted an application to the Commission to be recognised as having a negligible risk status for classical scrapie. On 25 January 2023, the Commission requested the scientific and technical assistance of the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) to evaluate whether that Member State, in its application, demonstrated compliance with Section A, point 2.1(c) and point 2.2, of Chapter A of Annex VIII to Regulation (EC) No 999/2001.

(4)

On 24 October 2023, EFSA published a scientific report (2) in response to the Commission’s request (‘the EFSA report’). The EFSA report concludes that, based on the testing sensitivity provided by the past evaluations of screening diagnostic tests by EFSA and the Joint Research Centre Institute for Reference Materials and Measurement (IRMM), Czechia demonstrated compliance with Section A, point 2.1(c), of Chapter A of Annex VIII to Regulation (EC) No 999/2001 for each of the preceding seven years.

(5)

The EFSA report also concludes that, based on the testing sensitivity provided by the past evaluations of screening diagnostic tests by the EFSA and the IRMM, Czechia’s intentions concerning surveillance of classical scrapie in the future would comply with Section A, point 2.2, of Chapter A of Annex VIII to Regulation (EC) No 999/2001.

(6)

Taking into account the EFSA report and the favourable outcome of the Commission assessment of this application with the other criteria set out in Section A, point 2.1, of Chapter A of Annex VIII to Regulation (EC) No 999/2001, Czechia should be listed as a Member State with a negligible risk of classical scrapie.

(7)

Section A, point 2.3, of Chapter A of Annex VIII to Regulation (EC) No 999/2001 should, therefore, be amended in order to add Czechia to the list of Member States with a negligible risk status for classical scrapie.

(8)

The measures provided for in this Regulation are in accordance with the opinion of the Standing Committee on Plants, Animals, Food and Feed,