Voluntary Report - public distribution

**Date:** 5/23/2005

**GAIN Report Number:** E35099

E35099

**EU-25**

**Poultry and Products**

**EU proposes new Directive to enhance the control of Avian Influenza
(AI)**

**2005**

**Approved by:**

![](media/image1.wmf)Norval E. Francis

U.S. Mission to the EU

**Prepared by:**

Yvan Polet

**Report Highlights:**

On April 28, the EC has proposed a new Directive that will expand
mandatory surveillance of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) to
Low Pathogenic Avian Influenza (LPAI) strains, which have the potential
to mutate into HPAI strains. These new measures are due to be
implemented by January 2007 by Member States. This will add a yearly
cost of €3-8 million to the EU budget for animal diseases.

Includes PSD Changes: No

Includes Trade Matrix: No

Unscheduled Report

Brussels USEU \[BE2\]

\[E3\]

**A New Directive**

On April 28, 2005, the European Commission adopted a proposal for a new
Council Directive[^1] to enhance the measures for the control of Avian
Influenza (AI). This new Directive is meant to replace the existing
Directive 92/40/EEC, which established compulsory disease control
measures for Highly Pathogenic AI (HPAI). This new Directive will also
require compulsory surveillance for Low Pathogenic AI (LPAI) in all
Member States (MS).

The main features of the proposed Directive are:

1\. Change in the definition of AI to extend the scope of the control
measures to those LPAI viruses which could potentially mutate into HPAI
viruses, making a distinction between the two conditions to be able to
apply specific control measures considering the different risks posed by
these viruses.

2\. Introduction of compulsory surveillance for LPAI in all MS.

3\. New and more flexible provisions on vaccination.

4\. New and flexible provisions for the control of LPAI and HPAI in
domestic birds other than poultry, such as birds kept in zoos or
endangered species.

5\. New provisions to ensure co-operation between MSs veterinary and
public health authorities in case of an AI outbreak, with the view of
protecting human health.

6\. Attribution to the Commission to adopt further and more specific AI
control measures and to establish an AI vaccine bank.

The new rules are scheduled for implementation by January 2007 and will
add an additional annual cost of between €3-8 million to the EU budget
for animal diseases. This new Directive should match the new Chapter of
the OIE code, which is to be adopted in May 2005.

The Directive doesn't refer to any changes in import requirements for
poultry products from third countries, including the United States. This
Directive could however effect testing on imports. This Directive could
affect U.S. exports of hatching eggs and other egg products.

###### **Background**

In the last five years, two major outbreaks of HPAI occurred in the EU;
in Italy (1999-2000) and in The Netherlands, with secondary spread to
Belgium and Germany (2003). Estimates of the expenditure incurred to
compensate for the stamping out measures and for cleansing and
disinfections from these two outbreaks range between €101 and €174
million, not including the cost to the whole poultry industry. It is
believed that the proposed measures would have prevented at least one of
the outbreaks.

In recent years, the number of AI outbreaks has increased significantly
in the world. Especially, the ongoing outbreaks of HPAI from H5N1 virus
strains throughout South-East Asia have alarmed international
organizations such as FAO, WHO and OIE, because of the potential risk
for a human influenza pandemic. Already, this animal health problem is
estimated to have turned into a serious human health concern, which
needs increased attention.

**Visit our website:** our website
**[www.useu.be/agri/usda.html]{.underline}** provides a broad range of
useful information on EU import rules and food laws and allows easy
access to USEU reports, trade information and other practical
information. E-mail: AgUSEUBrussels@usda.gov

**Related reports from USEU Brussels:**

  --------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------
  **Report        **Title**                                **Date
  Number**                                                 Released**

  E34084          EU Approves €188 Million to Fight Animal 11/05/2004
                  Diseases in 2005                         

  E24050          Contingency Plans for the case of an     3/10/2004
                  outbreak of Avian Influenza in the EU    

  E24036          EU bans US poultry over Avian Influenza  2/25/2004
  --------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------

[^1]: http://europa.eu.int/comm/food/animal/diseases/controlmeasures/avian/directive_avian_en.pdf