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            COMMISSION DECISION         

of 13 February 2006         

concerning certain interim protection measures in relation to suspected cases of highly pathogenic avian influenza in wild birds in Italy

(notified under document number C(2006) 491)

(Only the Italian text is authentic)

(2006/90/EC)

THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,

Having regard to Council Directive 89/662/EEC of 11 December 1989 concerning veterinary checks in intra-Community trade with a view to the completion of the internal market (1), and in particular Article 9(3) thereof,

Having regard to Council Directive 90/425/EEC of 26 June 1990 concerning veterinary and zootechnical checks applicable in intra-Community trade in certain live animals and products with a view to the completion of the internal market (2), and in particular Article 10(3) thereof,

Having regard to Regulation (EC) No 998/2003 of 26 May 2003 of the European Parliament and of the Council on the animal health requirements applicable to the non-commercial movement of pet animals and amending Council Directive 92/65/EEC (3), and in particular Article 18 thereof,

Whereas:

HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:

Article 1

Subject matter, scope and definitions

1.   This Decision lays down certain interim protection measures in relation to highly pathogenic avian influenza in wild birds in Italy caused by influenza A virus of subtype H5 suspected to be of the neuraminidase type N1, in order to prevent the spread of avian influenza from wild birds to poultry or other captive birds as well as the contamination of products thereof.

2.   Except as otherwise provided, the definitions of Directive 2005/94/EC shall apply. In addition, the following definitions shall apply:

Article 2

Establishment of protection and surveillance zones

1.   Italy shall establish around the area where the presence of highly pathogenic avian influenza caused by influenza A virus of subtype H5 in wild birds is confirmed and the neuraminidase type N1 is either suspected or confirmed:

2.   The establishment of the protection and surveillance zones referred to in paragraph 1 shall take account of geographical, administrative, ecological and epizootiological factors relating to avian influenza, and of monitoring facilities.

3.   If the protection or surveillance zones cover the territories of other Member States, Italy shall collaborate with the authorities of those Member States to establish the zones.

4.   Italy shall notify to the Commission and to the other Member States the details of any protection and surveillance zones established under this Article.

Article 3

Measures in the protection zone

1.   Italy shall ensure that at least the following measures are applied in the protection zone:

2.   Italy shall ensure that the following are prohibited in the protection zone:

Article 4

Measures in the surveillance zone

1.   Italy shall ensure that at least the following measures are applied in the surveillance zone:

2.   Italy shall ensure that the following are prohibited in the surveillance zone:

Article 5

Duration of the measures

If the neuraminidase type is confirmed as being different from N1, the measures provided for in Articles 3 and 4 shall be abolished.

If the presence of an influenza A virus of the subtype H5N1 in wild birds is confirmed, the measures provided for in Articles 3 and 4 shall apply for as long as is necessary having regard to the geographical, administrative, ecological and epizootiological factors relating to avian influenza and for at least 21 in the case of the protection zone and 30 days in the case of the surveillance zone after the date on which an H5 avian influenza virus collected from a clinical case in wild birds has been isolated.

Article 6

Derogations for live birds and day-old chicks

1.   By way of derogation from Article 3(2)(a), Italy may authorise the transport of ready-to-lay pullets and turkeys for fattening to holdings under official control situated either in the protection or in the surveillance zone.

2.   By way of derogation from Article 3(2)(a) or Article 4(2)(a), Italy may authorise the transport of:

Article 7

Derogations for hatching eggs

1.   By way of derogation from Article 3(2)(d), Italy may authorise:

2.   The animal health certificates in accordance with Model 1 of Annex IV to Council Directive 90/539/EEC accompanying consignments of hatching eggs referred to in paragraph 1(b) dispatched to other Member States shall include the words:

                  ‘The animal health conditions of this consignment are in accordance with Commission Decision 2006/90/EC.’               

Article 8

Derogations for meat, minced meat, meat preparations and meat products

1.   By way of derogation from Article 3(2)(e), Italy may authorise the dispatch from the protection zone of:

2.   Italy shall ensure that the products referred to in paragraph 1(e) and (f) are accompanied by a commercial document stating:

                  ‘The animal health conditions of this consignment are in accordance with Commission Decision 2006/90/EC.’               

Article 9

Conditions for animal by-products

1.   In accordance with Article 3(1)(e), Italy may authorise the dispatch of:

2.   Italy shall ensure that the products referred to in paragraph 1(b) and (c) are accompanied by a commercial document in accordance with Chapter X of Annex II to Regulation (EC) No 1774/2002 stating in point 6.1 of that document that those products have been treated with a steam current or by some other method ensuring that no pathogens remains.

However, that commercial document shall not be required for processed decorative feathers, processed feathers carried by travellers for their private use or consignments of processed feathers sent to private individuals for non-industrial purposes.

Article 10

Conditions for movements

1.   Where movements of animals or products thereof covered by this Decision are authorised under Articles 6 to 9, all appropriate biosecurity measures shall be taken to avoid the spread of avian influenza.

2.   Where the dispatch, movement or transport of products referred to in paragraph 1 are authorised under Articles 7, 8 and 9, they must be obtained, handled, treated, stored and transported separately from other products fulfilling all the animal health requirements for trade, placing on the market or export to third countries.

Article 11

Compliance

Italy shall immediately take the necessary measures to comply with this Decision and publish those measures. It shall immediately inform the Commission thereof.

Article 12

Addressee

This Decision is addressed to the Italian Republic.

Done at Brussels, 13 February 2006.

For the Commission

Markos KYPRIANOU            

Member of the Commission

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(1)OJ L 395, 30.12.1989, p. 13. Directive as last amended by Directive 2004/41/EC (OJ L 157, 30.4.2004, p. 33).

(2)OJ L 224, 18.8.1990, p. 29. Directive as last amended by Directive 2002/33/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council (OJ L 315, 19.11.2002, p. 14).

(3)OJ L 146, 13.6.2003, p. 1. Regulation as last amended by Commission Regulation (EC) No 18/2006 (OJ L 4, 7.1.2006, p. 3).

(4)OJ L 167, 22.6.1992, p. 1. Directive as last amended by Regulation (EC) No 806/2003.

(5)OJ L 10, 14.1.2006, p. 16.

(6)OJ L 303, 31.10.1990, p. 6. Directive as last amended by the 2003 Act of Accession.

(7)OJ L 139, 30.4.2004, p. 206; corrected version in OJ L 226, 25.6.2004, p. 83. Regulation as last amended by Commission Regulation (EC) No 2076/2005 (OJ L 338, 22.12.2005, p. 83).

(8)OJ L 146, 13.6.2003, p. 1. Regulation as last amended by Commission Regulation (EC) No 18/2006 (OJ L 4, 7.1.2006, p. 3).

(9)OJ L 274, 20.10.2005, p. 105. Decision as last amended by Decision 2005/855/EC (OJ L 316, 2.12.2005, p. 21).

(10)OJ L 273, 10.10.2002, p. 1. Regulation as last amended by Commission Regulation (EC) No 416/2005 (OJ L 66, 12.3.2005, p. 10).

(11)OJ L 268, 14.9.1992, p. 54. Directive as last amended by Directive 2004/68/EC (OJ L 139, 30.4.2004, p. 321).

(12)OJ L 139, 30.4.2004, p. 55; corrected version in OJ L 226, 25.6.2004, p. 22. Regulation as last amended by Commission Regulation (EC) No 2076/2005 (OJ L 338, 22.12.2005, p. 83).

(13)OJ L 18, 23.1.2003, p. 11.

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