2000D0666 — EN — 16.04.2002 — 002.001 — 1
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►B COMMISSIONDECISION
of16October2000
laying down the animal health requirements and the veterinary certification for the import of
birds,otherthanpoultryandtheconditionsforquarantine
(notified under document number C(2000) 3012)
(TextwithEEArelevance)
(2000/666/EC)
(OJ L 278, 31.10.2000, p. 26)
Amended by:
Official Journal
No page date
►M1Commission Decision 2001/383/EC of 3 May 2001 L 137 28 19.5.2001
►M2Commission Decision 2002/279/EC of 12 April 2002 L 99 17 16.4.2002
▼B
COMMISSIONDECISION
of16October 2000
laying down the animal health requirements and the veterinary
certification for the import of birds, other than poultry and the
conditionsforquarantine
(notified under document number C(2000) 3012)
(TextwithEEArelevance)
(2000/666/EC)
THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,
Having regard to Council Directive 92/65/EEC of 13 July 1992 laying
down animal health requirements governing trade and imports into the
Community of animals, semen, ova and embryos not subject to animal
health requirements laid down in specific Community rules referred toin Annex A(I) to Directive 90/425/EEC(
1) as last amended by
Commission Decision 95/176/EC(2) and in particular Article 17 para-
graph 2(b) and 3 and Article 18 paragraph 1, first end fourth indentsthereof,
Whereas:
(1)It is necessary to lay down the animal health conditions and the
certification requirements for imports of birds other than poultry
from certain third countries.
(2)After their entry onto the territory of the Community birds otherthan poultry shall be quarantined in accordance with Article 7paragraph A number 1(c) of Directive 92/65/EEC in quarantinefacilities or centres in the Community before being placed onthe market. Special conditions for the approval of quarantinefacilities or centres for birds have to be laid down.
(3)A positive finding for avian influenza or Newcastle disease orthe confirmation of these diseases in the quarantined birds or
the sentinel chickens shall not be reported as an outbreak within
the context of Council Directive 82/894/EEC(
3) on the notifica-
tion of animal diseases within the Community, but shouldnevertheless be reported to the Commission.
(4)Candidate countries for exporting birds to the Community mustbe members of the Office International des Epizooties (OIE.)and must comply with the general requirements of the sectionon veterinary ethics and certification for international trade.
(5)The measures provided for in this Decision have followed thenotification procedure of the Agreement on the Application ofthe Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures (SPS) laid down within
the framework of the World Trade Organisation (WTO).
(6)The measures provided for in this Decision are in accordancewith the opinion of the Standing Veterinary Committee,
HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:
Article 1
For the purposes of this Decision, the definitions of Council Directive
92/40/EEC(4) shall apply for avian influenza and Council Directive 92/
66/EEC(5) for Newcastle disease.2000D0666 — EN — 16.04.2002 — 002.001 — 2
(1) OJ L 268, 14.9.1992, p. 54.
(2) OJ L 117, 24.5.1995, p. 23.
(3) OJ L 378, 31.12.1982, p. 58.
(4) OJ L 167, 22.6.1992, p. 2.
(5) OJ L 260, 5.9.1992, p. 2.
▼B
In addition:
— ‘quarantine facility’ means premises which are separated from
poultry holdings and other bird holdings by a reasonable distance,when taking into account the epidemiology of Newcastle diseaseand avian influenza as regards airborne spread, and in which quar-antine of imported birds is carried out on an ‘all-in, all-out’ basis,
— ‘quarantine centre’ means premises containing a number of units,
which are operationa!ly and physically separated from each otherand in which each unit contains only birds of the same consign-
ment, with the same health status and being therefore one
epidemiological unit; and within each unit of which the quarantineof imported birds is carried out on an ‘all-in, all-out’ basis; andwhich are separated from poultry holdings and other bird holdingsby a reasonable distance, when taking into account the epide-
miology of Newcastle disease and avian influenza as regards
airborne spread,
— ‘birds’ mean: animals of avian species not covered by Article 2
number 1 of Council Directive 90/539/EEC(
1) excluding birds
referred to in Article 1 third paragraph (relating to pet birds accom-panying their owner) and Article 19 of Directive 92/65/EEC(relating to birds for zoos, circuses, amusement parks and experi-mental laboratories),
— ‘sentinel chickens’ mean poultry which are to be used as a diag-
nostic aid during quarantine.
This decision shall not apply to birds taken directly from the wild for
conservation programmes approved by the competent authority in theMember State of destination.
Article 2
Member States shall authorise the import of birds from countries listed
in Annex D to this Decision only if:
1. they originate from holdings which are registered by the competent
authority of the exporting country;
2. they are accompanied by an animal health certificate as laid down in
Annex A;
3. they are transported in cages or crates which are individually identi-
fied with the identification number that must correspond with the
identification number indicated on the animal health certificate;
4.►
M2the birds are transported to an approved quarantine facility or
centre which appears on the list as laid down in Article 2(5) and theimporter has provided written information in the language of the
Member State of entry by the responsible person for the quarantine
facility or centre that the birds will be accepted for quarantine. Thisinformation shall clearly indicate the name and address and approvalnumber of the quarantine facility or centre and shall reach theborder inspection post via e-mail or fax prior to arrival of the
consignment at the border inspection post or shall be presented by
the importer or his agent before the birds are released from theborder inspection post; ◄
5. member States communicate the list of approval numbers of the
approved quarantine facilities or centres and the name andANIMO-number of the responsible Local Veterinary Unit to theother Member States and to the Commission as well as changes tothat list, in accordance with the provisions of Decision 2001/106/EC.2000D0666 — EN — 16.04.2002 — 002.001 — 3
(1) OJ L 303, 31.10.1990, p. 6.▼M2
▼B
Article 3
1. The birds shall be transported directly from the border inspection
post to an approved quarantine facility or centre in cages or crates,without prejudice to Council Directive 91/628/EEC(
1).
2. Following the inspection of the birds the crates or cages or the
transport vehicle must be sealed by the official responsible for the
border inspection post in such a way as to avoid any possibility ofsubstitution of the contents during transport to the quarantine facilityor centre.
3. The birds must be quarantined for at least 30 days in an approved
quarantine facility or centre.
4. A quarantine facility or centre for imported birds shall be
approved by the competent authority in accordance with the conditions
laid down in Annex B. ►
M2This approval shall be withdrawn when
these conditions cease to be met. ◄
5. At least at the beginning and at the end of quarantine of each
consignment the official veterinarian shall inspect the quarantine provi-
sions including an examination of the mortality records and a clinicalinspection of the birds in each unit of the quarantine centre or in thequarantine facility. The official veterinarian or an authorised veteri-narian must carry out inspection more frequently if the diseasesituation requires it.
Article 4
1. After the birds have been placed in quarantine, the sampling and
testing of the birds and/or the sentinel chickens, as set out in Annex C,
shall be carried out.
2. When sentinel chickens are used they must be used only once, be
unvaccinated, have been found sero-negative for Newcastle Disease
and avian influenza ►
M2within◄14 days before the start of quar-
antine, be at least three weeks old, be placed in the quarantine unitbefore the arrival of the birds, be leg-banded for identification purposesor identified with another non-removable identification and placed inthe quarantine unit as close as possible to the birds in such a way thatcontact between the sentinel chickens and the excrements of the quar-
antine birds is ensured. A minimum of four sentinel chickens must be
used in the quarantine facility or in each unit of the quarantine centre.
3. If during quarantine as provided for in Article 3 it is suspected
that one or more birds are infected with avian influenza or Newcastle
disease, samples for virological examination as set out in Annex C(2)
shall be taken from birds in the facility or suspect unit and shall beanalysed accordingly.
4. If during quarantine as provided for in Article 3 one or more
birds or the sentinel chickens are found to be infected with avian influ-enza or Newcastle disease the following rules apply:
(a) all birds of the infected quarantine facility or unit have to be killed
and destroyed;
(b) the infected quarantine facility or unit has to be cleaned and disin-
fected;
(c) in the case of quarantine centres, not earlier than 21 days after final
cleansing and disinfection, samples for serological examination
shall be taken from sentinel chickens in the other quarantine units;or
(d) in the case of quarantine centres, where no sentinel chickens are
used, during 7 to 15 days after final cleaning and disinfection,samples for virological examination have to be taken from birdsin the other quarantine units;2000D0666 — EN — 16.04.2002 — 002.001 — 4
(1) OJ L 340, 11.12.1991, p. 17.
▼B
(e) no birds shall leave the quarantine centre until the results of the
sampling described in the previous indents have been confirmedas negative;
(f) no birds shall enter the previously infected quarantine facility or
unit until 21 days after the final cleaning and disinfection.
5. By way of derogation from paragraph 4 the competent authority
may decide that after positive findings for Newcastle disease in one ormore birds or in the sentinel chickens that the birds need not be
destroyed, if, at least 30 days after the death or clinical recovery of
the last case, sampling according to Annex C(1)(B) (ignoring the refer-ence to the time period specified) has been carried out with negativeresults. The birds may not be released from quarantine before at least60 days have elapsed after the clinical signs of Newcastle disease have
disappeared. Any matter or waste likely to be contaminated has to be
destroyed in such a way that guarantees the destruction of anyNewcastle disease virus present as well as all the waste that has accu-mulated during the 60-day period. The Commission shall be informedof the measures taken in each case.
Article 5
If during quarantine as provided for in Article 3 it is suspected or
confirmed that psittaciformes are infected with Chlamydia psittaci all
birds of the consignment must be treated by a method approved by
the competent authority and the quarantine must be prolonged for at
least two months following the last recorded case.
Article 6
Psittaciformes must be identified individually at arrival in quarantine in
accordance with Chapter 2B of Annex B. These identification numbersmust be listed in the records which have to be kept according to Article7.
Article 7
The management provisions of the quarantine centre or facility
including the disposal of waste materials and the keeping of recordsmust be in accordance with the requirements of, Chapter 2A of Annex
B.
Article 8
All quarantine costs occasioned by the application of the present Deci-
sion shall be borne by the importer.
Article 9
Birds can be released from quarantine only on written authorisation by
an official veterinarian.
Article 10
This Decision shall apply as from ►
M11 November 2001 ◄.
Article 11
This Decision is adressed to all the Member States.2000D0666 — EN — 16.04.2002 — 002.001 — 5
▼M2
ANNEX A
2000D0666 — EN — 16.04.2002 — 002.001 — 6
▼M2
2000D0666 — EN — 16.04.2002 — 002.001 — 7
▼M2
2000D0666 — EN — 16.04.2002 — 002.001 — 8
▼B
ANNEX B
MINIMUM CONDITIONS FOR THE APPROVAL OF QUARANTINE
FACILITIESANDCENTRESFORBIRDS
CHAPTER 1
Constructionandequipmentofthequarantinefacilityorcentre
1. The quarantine facility or centre must be a separate building which is sepa-
rated from poultry holdings and other bird holdings by a reasonable distance
when taking into account the epidemiology of Newcastle disease and avian
influenza as regards airborne spread. Entry/exit doors should be lockable
with signs indicating: ‘QUARANTINE — No admission for unauthorised
persons’.
2. Each quarantine unit of the centre must occupy a separate airspace.3. The quarantine facility or centre must be bird, fly and vermin proof and
sealable so as to permit fumigation.
4. The facility or each quarantine unit has to be equipped with handwashing
facilities.
5. Entry and exit doors to the facility and to each quarantine unit must be
double door systems.
6. Hygiene barriers have to be installed at all entrances/exits to the facility and
the different units.
7. All equipment must be constructed in a way that it can be cleansed and
disinfected.
8. The feed store must be bird and rodent proof and should be protected
against insects.
9. A container must be available to store litter and must be bird and rodent
proof.
10. A refrigerator and/or freezer must be provided for holding carcases.
CHAPTER 2
A.Managementprovisions
1. Quarantine facilities or centres must:
— have an efficient control system so as to ensure adequate surveillance of
the animals,
— be under the control and responsibility of the official veterinarian,
— be cleaned and disinfected in accordance with a programme approved by
the competent authority after which there shall be an appropriate resting
period; the disinfectants used must be approved for the purpose by the
competent authority.
2. An ‘all-in, all-out’ policy must be followed in each quarantine facility or
quarantine unit.
3. Precautions should be taken to prevent cross-contamination between
incoming and outgoing consignments.
4. No unauthorised persons may enter the quarantine facility.5. Persons entering the quarantine facility must wear protective clothing
including footwear.
6. No contacts of personnel shall take place, which may cause contamination
between units.
7. Appropriate equipment has to be available for cleaning and disinfection.8. Cleansing and disinfection of the cages or crates used for the transport must
be carried out at the quarantine facility or centre unless they are destroyed.
If reused, they have to be made of a material that allows effective cleaning
and disinfection. The cages and crates have to be destroyed in such a way
so as to avoid spread of disease agents.
9. Litter and waste material has to be collected regularly, stored in the litter
container and subsequently has to be treated in such a way as to avoid
spread of disease-causing agents.2000D0666 — EN — 16.04.2002 — 002.001 — 9
▼B
10. Carcases of dead birds must be examined in an official laboratory desig-
nated by the competent authority.
11. The necessary analyses and treatments must be carried out in consultation
with and under the control of the official veterinarian.
12. The official veterinarian must be informed of diseases and death of birds
and/or sentinel chickens during the quarantine period.
13. The person in charge of the facility or centre must keep a record of:
(a) the date, number and species of birds entering and leaving for each
consignment,
(b) copies of the health and border crossing certificates accompanying the
imported birds,
(c) individual identification numbers of psittaciformes,
(d) any significant observation: cases of illness and number of deaths on a
daily basis,
(e) dates and results of testing; type and dates of treatment,
(f) persons entering the quarantine centre.
14. This record has to be kept for at least one year.
B.Identificationofpsittaciformes
Individual identification of psittaciformes shall be carried out on arrival in quar-
antine by means of a leg-ring or a microchip.
1. The leg-ring shall be tamper-proof and its diameter shall be adequate for the
species.
2. The leg-ring or the microchipshall bear at least the following information:
(a) the ISO code of the Member State performing the identification;
(b) a unique serial number.
3. An appropriate microchip reader if identification by microchipping is used
must be available at the quarantine facility or centre.
4. The details of the type of microchip and the reader used shall be recorded.2000D0666 — EN — 16.04.2002 — 002.001 — 10
▼B
ANNEX C
EXAMINATION, SAMPLING ANDTESTING PROCED URES FOR
NEWCASTLEDISEASEANDAVIANINFLUENZA
1. During quarantine either the sentinel chickens or if sentinel chickens are not
used the imported birds must be subjected to the following procedures:
A. With use of sentinel chickens:
(i) blood samples for serological examination must be taken from all
sentinel chickens not less then 21 days after the imported birds
entered quarantine and at least three days before the end of the quar-
antine period;
(ii) if sentinel chickens show positive or inconclusive serological results
the imported birds must be subjected to virological examination.
Cloacal swabs (or faeces) must be taken from all birds if the consign-
ment is less than 60, or from 60 birds from larger consignments.
B. Without use of sentinel chickens:
imported birds have to be examined virologically (serological testing is.
not appropriate). Cloacal swabs (or faeces) must be taken from all birds
if the consignment is less than 60 or from 60 birds from larger consign-
ments during the first 7 to 15 days of the quarantine period.
2. In addition to the testing set out in 1A or B the following samples for viro-
logical examination have to be taken:
(i) cloacal swabs (or faeces) and tracheal swabs (if possible) from clinically
ill birds or ill sentinel chickens;
(ii) from the intestinal contents, brain, trachea, lungs, liver, spleen, kidneys
and other obviously affected organs as soon as possible after the death
from either;
— dead sentinel chickens and all birds dead on arrival and those which
die during quarantine,
or
— in the case of high mortality in small birds of large consignments
from at least 10 % of the dead birds.
3. All virological and serological testing of samples taken during quarantine
must be carried out in official laboratories designated by the competent
authority using diagnostic procedures according to Annex III to Directive
92/66/EEC and Annex III to Directive 92/40/EEC. For virological examina-
tion pooling of samples up to a maximum of five samples of individual birds
in one pool is allowed. Faecal material must be pooled separately from other
organ and tissue samples.
4. Virus isolates must be submitted to the national reference laboratory.2000D0666 — EN — 16.04.2002 — 002.001 — 11
▼B
ANNEX D
LIST OF THIRDCOUNTRIES WHICH CAN USE THE ANIMAL
HEALTHCERTIFICATEINANNEXA
Countries listed as members of the Office International des Epizooties OIE. in
the OIE. Bulletin.2000D0666 — EN — 16.04.2002 — 002.001 — 12