2002D0975 — EN — 17.06.2003 — 001.001 — 1
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►B COMMISSIONDECISION
of12December 2002
on introducing vaccination to supplement the measures to control infections with low pathogenic
avianinfluenzainItalyandonspecific movementcontrolmeasures
(notified under document number C(2002) 5051)
(TextwithEEArelevance)
(2002/975/EC)
(OJ L 337, 13.12.2002, p. 87)
Amended by:
Official Journal
No page date
►M1CommissionDecision2003/436/EC of 16 Jun e 2003 L 149 33 17.6.2003
▼B
COMMISSIONDECISION
of12December 2002
on introducing vaccination to supplement the measures to control
infections with low pathogenic avian influenza in Italy and on
specific movementcontrolmeasures
(notified under document number C(2002) 5051)
(TextwithEEArelevance)
(2002/975/EC)
THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,
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 tothe completion of the internal market (
1), as last amended by Directive
2002/33/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council (2), and in
particular Article 10(4) thereof,
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 (3), as last amended by Directive
92/118/EEC (4), and in particular Article 9(4) thereof,
Having regard to Council Directive 92/40/EEC introducing Community
measures for the control of avian influenza (5), and in particular Article
16 thereof,
Whereas:
(1)During 1999 and 2000 Italy has experienced outbreaks of highly
pathogenic avian influenza of subtype H7N1 with devastating
economic losses for the poultry industry. Prior to the epidemica virus of low pathogenicity had been circulating in the area.
(2)During monitoring for avian influenza the presence of lowpathogenic avian influenza virus of subtype H7N3 was detectedin the regions of Veneto and Lombardia in October 2002.
(3)Currently the control of low pathogenic avian influenza infec-
tions is not covered by Community legislation.
(4)The Italian competent veterinary authorities have taken control
measures to avoid the spread of disease to other areas; howeverthe infection cannot be contained sufficiently.
(5)Low pathogenic virus may mutate to highly pathogenic virus andmay cause severe disease outbreaks.
(6)During the previous avian influenza epidemic in Italy a vaccina-
tion programme was approved by the Commission in connection
with intensive monitoring and certain provisions for intra-Community trade in live poultry and poultry products.
(7)As a follow-up of the vaccination campaign certain measuresconcerning movement restrictions for intra-Community trade oflive poultry and poultry products were maintained by the adop-
tionof CommissionDecision2002/552/EC (
6).
(8)The experience of the Italian vaccination campaign suggests that
this has successfully stopped the spread of the low pathogenicavian influenza virus.2002D0975 — EN — 17.06.2003 — 001.001 — 2
(1) OJ L 224, 18.8.1990, p. 29.
(2) OJ L 315, 19.11.2002, p. 14.
(3) OJ L 395, 30.12.1989, p. 13.
(4) OJ L 62, 15.3.1993, p. 49.
(5) OJ L 167, 22.6.1992, p. 1.
(6) OJ L 180, 10.7.2002, p. 24.
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(9)Avian influenza virus subtype H7N3 is responsible for the
current infections, whereas the previous epidemic was caused
by anH7N1 virus subtype.
(10)The infection occurs at present in an area of Italy with densepoultry population.
(11)In this context vaccination can be an effective tool to supplementdisease control measures against avian influenza.
(12)Where vaccination against avian influenza is practised move-ment restrictions for vaccinated poultry have to be implemented.
(13)Italy has presented a vaccination programme to supplement themeasures to control avian influenza in a limited area of Italyincluding specific movement restrictions.
(14)Italy has authorised the use of two inactivated vaccines againstavian influenza for the implementation of the programme. Forthe initial phase a homologous vaccine is obtained from themaster seed strain CK/Pak/1995-H7N3 and for the followingperiod starting from early 2003 a heterologous vaccine with themaster seed strainA/CK/Italy/AG-473/1999-H7N1 shall be used.
(15)Within a technical working group meeting the vaccinationprogramme presented by Italy was reviewed.
(16)Monitoring on vaccinated and unvaccinated poultry flocks shallbe continued including the use of the serological test (iIFA-test)which had beenapproved by CommissionDecision2001/847/EC (
1).
(17)Italy shall introduce specific movement restrictions related tovaccination of poultry and to intra-Community trade.
(18)For reasons of clarity Decision 2002/552/EC should be repealedas its provisions are superseded by this Decision.
(19)The measures provided for inthis Decisionare inaccordan ce
with the opinion of the Standing Committee on the Food Chain
and Animal Health,
HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:
Article 1
The vaccination programme against avian influenza presented by Italy
is hereby approved and shall be carried out in the area described inAnnex I.
Article 2
The restrictions on movements of live birds, hatching eggs, table eggs
and fresh poultry meat into, out of and within the area described in
Annex I shall apply as laid down in the vaccination programme
referred to inArticle 1.
Article 3
1. No live birds and hatching eggs coming from and/or originating
from the area described in Annex I shall be dispatched from Italy.
2. Live birds and hatching eggs coming from and/or originating
from the territory of Italy outside the area described in Annex I canonly be dispatched from Italy if:
— no contacts or other epidemiological links in relation to avian influ-
enza have been established between the holding of origin and witha holding or a hatchery situated in the area described in Annex I,and2002D0975 — EN — 17.06.2003 — 001.001 — 3
(1) OJ L 315, 1.12.2001, p. 61.
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— the holding of origin is not located in any of the restriction zones
established by the competent authority in relation with avian influ-enza.
3. No table eggs derived from poultry vaccinated against avian
influenza and originating from the area described in Annex I, shall bedispatched from Italy.
Article 4
Animal health certificates accompanying consignments of live birds
and hatching eggs from Italy shall include the words: ‘The animalhealth conditions of this consignment are in accordance with Decision
2002/975/EC’.
Article 5
1. Fresh meat of poultry must be marked inaccordan ce with Article
5 of Council Directive 91/494/EEC (
1) and shall not be dispatched from
Italy if it is derived from:
(a) poultry vaccinated against avian influenza;
(b) avian influenza seropositive poultry flocks destined for slaughter
under official control in accordance with the vaccination
programme referred to inArticle 1;
(c) poultry originating from holdings located in a restriction zone,
which shall be established based ona min imum radius of three
kilometres around any poultry farm infected with low pathogenicavian influenza in accordance with the provisions laid down in thevaccination programme referred to in Article 1.
2. By derogationfrom paragraph 1(a) an d (b), fresh meat from
turkeys vaccinated against avian influenza with a heterologous vaccineof subtype (H7N1) shall not be marked in accordance with Article 5 ofCouncil Directive 91/494/EEC and can be dispatched to other MemberStates, provided that the meat comes from slaughter turkey flocks
which:
(i) have been regularly inspected and tested with negative results for
avian influenza as laid down in the approved vaccination
programme, with particular attention to be paid to the sentinelbirds.
For the testing of:
— vaccinated birds, the iIFA-test shall be used,
— sentinel birds, either the Haemagglutination-Inhibition Test
(HI), the AGID-test or the ELISA-test shall be used. However,
the iIFA-test shall also be used if necessary;
(ii) have been clinically inspected by an official veterinarian within 48
hours before loading, with particular attention to be paid to thesentinel birds;
(iii) have been tested serologically with negative results at the National
Laboratory for avian influenza, by using the sampling and testingprocedure laid down in Annex II to this Decision;
(iv) must be sent directly to a slaughterhouse designated by the compe-
tent authority and be slaughtered immediately after arrival. The
birds shall be kept separated from other flocks not complying
with the present provisions.
3. Fresh turkey meat fulfilling the requirements as set out in para-
graph 2 shall be accompanied by the health certificate laid down in
Annex VI of Directive 71/118/EEC (
2), which shall include under point
IV(a) of the certificate the following attestation of the official veteri-narian:2002D0975 — EN — 17.06.2003 — 001.001 — 4
(1) OJ L 268, 24.9.1991, p. 35.
(2) OJ L 55, 8.3.1971, p. 23.
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‘The turkey meat described above is inaccordan ce with Decision
2002/975/EC’.
Article 6
Italy shall ensure that in the area described in Annex I:1. Only disposable packaging material, or packaging material which
can be effectively washed and disinfected, is used for the collection,
storage and transport of table eggs.
2. All means of transport used for transporting poultry, hatching eggs,
table eggs and poultry feedstuff must be cleaned and disinfectedimmediately before and after each transport with disinfectants in
accordance with the methods of use approved by the competent
authority.
Article 7
Movements of live poultry and hatching eggs coming from areas of
Italy outside the area described in Annex I to other Member Statesshall only be allowed following five days advance notification to thecentral and local veterinary authorities of destination. The notificationshall be dispatched by the competent veterinary authority.
Article 8
1. Italy shall notify to the Commission and to other Member States
the date of the commencement of the vaccination, at least one day inadvance.
2. The provisions of the Articles 2 to 7 shall be enforced from the
date of the commencement of the vaccination.
Article 9
1. Italy shall, at six-month intervals, present a report containing
information on the effectiveness of the vaccination programme referredto inArticle 1.
2. This Decision, and in particular the period of time during which
the movement restrictions provided for in Articles 2 to 7 shall continueto apply after the completionof the vaccin ationprogramme, shall bereviewed accordingly.
Article 10
Decision2002/552/EC is repealed.
Article 11
This Decisionis addressed to the Member States.2002D0975 — EN — 17.06.2003 — 001.001 — 5
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ANNEX I
VACCINATION ZONE
VenetoRegion
Verona Province
The vaccination zone comprises the territory of the following municipalities:
Albaredo d'Adige
AngiariArcoleBelfioreBevilacquaBonavigoBoschi Sant'AnnaBovoloneBussolengoButtapietraCalmiero area to the south of the A4 motorwayCasaleoneCastel d'AzzanoCastelnuovo del Garda area to the south of the A4 motorwayCereaCologna VenetaColognola ai Colli area to the south of the A4 motorwayConcamariseErbèGazzo VeroneseIsola della ScalaIsola RizzaLavagno area to the south of the A4 motorwayMinerbeMonteforte d'Alpone area to the south of the A4 motorwayMozzecaneNogaraNogarole RoccaOppeano
Palù
PescantinaPeschiera del Garda area to the south of the A4 motorwayPovegliano VeronesePressanaRonco all'AdigeRoverchiaraRoveredo di GuàS. Bonifacio area to the south of the A4 motorwayS. Giovanni Lupatoto area to the south of the A4 motorwayS. Martino Buon Albergo area to the south of the A4 motorwayS. Pietro di MorubioSalizzoleSanguinettoSoave area to the south of the A4 motorwaySommacampagna2002D0975 — EN — 17.06.2003 — 001.001 — 6
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Sona
Sorgà
Trevenzuolo
Valeggio sul MincioVerona area to the south of the A4 motorway
Veronella
Vigasio
Villafranca di Verona
Zevio
Zimella
Vicenza Province
The vaccination zone comprises the territory of the following municipalities:Agugliaro
AlbettoneAlonte
Asigliano Veneto
Barbarano Vicentino
Campiglia dei Berici
Castegnero
Lonigo
Montegalda
Montegaldella
Mossano
Nanto
Noventa VicentinaOrgiano
Poiana Maggiore
S. Germano dei Berici
Sossano
Villaga
Padova Province
The vaccination zone comprises the territory of the following municipalities:Carceri
Casale di Scodosia
Este
Lozzo Atestino
Megliadino S. Fidenzio
Megliadino S. Vitale
Montagnana
Ospedaletto Euganeo
Ponso
S. Margherita d'Adige
Saletto
Urbana
LombardiaRegion
Mantova Province
The vaccination zone comprises the territory of the following municipalities:Acquanegra Sul Chiese
Asola
Bigarello2002D0975 — EN — 17.06.2003 — 001.001 — 7
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Canneto Sull'oglio
CasalmoroCasaloldo
Casalromano
Castel D'arioCastel GoffredoCastelbelforteCastiglione Delle StiviereCavrianaCeresaraGazoldo Degli IppolitiGoitoGuidizzoloMariana MantovanaMarmiroloMedoleMonzambanoPiubega
Ponti Sul Mincio
Porto MantovanoRedondescoRodigoRoncoferraroRoverbellaSanGiorgio Di Man tovaSolferinoVillimpentaVolta Mantovana
Brescia Province
The vaccination zone comprises the territory of the following municipalities:
Acquafredda
AlfianelloAzzano MellaBagnolo MellaBarbarigaBassano BrescianoBerlingoBorgo SanGiacomoBorgosatollo
Brandico
Brescia area to the south of the A4 motorwayCalcinato area to the south of the A4 motorwayCalvisanoCapriano del ColleCarpendoloCastegnato area to the south of the A4 motorwayCastel MellaCastelcovatiCastenedolo area to the south of the A4 motorwayCastrezzatoCazzago SanMartin oChiariCigole2002D0975 — EN — 17.06.2003 — 001.001 — 8
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Boccaglio
CologneComezzano-CizzagoCorzano
Dello
Desenzano del Garda area to the south of the A4 motorwayErbusco area to the south of the A4 motorwayFiesseFlero
Gambara
GhediGottolengoIsorella
Leno
LogratoLonato area to the south of the A4 motorwayLonghenaMaclodio
Mairano
ManerbioMilzanoMontichiari
Montirone
OfflagaOrzinuoviOrzivecchiOspitaletto area to the south of the A4 motorway
Palazzolo sull'Oglio area to the south of the A4 motorway
Pavone del MellaPompianoPoncarale
Pontevico
PontoglioPozzolengo area to the south of the A4 motorwayPralboino
Quinzano d'Oglio
RemedelloRezzato area to the south of the A4 motorwayRoccafrancaRoncadelle area to the south of the A4 motorway
Rovato area to the south of the A4 motorway
RudianoSanGervasio Brescian oSanPaolo
SanZen o Naviglio
SenigaTorbole CasagliaTravagliatoTrenzano
Urago d'Oglio
VerolanuovaVerolavecchiaVillachiara
Visano2002D0975 — EN — 17.06.2003 — 001.001 — 9
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Bergamo Province
The vaccination zone comprises the territory of the following municipalities:
Antegnate
Bagnatica area to the south of the A4 motorway
Barbata
BarianoBolgare area to the south of the A4 motorwayCalcinate
Calcio
Castelli Calepio area to the south of the A4 motorwayCavernago
Cividale al Piano
Cologno al SerioCortenuovaCosta di Mezzate area to the south of the A4 motorway
Covo
Fara Olivana con SolaFontanellaGhisalba
Grumello del Monte area to the south of the A4 motorway
IssoMartinengo
Morengo
Mornico al SerioPagazzanoPalosco
Pumenengo
Romano di LombardiaSeriate area to the south of the A4 motorway
Telgate area to the south of the A4 motorway
Torre Pallavicina
Cremona Province
The vaccination zone comprises the territory of the following municipalities:
Camisano
Casale Cremasco-Vidolasco
Casaletto di Sopra
Castel GabbianoSoncino2002D0975 — EN — 17.06.2003 — 001.001 — 10
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ANNEX II
SAMPLINGANDTESTINGPROCEDURE
1.Introductionandgeneral use
The developed indirect Immunofluorescence Assay (iIFA-test) is aimed at the
differentiation between vaccinated/field exposed and vaccinated/non field
exposed turkeys in the framework of a ‘DIVA’ (Differentiating Infected
from Vaccinated Animals) vaccination strategy using a heterologous subtype
vaccine from the H7N3 field virus subtype.
2.Useofthetestforthepurposeofdispatchingfreshturkeymeatfromthe
vaccinationareainItalytootherMemberStates
Meat originating from turkey flocks vaccinated against avian influenza may
be dispatched to other Member States provided that:
Blood samples shall be taken by the official veterinarian:
— from each group of turkeys destined for slaughter, which are kept in the
same building of the holding in question,
— within 48 hours before sending the animals to the slaughterhouse,— from at least 10 vaccinated animals chosen at random from each group.2002D0975 — EN — 17.06.2003 — 001.001 — 11