EN Official Journal of the European Union L 44/25

COMMISSION DECISION

of 14 February 2006

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

(notified under document number C(2006) 517)

(Only the German text is authentic)

(2006/94/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:

(1) Avian influenza is an infectious viral disease in poultry and birds, causing mortality and disturbances which can quickly take epizootic proportions liable to present a serious threat to animal and public health and to reduce sharply the profitability of poultry farming. There is a risk that the disease agent might be spread from wild birds to domestic birds, notably poultry, and from one Member State to other Member States and third countries through the international trade in live birds or their products.

(2) Austria has informed the Commission about the isolation of an H5 avian influenza virus collected from a clinical case in wild birds. Pending the determination of the neuraminidase (N) type and of the pathogenicity index, the clinical picture and the epidemiological circumstances allow the suspicion of highly pathogenic avian influenza caused by influenza A virus of subtype H5N1.

(3) Austria has without undue delay implemented certain measures foreseen in the framework of Council Directive 92/40/EEC of 19 May 1992 introducing Community measures for the control of avian influenza (4).

(4) Given the disease risk, interim protection measures should be adopted in order to address the particular risks in different areas.

(5) In the interests of consistency, it is appropriate to apply for the purposes of this Decision certain definitions provided for in Council Directive 2005/94/EC of 20 December 2005 on Community measures for the control of avian influenza and repealing Directive 92/40/EEC (5), Council Directive 90/539/EEC of 15 October 1990 on animal health conditions governing intra-Community trade in, and imports from third countries of, poultry and hatching eggs (6), Regulation (EC) No 853/2004 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 29 April 2004 laying down specific hygiene rules for food of animal origin (7), Regulation (EC) No 998/2003 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 26 May 2003 on the animal health requirements applicable to the non-commercial movement of pet animals and amending Council Directive 92/65/EEC (8).

(6) Protection and surveillance zones should be established around the place where the disease was detected in wild birds. Those zones should be limited to what is necessary to prevent virus introduction into commercial and non-commercial poultry flocks.

(7) It is appropriate to control and restrict the movement of, in particular, live birds and hatching eggs while allowing the controlled dispatch from the zones of such birds and products of avian origin subject to certain conditions.

(8) The measures laid down in Commission Decision 2005/734/EC of 19 October 2005 laying down biosecurity measures to reduce the risk of transmission of highly pathogenic avian influenza caused by Influenza virus A subtype H5N1 from birds living in the wild to poultry and other captive birds and providing for an early detection system in areas at particular risk (9) should be implemented in protection and surveillance zones, independently of the defined risk status of the area where highly pathogenic avian influenza is suspected or confirmed in wild birds.

(9) Regulation (EC) No 1774/2002 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 3 October 2002 laying down health rules concerning animal by-products not intended for human consumption (10) authorises the placing on the market of a range of animal by-products, such as gelatine for technical use, materials for pharmaceutical use and others, originating in areas of the Community under animal health restrictions, because those products are considered safe due to the specific conditions of production, processing and utilisation that effectively inactivate possible pathogens or prevent contact with susceptible animals. It is therefore appropriate to permit the transport from protection zones of unprocessed used litter or manure for the purposes of treatment in accordance with that Regulation and of animal by-products complying with the conditions set out therein.

(10) Council Directive 92/65/EEC of 13 July 1992 laying down animal health requirements governing trade in and imports into the Community of animals, semen, ova and embryos not subject to animal health requirements laid down in specific Community rules referred to in Annex A (I) to Directive 90/425/EEC (11) provides for approved bodies, institutes and centres and a model certificate to accompany animals or their gametes between such approved premises in different Member States. A derogation from the transport restrictions should be envisaged for birds coming from and proceeding to bodies, institutes and centres approved in accordance with that Directive.

(11) Transport of hatching eggs from the protection zones should be permitted under certain conditions. The dispatch of hatching eggs to other countries may be permitted subject in particular to compliance with the conditions referred to in Directive 2005/94/EC. In such cases the animal health certificates provided for in accordance with Directive 90/539/EEC should include a reference to this Decision.

(12) The dispatch from protection zones of meat, minced meat, meat preparations and meat products should be permitted subject to certain conditions, in particular as regards compliance with certain requirements of Regulation (EC) No 853/2004 and of Regulation (EC) No 854/2004 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 29 April 2004 laying down specific rules for the organisation of official controls on products of animal origin intended for human consumption (12).

(13) Council Directive 2002/99/EC of 16 December 2002 laying down the animal health rules governing the production, processing, distribution and introduction of products of animal origin for human consumption (13) establishes a list of treatments rendering meat from restricted areas safe, and provides for the possibility to establish a specific health mark and the health mark required for meat not authorised for placing on the market for animal health reasons. It is appropriate to permit the dispatch from the protection zones of meat bearing the health mark provided for in that Directive and meat products subjected to treatment referred to therein.

(14) Pending the meeting of the Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health and in collaboration with the Member State concerned the Commission should take interim protection measures relating to highly pathogenic avian influenza in wild birds.

(15) The measures provided for in this Decision should be reviewed at the next meeting of the Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health,

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 Austria 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:

(a) ‘hatching eggs’ means eggs as defined in Article 2(2) of Directive 90/539/EEC;

(b) ‘wild feathered game’ means game as defined in point 1.5, second indent, and point 1.7 of Annex I to Regulation (EC) No 853/2004;

(c) ‘other captive birds’ means birds as defined in point 6 of Article 2 of Directive 2005/94/EC, including: (i) pet animals of the bird species as referred to in Article 3(a) of Regulation (EC) No 998/2003, and (ii) birds for zoos, circuses, amusement parks and experimental laboratories.

Article 2

Establishment of protection and surveillance zones

1. Austria 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:

(a) a protection zone with a radius of at least three kilometres, and

(b) a surveillance zone with a radius of at least 10 kilometres, including the protection zone.

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, Austria shall collaborate with the authorities of those Member States to establish the zones.

4. Austria 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. Austria shall ensure that at least the following measures are applied in the protection zone:

(a) the identification of all holdings within the zone;

(b) periodic and documented visits to all commercial holdings a clinical inspection of poultry including, if necessary, the collection of samples for laboratory examination;

(c) the implementation of appropriate on-farm biosecurity measures, including disinfection at the entrances and exits of the holding, the housing of the poultry or the confinement of poultry to places where the direct and indirect contact with other poultry and captive birds can be prevented;

(d) the implementation of the biosecurity measures laid down in Decision 2005/734/EC;

(e) the control of the movement of products from poultry in accordance with Article 9;

(f) active disease monitoring in the population of wild birds, in particular water fowl, if necessary with the co-operation of hunters and bird-watchers who have been specifically instructed on measures to protect themselves from infection with the virus and to prevent the spread of the virus to susceptible animals;

(g) campaigns to increase disease awareness amongst owners, hunters and bird-watchers.

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

(a) the removal of poultry and other captive birds from the holding on which they are kept;

(b) the assembly of poultry and other captive birds at fairs, markets, shows or other gatherings;

(c) the transport through the zone of poultry and other captive birds, except transit on major roads or railways and transport to a slaughterhouse for direct slaughter;

(d) the dispatch from the zone of hatching eggs;

(e) the dispatch from the zone of fresh meat, minced meat, meat preparations and meat products from poultry and other captive birds and wild feathered game;

(f) the transport or spread outside the zone of unprocessed used litter or manure from holdings within the zone, except the transport for treatment in accordance with Regulation (EC) No 1774/2002;

(g) the hunting of wild birds.

Article 4

Measures in the surveillance zone

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

(a) the identification of all holdings within the zone;

(b) the implementation of appropriate on-farm biosecurity measures, including the use of appropriate means of disinfection at the entrances and exits of the holding;

(c) the implementation of the biosecurity measures laid down in Decision 2005/734/EC;

(d) the control of movement of poultry and other captive birds and hatching egg within the zone.

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

(a) movement of poultry and other captive birds out of the zone for the first 15 days following the establishment of the zone;

(b) the assembly of poultry and other birds at fairs, markets, shows or other gatherings;

(c) the hunting of wild birds.

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), Austria 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), Austria may authorise the transport of:

(a) poultry for immediate slaughter, including spent laying hens, to a slaughterhouse located in the protection zone or in the surveillance zone or, if that is not possible, to a slaughterhouse designated by the competent authority outside the zones;

(b) day-old chicks from the protection zone to holdings under official control on the territory of Austria on which there are no other poultry or captive birds, except pet birds referred to in Article 1(2)(c)(i), separated from poultry;

(c) day-old chicks from the surveillance zone to holdings under official control on the territory of Austria;

(d) ready-to-lay pullets and turkeys for fattening from the surveillance zone to holdings under official control on the territory of Austria;

(e) pet birds referred to in Article 1(2)(c)(i), to premises on the territory of Austria not keeping poultry, if the consignment consists of five or fewer caged birds, notwithstanding national rules referred to in Article 1, third paragraph, of Directive 92/65/EEC;

(f) birds referred to in Article 1(2)(c)(ii) coming from bodies, institutes and centres and proceeding to bodies, institutes and centres approved in accordance with Article 13 of Directive 92/65/EEC.

Article 7

Derogations for hatching eggs

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

(a) the transport of hatching eggs from the protection zone to a designated hatchery within the territory of Austria;

(b) the dispatch of hatching eggs from the protection zone to hatcheries situated outside the territory of Austria provided that: (i) the hatching eggs were collected from flocks which: — are not suspected of being infected with avian influenza, and — have tested negative in a serological survey for avian influenza capable of detecting 5 % prevalence of disease with at least a 95 % level of confidence, and (ii) the conditions laid down in Article 26(1)(b), (c) and (d) of Directive 2005/94/EC are fulfilled.

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 2006/94/EC’

Article 8

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

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

(a) fresh meat from poultry, including meat from ratites, originating in or outside that zone and produced in accordance with Annex II and Sections II and III of Annex III to Regulation (EC) No 853/2004 and controlled in accordance with Sections I, II, III, and Chapters V and VII of Section IV of Annex I to Regulation (EC) No 854/2004;

(b) minced meat, meat preparations and meat products containing meat referred to in point (a) and produced in accordance with Sections V and VI of Annex III to Regulation (EC) No 853/2004;

(c) fresh meat from wild feathered game originating in that zone, if such meat is marked with the health mark provided for in Annex II to Directive 2002/99/EC and is intended for transport to an establishment for treatment as required for avian influenza in accordance with Annex III to that Directive;

(d) meat products produced from meat from wild feathered game which were subjected to a treatment as required for avian influenza in accordance with Annex III to Directive 2002/99/EC;

(e) fresh meat from wild feathered game originating outside the protection zone and produced in establishments within the protection zone in accordance with Section IV of Annex III to Regulation (EC) No 853/2004 and controlled in accordance with Chapter VIII of Section IV of Annex I to Regulation (EC) No 854/2004;

(f) minced meat, meat preparations and meat products containing meat referred to in point (e) and produced in establishments situated in the protection zone in accordance with Sections V and VI of Annex III to Regulation (EC) No 853/2004.

2. Austria 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 2006/94/EC’

Article 9

Conditions for animal by-products

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

(a) animal by-products complying with the conditions set out in Chapters II (A), III (B), IV (A), VI (A and B), VII (A), VIII (A), IX (A) and X (A) of Annex VII, and Chapter II (B) and Chapter III (II) (A) of Annex VIII to Regulation (EC) No 1774/2002;

(b) unprocessed feathers or parts of feathers in accordance with Chapter VIII (A)(1)(a) of Annex VIII to Regulation (EC) No 1774/2002, produced from poultry coming from outside the protection zone;

(c) processed poultry feathers and parts of poultry feathers that have been treated with a steam current or by some other method that ensures that no pathogens remain;

(d) products derived from poultry or other captive birds which, in accordance with Community legislation, are not subject to any animal health conditions or which are not subject to any ban or restriction for reasons of animal health, including the products referred to in Chapter VII (A)(1)(a) of Annex VIII to Regulation (EC) No 1774/2002.

2. Austria 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

Austria 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 Austrian Republic.

Done at Brussels, 14 February 2006. For the Commission Markos KYPRIANOU Member of the Commission

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(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).

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

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