EN Official Journal of the European Union CE 84/694

(2004/C 84 E/0780)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0887/04

by Bob van den Bos (ELDR) to the Commission

(22 March 2004)

Subject: Health implications of pet bird imports

As a result of recent avian influenza outbreaks in several south-east Asian countries, the Commission has suspended all imports of pet birds from Cambodia, Indonesia, Japan, Laos, Pakistan, China, South Korea, Thailand and Vietnam. The suspension has immediate effect and is scheduled to be maintained for six months until 15 August 2004.

During the period of suspension, will the Commission carry out a risk assessment of the possible impact that the pet bird trade may have on the spread of avian influenza? Will the Commission also carry out a cost-benefit analysis of the suspension measures in relation to the trade in pet birds?

How does the Commission ensure that the quarantine and health checks carried out in pet-bird exporting countries, on the one hand, and those applied upon entry to the EU, on the other, are sufficient to guarantee that diseases such as avian influenza do not enter the European Union?

Answer given by Mr Byrne on behalf of the Commission

(23 April 2004)

An unprecedented epidemic of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza has been ongoing in certain Asian countries, which has already resulted in the loss of more than 100 million poultry and caused several human deaths. Even more worryingly, the World Health Organization (WHO) has warned that, due to the particular subtype of virus in question, the current situation in Asia might eventually lead to an epidemic in the human population, with major health and socio-economic consequences world-wide.

Taking into account the extremely serious consequences that such a disease agent could cause if introduced into the Community, the Commission has adopted a number of precautionary measures, including the suspension of importation of ornamental (pet) birds from the countries concerned. All measures adopted by the Commission have been fully supported by the Member States in the Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health (Scofcah).

The Commission is in the process of assessing the most recent outbreaks of Avian Influenza world-wide. The lessons learned from these events and the opinions delivered by scientists will be the basis for a proposal for a revised legislation on the control of this disease, which the Commission intends to submit to the Council and the Parliament in 2004.

In accordance with the Commission's Communication on impact assessment (1), this proposal will be acompanied by an extended impact assessment. In this context, the Commission will assess the risks as well as the costs and benefits of the measures adopted in the past and of those proposed for the future in relation to this disease. However, it can already be predicted that a precise assessment will often be very difficult or even impossible, due to the rapidly changing and unpredictable nature of the disease agent, scientific uncertainties and shortage of information on many relevant issues, including the risks posed by pet birds and pet birds trade. In this regard, the most appropriate means of protection in the European context will need to be considered.

The measures implemented to prevent the introduction of Avian Influenza via the import of pet birds in accordance with Commission Decision 2000/666/EC of 16 October 2000 laying down the animal health requirements and the veterinary certification for the import of birds, other than poultry and the conditions for quarantine (2) are kept under continuous review by the Commission at the Scofcah.

So far, highly pathogenic Avian Influenza viruses have not been detected in birds kept under quarantine. However, thanks to these measures other exotic viruses of birds have been detected and their spread in the Community thus prevented.

In accordance with current knowledge and experience, the Commission therefore considers that the current precautions — supplemented as necessary by exceptional safeguard clauses like those recently adopted in relation to the situation in Asia — are the most appropriate to protect the Community from undesired disease agents, including Avian Influenza. Unfortunately, we do not live in a zero risk world so that one cannot exclude either the intentional or unintentional introduction of such a virus, although all necessary precautions are being taken against such an eventuality.

(1) COM(2002) 276 final.

(2) OJ L 278, 31.10.2000.