2000/149/EC: Commission Decision of 22 February 2000 concerning certain protection measures relating to avian influenza in Italy (notified under document number C(2000) 489) (Text with EEA relevance)
Date: 2000-02-22
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: Italy, animal disease, egg, health control, health legislation, poultry

L 50/22

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

23. 2. 2000

COMMISSION DECISION

of 22 February 2000

concerning certain protection measures relating to avian influenza in Italy

(notified under document number C(2000) 489)

(Text with EEA relevance)

(2000/149/EC)

THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,

(5)

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 to the completion of the internal market (1), as last
amended by Directive 92/118/EEC (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, and in
particular, Article 9(4) thereof,

Whereas:

(1)

(2)

(3)

(4)

Outbreaks of avian influenza have occurred in Italy in
several regions since 20 December 1999.

Measures to control avian influenza are given in Council
Directive 92/40/EEC introducing Community measures
for the control of avian influenza (4).

The provisions for intra Community trade in live poultry
and hatching eggs are given in Council Directive 90/
539/EEC on animal health conditions governing intra-
Community trade in, and imports from third countries
last amended
of, poultry and hatching eggs (5), as
Directive 1999/90/EC (6).

The provisions for intra-Community trade in birds other
than poultry referred to in Directive 90/539/EEC are
given in Council Directive 92/65/EEC 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 Section I to Directive 90/425/EEC (7), as last amended
by Commission Decision 95/176/EC (8).

(1) OJ L 224, 18.8.1990, p. 29.
(2) OJ L 62, 15.3.1993, p. 49.
(3) OJ L 395, 30.12.1989, p. 13.
(4) OJ L 167, 22.6.1992, p. 1.
(5) OJ L 303, 31.10.1990, p. 6.
(6) OJ L 300, 23.11.1999, p. 19.
(7) OJ L 268, 13.7.1992, p. 54.
(8) OJ L 117, 24.5.1995, p. 23.

for

The provisions
intra-Community trade in fresh
poultry meat are given in Council Directive 91/494/EEC
of 26 June 1991 on animal helath conditions governing
intra-Community trade in and imports from third coun-
tries of
fresh poultry meat (9), as last amended by
Directive 1999/89/EC (10).

The disease situation is liable to endanger the flocks in
other parts of the Community in view of trade in live
poultry and birds and hatching eggs thereof.

Italy has established avian influenza preventive and
control measures within the framework of:

— Directive 92/40/EEC

— Directive 90/539/EEC

— Directive 92/65/EEC

— Directive 91/494/EEC

— National Decree No 600.6/24461/57N/139 issued
on 14 January 2000 by the Ministry of Health of
Italy.

Member States recognise that measures implemented by
Italy are appropriate.

However in view of the evolution of the disease and the
specifity of the epidemiology of this particular epidemic
specific measures shall be adopted in view of reducing
the risk of spreading the virus within the poultry popu-
lation.

These measures should reflect the specific structure of
the integrated industry in the affected area.

The measures provided for in this Decision are in
accordance with the opinion of the Standing Veterinary
Committee,

(6)

(7)

(8)

(9)

(10)

(11)

HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:

Article 1

Complementary measures shall be implemented by Italy. They
should contain at least the following provisions:

(9) OJ L 268, 24.9.1991, p. 35.
(10) OJ L 300, 23.11.1999, p. 17.

23. 2. 2000

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

L 50/23

(a) In the state of Italy

1. Disposable packaging shall be used for collection,
storage and transport of table eggs. The pieces of pack-
aging shall be destroyed immediately after use in such a
the vrius with
way to guarantee the destruction of
methods approved by the competent authority.

2. Packaging centres for table eggs situated in close prox-
imity of a farm where birds of susceptible species are
kept must not
introduce eggs coming from farms
located in provinces where avian influenza has been
confirmed.

(b) In regions where avian influenza has been confirmed

in the last 30 days

1. All means of transport used for poultry, hatching eggs,
table eggs and poultry feedstuff must be cleaned and
disinfected immediately before
entering and after
leaving a farm or a related plant with disinfectants and
methods approved by the competent authority. For
means of transport engaged in intra-Community trade,
a document ascertaining this disinfection shall be issued
and should at least contain the information on cleansing
and disinfection equivalent to that shown in the Annex.

2. All the machinery for loading and unloading the lorries
shall be cleaned and disinfected immediately before and
after use according to paragraph 1.

3. Hatching eggs, their packing and means of transport
must be disinfected before dispatch according to para-
graph 1.

4. The person responsible for a poultry-holding shall
ensure that all persons entering and leaving the holding
apply strict bio-security measures as well as providing
clean protective
to visitors,
catchers and other persons. The responsible person shall
also ensure that appropriate means of disinfection are
used at the entrances and exists of buildings housing
poultry.

and footwear

clothes

(c) In provinces where

avian influenza has been

confirmed in the last 30 days

1. All means of transport for poultry, hatching eggs, table
transport only one
eggs and poultry feedstuff shall
single consignment intended for or coming from one
single farm or plant at one time.

2. All means of transport for poultry, hatching eggs, table
eggs and poultry feedstuff leaving these provinces must
be accompanied by an official document certifying that
the means of transport have been cleaned and disin-
fected prior to movement according to point (b)1. These
transport only one single consignment
lorries shall
intended for or coming from one single farm or plant at
one time.

3. Used litter and poultry manure may only be removed
from the holding or spread with authorisation given by
the competent authority. Such authorisation must take
into account the provisions of Annex II Section II(d) of
Directive 92/40/EEC.

Article 2

The central veterinary authority may introduce further meas-
ures other than those referred to in this Decision if they are
deemed necessary for the eradication of the disease. Italy shall
inform the Commission and the Member States of these meas-
ures immediately.

Article 3

Member States shall ensure that the provisions of Article 1(a)
(1) are applied for all consignments coming from or originating
in Italy.

Article 4

Member States shall amend the measures which they apply to
trade so as to bring them into conformity with this Decision.
They shall

immediately inform the Commission thereof.

Article 5

This Decision is addressed to the Member States.

Done at Brussels, 22 February 2000.

For the Commission

David BYRNE

Member of the Commission

L 50/24

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

23. 2. 2000

ANNEX

CLEANSING AND DISINFECTION CERTIFICATE FOR MEANS USED FOR THE TRANSPORT OF POULTRY
AND PRODUCTS THEREOF

1. Declaration of the operator/driver of transport

I, the operator/driver of the vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Insert number of registration plate

declare that:

— the most recent unloading of poultry or their products took place at:

Region, Province, Place

Date
(dd.mm.yy)

Time
(hh:mm)

This information must be provided by the operator/driver.

— following unloading, the vehicle was subject to cleansing and disinfection. The cleansing and disinfection included
loading ramp, the wheels and the driver's cabin and protective clothes/boots used during

the compartment,
unloading.

The cleansing and disinfection took place:

Region, Province, Place

Date
(dd.mm.yy)

Time
(hh:mm)

This information must be provided by the operator/driver.

— the disinfectant used was:

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Date

Place

Signature of the operator/driver

Name of operator/driver in block letters:

2. Certification by the competent authorities carrying out checks of transport

I, the undersigned official certify that I have checked the vehicle with registration number

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . today,
Insert registration number

and found it satisfactorily cleansed and disinfected.

Date

Place

Competent authority

Signature of the official (1)

Stamp (1)

Name in block letters

(1) The colour of the stamp and the signature must be different from that of the printing.