2000/666/EC: Commission Decision 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 (notified under document number C(2000) 3012) (Text with EEA relevance)
Date: 2000-10-16
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: animal disease, health certificate, import, poultry farming, third country, veterinary inspection

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COMMISSION

COMMISSION DECISION

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

(notified under document number C(2000) 3012)

(Text with EEA relevance)

(2000/666/EC)

THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,

diseases within the Community, but should nevertheless
be reported to the Commission.

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 to in Annex A(I)
to
Directive 90/425/EEC (1) as last amended by Commission
Decision 95/176/EC (2) and in particular Article 17 paragraph
2(b) and 3 and Article 18 paragraph 1, first end fourth indents
thereof,

(4)

(5)

(6)

Whereas:

for

countries

exporting

to the
Candidate
Community must be members of
the Office Inter-
national des Epizooties (OIE.) and must comply with the
general requirements of the section on veterinary ethics
and certification for international trade.

birds

in this Decision have
The measures provided for
followed the notification procedure of the Agreement on
the Application of the Sanitary and Phytosanitary Meas-
ures (SPS) laid down within the framework of the World
Trade Organisation (WTO).

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

(1)

(2)

(3)

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.

HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:

After their entry onto the territory of the Community
birds other than poultry shall be quarantined in accord-
ance with Article 7 paragraph A number 1(c) of
Directive 92/65/EEC in quarantine facilities or centres in
the Community before being placed on the market.
Special conditions for the approval of quarantine facili-
ties or centres for birds have to be laid down.

A positive finding for avian influenza or Newcastle
disease or the 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 notification of animal

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.

In addition:

— ‘quarantine facility’ means premises which are separated
from poultry holdings and other bird holdings by a reason-
able distance, when taking into account the epidemiology
regards
of Newcastle disease and avian influenza as
airborne spread, and in which quarantine of imported birds
is carried out on an ‘all-in, all-out’ basis,

(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.

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— ‘quarantine centre’ means premises containing a number of
units, which are operationa!ly and physically separated
from each other and in which each unit contains only birds
of the same consignment, with the same health status and
being therefore one epidemiological unit; and within each
unit of which the quarantine of imported birds is carried
out on an ‘all-in, all-out’ basis; and which are separated
from poultry holdings and other bird holdings by a reason-
able distance, when taking into account the epidemiology
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 accompanying their owner) and
Article 19 of Directive 92/65/EEC (relating to birds for
zoos, circuses, amusement parks and experimental labora-
tories),

— ‘sentinel chickens’ mean poultry which are to be used as a

diagnostic aid during quarantine.

This decision shall not apply to birds taken directly from the
wild for conservation programmes approved by the competent
authority in the Member State of destination.

Article 2

Member States shall authorise the import of birds from coun-
tries 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 individ-
ually identified with the identification number that must
correspond with the identification number indicated on the
animal health certificate;

4. the importer can prove at the border inspection post that an
approved quarantine facility or centre will accept the birds.
The written proof shall contain the name and the address of
the approved facility issued by an official designated by the
competent authority.

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 (2).

Following the inspection of the birds the crates or cages
2.
or the transport vehicle must be sealed by the official respon-
sible for the border inspection post in such a way as to avoid

(1) OJ L 303, 31.10.1990, p. 6.
(2) OJ L 340, 11.12.1991, p. 17.

any possibility of substitution of the contents during transport
to the quarantine facility or centre.

The birds must be quarantined for at least 30 days in an

3.
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.

At least at the beginning and at the end of quarantine of
5.
inspect the
each consignment the official veterinarian shall
the
quarantine provisions
mortality records and a clinical inspection of the birds in each
unit of the quarantine centre or in the quarantine facility. The
official veterinarian or an authorised veterinarian must carry
out inspection more frequently if the disease situation requires
it.

including an examination of

Article 4

1.
the
After the birds have been placed in quarantine,
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 not less than seven days
and not more than 14 days before the start of quarantine, be at
least three weeks old, be placed in the quarantine unit before
the arrival of
identification
the birds, be leg-banded for
purposes or identified with another non-removable identifica-
tion and placed in the quarantine unit as close as possible to
the birds in such a way that contact between the sentinel
chickens and the excrements of the quarantine 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 influ-
enza 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 be analysed accordingly.

If during quarantine as provided for in Article 3 one or
4.
more birds or the sentinel chickens are found to be infected
with avian influenza 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 disinfected;

(c) in the case of quarantine centres, not earlier than 21 days
after final cleansing and disinfection, samples for serolog-
ical examination shall be taken from sentinel chickens in
the other quarantine units; or

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(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 birds in the other quarantine units;

(e) no birds shall leave the quarantine centre until the results
of the sampling described in the previous indents have
been confirmed as 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 or more 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 reference to the time period speci-
fied) has been carried out with negative results. The birds may
not be released from quarantine before at least 60 days have
elapsed after the clinical signs of Newcastle disease have disap-
peared. Any matter or waste likely to be contaminated has to
be destroyed in such a way that guarantees the destruction of
any Newcastle disease virus present as well as all the waste that
has accumulated during the 60-day period. The Commission
shall be informed of 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 quaran-
tine must be prolonged for at least two months following the
last recorded case.

Article 6

Psittaciformes must be identified individually at arrival in quar-
antine in accordance with Chapter 2B of Annex B. These
identification numbers must be listed in the records which have
to be kept according to Article 7.

Article 7

The management provisions of the quarantine centre or facility
including the disposal of waste materials and the keeping of
records must be in accordance with the requirements of,
Chapter 2A of Annex B.

Article 8

All quarantine costs occasioned by the application of
present Decision shall be borne by the importer.

the

Article 9

Birds can be released from quarantine only on written author-
isation by an official veterinarian.

This Decision shall apply as from 1 May 2001.

Article 10

This Decision is adressed to all the Member States.

Article 11

Done at Brussels, 16 October 2000.

For the Commission

David BYRNE

Member of the Commission

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ANNEX A

SPECIMEN ANIMAL HEALTH CERTIFICATE

for birds other than poultry intended for dispatch to the European Community

After the import control, this consignment must be transported directly to an approved quarantine facility or centre.

Health certificate reference No:

Exporting country:

Region of origin (1):

COMPETENT AUTHORITY (CENTRAL LEVEL):

COMPETENT AUTHORITY (LOCAL LEVEL):

Ministry:

Service:

Member State of destination:

Accompanying export CITES permit No, if required:

Consignor (name and address in full):

Consignee (name and address in full):

Address of holding of origin and registration No:

Importer (if different from above, name and address in
full):

Place of loading:

Name and address of the final destination of the birds:

Approved quarantine facility (name and address in full) in
the country of destination:

Means of transport (2):

I.

Identification

Quantity (in words and figures):

Number of birds:
Number of crates or cages:

Identification No on crates or
cages

Indentification of compartment

Number of birds
(by each species)

Species
(scientific name)

(1) Only to be completed if the authorisation to export to the Community is restricted to certain regions of the third country concerned.
(2)

Indicate means of transport and registration marks or registered name, as appropriate.

Notes:
(a) A separate certificate must be provided for each consignment of birds.
(b) The original of the certificate must accompany the consignment until it reaches the border inspection post.
(c)

It must be completed on the day of loading and all time limits referred to relate to that date.

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II. Health information

I, the undersigned official veterinarian, hereby certify that:

1. The birds have been kept on a holding on the territory of the exporting country for at least 21 days or since hatching.

2. The birds must come from a holding, which is not under animal health restrictions in connection with any diseases

referred to in paragraph 3 to which these birds are susceptible.

3. Newcastle Disease and avian influenza in poultry and other birds kept in captivity and psittacosis in psittaciforme (3)

are notifiable diseases.

4. Avian influenza and Newcastle Disease outbreaks have not been notified either in the holding of origin or in the

surrounding area within a radius of 10 km for at least 30 days.

5. Only in the case of psittaciforme (4): outbreaks of psittacosis have not been reported in the holding of origin during the

last 60 days.

6. The birds described in this certificate meet the following requirements:

(a) they have been examined on the day of loading and show no clinical signs or suspicion of infectious disease and are

fit to travel:

(b) they have not been vaccinated against Newcastle Disease.

III. Transport information

The birds described in this certificate are transported in crates or cages which:

— contain only birds coming from the same establishment,
— contain only birds of the same species or which consist of different compartments, each compartment containing only

birds of the same species,

— bear the name, the address and a specific registration number of the holding of origin and a specific identification

number of the individual crate or cage,

— are constructed in such a way so as to:

— preclude the loss of excrement and to minimise the loss of feathers during transport,

— allow visual inspection of the birds,
— allow cleansing and disinfection,

— are being used for the first time or have been, as well as the vehicle in which they are loaded, cleansed and disinfected

before loading in accordance with the instructions of the competent auhtority,

— in case of air transport, are at least in accordance with the most recent IATA (International Air Transport Association)

rules governing the transport of live animals,

— in case of CITES-listed species the birds are to be transported according to the ‘CITES guidelines for transport’.

This certificate is valid for five days.

Done at (place) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ., (date) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(cid:1)Stamp (5)

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
(signature of official veterinarian) (5)

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
(name in capital letters, qualifications and title)

(3) Only applicable in case of psittaciformes.
(4) Delete if not applicable.
(5) Stamp and signature in a colour different from that of the printing.

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IV. Supplementary health information

From the official veterinarian present at the time of loading in the final means of transport, (for example aeroplane) if
means of transport is different from above.

I, the undersigned official veterinarian, hereby certify, that I have inspected the birds on . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (date)
at . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (time) and found no clinical signs or suspicion of infectious disease, and that they are fit to travel.

Flight details: airline . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . flight No . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

This certificate is valid for five days.

Done at (place) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ., on (date) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(cid:1)Stamp (5)

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
(signature of official veterinarian) (5)

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
(name in capital letters, qualifications and title)

(5) Stamp and signature in a colour different from that of the printing.

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MINIMUM CONDITIONS FOR THE APPROVAL OF QUARANTINE FACILITIES AND CENTRES FOR BIRDS

ANNEX B

CHAPTER 1

Construction and equipment of the quarantine facility or centre

1. The quarantine facility or centre must be a separate building which is separated 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. Management provisions

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.

10. Carcases of dead birds must be examined in an official

laboratory designated 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.

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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.

Individual
microchip.

identification of psittaciformes shall be carried out on arrival

in quarantine by means of a leg-ring or a

B. Identification of psittaciformes

1. The leg-ring shall be tamper-proof and its diameter shall be adequate for the species.

2. The leg-ring or the microchip shall 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.

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ANNEX C

EXAMINATION, SAMPLING AND TESTING PROCEDURES FOR NEWCASTLE DISEASE AND AVIAN
INFLUENZA

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 quarantine 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 consignment 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 consignments 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 virological 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 examination 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.

ANNEX D

LIST OF THIRD COUNTRIES WHICH CAN USE THE ANIMAL HEALTH CERTIFICATE IN ANNEX A

Countries listed as members of the Office International des Epizooties OIE.

in the OIE. Bulletin.