2002/542/EC: Commission Decision of 4 July 2002 amending Decision 96/482/EC as regards the length of the isolation period for imports of live poultry and hatching eggs from third countries and the animal health measures to be applied after such importation (Text with EEA relevance) (notified under document number C(2002) 2492)
Date: 2002-07-04
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: animal disease, egg, health certificate, health control, import, poultry, third country

5.7.2002

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

L 176/43

COMMISSION DECISION

of 4 July 2002

amending Decision 96/482/EC as regards the length of the isolation period for imports of live
poultry and hatching eggs from third countries and the animal health measures to be applied after
such importation

(notified under document number C(2002) 2492)

(Text with EEA relevance)

(2002/542/EC)

THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,

HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European
Community,

Having regard to 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 (1), as last amended by Commission Decision
2001/867/EC (2), and in particular Article 26 thereof,

Whereas:

(1)

(2)

(3)

(4)

(5)

Under Commission Decision 96/482/EC of 12 July 1996
laying down animal health conditions and veterinary
certificates for the importation of poultry and hatching
eggs other than ratites and eggs thereof from third coun-
tries including animal health measures to be applied after
such importation (3), as last amended by Decision 2002/
183/EC (4) breeding and productive poultry are to be
isolated after importation on the holding of destination
for at least six weeks and examined by an authorised
veterinarian.

Member States have reported difficulties with the dura-
tion of the isolation period for poultry intended for
restocking supplies of wild game, because of increased
aggressiveness and cannibalism leading to increased
losses.

It is therefore opportune to shorten the duration of the
isolation period. However, compulsory testing for avian
influenza and Newcastle disease should be carried out to
maintain equivalent animal health guarantees.

Decision 96/482/EC should therefore be
accordingly.

amended

The measures provided for in this Decision are in accor-
dance with the opinion of
the Standing Veterinary
Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health,

Article 1

Decision 96/482/EC is amended as follows:

1. In Article 3(1), the following subparagraph is added:

‘By way of derogation from the first subparagraph the
period of six weeks for keeping breeding and productive
poultry including poultry intended for restocking supplies of
wild game on the holding of destination can be reduced to
21 days provided testing according to the sampling and
testing procedures described in Annex III has been carried
out with favourable results.’

2. A new Annex III, the text of which is set out in the Annex

to this Decision, is added.

Article 2

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

Article 3

This Decision shall apply as from the seventh day after its
publication in the Official Journal of the European Communities.

This Decision is addressed to the Member States.

Article 4

Done at Brussels, 4 July 2002.

For the Commission

David BYRNE

Member of the Commission

(1) OJ L 303, 31.10.1990, p. 6.
(2) OJ L 323, 7.12.2001, p. 29.
(3) OJ L 196, 7.8.1996, p. 13.
(4) OJ L 61, 2.3.2002, p. 56.

L 176/44

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

5.7.2002

ANNEX

‘ANNEX III

Sampling and testing procedures for Newcastle disease and avian influenza after importation

During the period foreseen in the second subparagraph of Article 3(1) the official/authorised veterinarian shall take
samples for virological examination from the imported poultry, which shall be tested as follows:

— Cloacal swabs have to be taken from all birds, if the consignment is less than 60, or from 60 birds of larger consign-

ments, between the seventh and the 15th day of the isolation period.

— All testing of samples for avian influenza and Newcastle disease must be carried out in official laboratories designated
by the competent authority, and using diagnostic procedures in accordance with the terms of Annex III of Council
Directive 92/66/EEC and of Annex III of Council Directive 92/40/EEC.

— Pooling of samples, up to a maximum of five samples of individual birds in one pool, is allowed.

— Virus isolates must be submitted without delay to the National Reference laboratory.’