2002/975/EC: Commission Decision of 12 December 2002 on introducing vaccination to supplement the measures to control infections with low pathogenic avian influenza in Italy and on specific movement control measures (Text with EEA relevance) (notified under document number C(2002) 5051)
Date: 2002-12-12
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: Italy, animal disease, export restriction, health certificate, health control, vaccination

13.12.2002

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Official Journal of the European Communities

L 337/87

COMMISSION

COMMISSION DECISION

of 12 December 2002

on introducing vaccination to supplement the measures to control infections with low pathogenic
avian influenza in Italy and on specific movement control measures

(notified under document number C(2002) 5051)

(Text with EEA relevance)

(2002/975/EC)

THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,

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 2002/33/EC of the European Parliament
and of the Council (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-Commu-
nity trade with a view to the completion of
the internal
market (3), as last amended by Directive 92/118/EEC (4), and in
particular Article 9(4) thereof,

Having regard to Council Directive 92/40/EEC introducing
Community measures for the control of avian influenza (5), and
in particular Article 16 thereof,

Whereas:

(1)

(2)

During 1999 and 2000 Italy has experienced outbreaks
of highly pathogenic avian influenza of subtype H7N1
with devastating economic
the poultry
industry. Prior to the epidemic a virus of low pathogeni-
city had been circulating in the area.

losses

for

During monitoring for avian influenza the presence of
low pathogenic avian influenza virus of subtype H7N3
was detected in the regions of Veneto and Lombardia in
October 2002.

(3)

Currently the control of low pathogenic avian influenza
infections is not covered by Community legislation.

(1) OJ L 224, 18.8.1990, p. 29.
(2) OJ L 315, 19.11.2002, p. 14.
(3) OJ L 395, 30.12.1989, p. 13.
(4) OJ L 62, 15.3.1993, p. 49.
(5) OJ L 167, 22.6.1992, p. 1.

(4)

(5)

(6)

(7)

(8)

(9)

The Italian competent veterinary authorities have taken
control measures to avoid the spread of disease to other
areas; however the infection cannot be contained suffi-
ciently.

Low pathogenic virus may mutate to highly pathogenic
virus and may cause severe disease outbreaks.

During the previous avian influenza epidemic in Italy a
vaccination programme was approved by the Commis-
sion in connection with intensive monitoring and certain
provisions for intra-Community trade in live poultry and
poultry products.

the vaccination campaign certain
As a follow-up of
measures concerning movement restrictions for intra-
Community trade of live poultry and poultry products
were maintained by the adoption of Commission Deci-
sion 2002/552/EC (6).

The experience of
the Italian vaccination campaign
suggests that this has successfully stopped the spread of
the low pathogenic avian influenza virus.

Avian influenza virus subtype H7N3 is responsible for
the current infections, whereas the previous epidemic
was caused by an H7N1 virus subtype.

(10)

The infection occurs at present in an area of Italy with
dense poultry population.

(11)

In this context vaccination can be an effective tool to
supplement disease control measures against avian influ-
enza.

(12) Where vaccination against avian influenza is practised
movement restrictions for vaccinated poultry have to be
implemented.

(6) OJ L 180, 10.7.2002, p. 24.

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(13)

(14)

Italy has presented a vaccination programme to supple-
ment
the measures to control avian influenza in a
limited area of Italy including specific movement restric-
tions.

Italy has authorised the use of two inactivated vaccines
against avian influenza for the implementation of the
programme. For the initial phase a homologous vaccine
is obtained from the master seed strain CK/Pak/1995-
H7N3 and for the following period starting from early
2003 a heterologous vaccine with the master seed strain
A/CK/Italy/AG-473/1999-H7N1 shall be used.

(15) Within a technical working group meeting the vaccina-
tion programme presented by Italy was reviewed.

(16) Monitoring on vaccinated and unvaccinated poultry
flocks shall be continued including the use of the serolo-
gical
(iIFA-test) which had been approved by
Commission Decision 2001/847/EC (1).

test

Italy shall
restrictions
introduce specific movement
related to vaccination of poultry and to intra-Commu-
nity trade.

— the holding of origin is not located in any of the restriction
zones established by the competent authority in relation
with avian influenza.

3.
No table eggs derived from poultry vaccinated against
avian influenza and originating from the area described in
Annex I, shall be dispatched from Italy.

Article 4

Animal health certificates accompanying consignments of live
birds and hatching eggs from Italy shall include the words: ‘The
animal health conditions of this consignment are in accordance
with Decision 2002/975/EC’.

Article 5

1.
Fresh meat of poultry must be marked in accordance with
Article 5 of Council Directive 91/494/EEC (2) and shall not be
dispatched from Italy if it is derived from:

(a) poultry vaccinated against avian influenza;

For reasons of clarity Decision 2002/552/EC should be
repealed as its provisions are superseded by this Deci-
sion.

(b) avian influenza seropositive poultry flocks destined for
in accordance with the

slaughter under official control
vaccination programme referred to in Article 1;

(17)

(18)

(19)

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

HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:

Article 1

The vaccination programme against avian influenza presented
by Italy is hereby approved and shall be carried out in the area
described in Annex I.

Article 2

The restrictions on movements of live birds, hatching eggs,
table eggs and fresh poultry meat into, out of and within the
area described in Annex I shall apply as laid down in the vacci-
nation programme referred to in Article 1.

Article 3

1.
No live birds and hatching eggs coming from and/or
originating from the area described in Annex I shall be
dispatched from Italy.

2.
Live birds and hatching eggs coming from and/or origi-
nating from the territory of Italy outside the area described in
Annex I can only be dispatched from Italy if:

(c) poultry originating from holdings located in a restriction
zone, which shall be established based on a minimum
radius of three kilometres around any poultry farm infected
with low pathogenic avian influenza in accordance with the
provisions
laid down in the vaccination programme
referred to in Article 1.

2.
By derogation from paragraph 1(a) and (b), fresh meat
from turkeys vaccinated against avian influenza with a hetero-
logous vaccine of subtype (H7N1) shall not be marked in accor-
dance with Article 5 of Council Directive 91/494/EEC and can
be dispatched to other Member States, provided that the meat
comes from slaughter turkey flocks which:

(i) have been regularly inspected and tested with negative
results for avian influenza as laid down in the approved
vaccination programme, with particular attention to be
paid to the sentinel birds.

For the testing of:

— vaccinated birds, the iIFA-test shall be used,
— sentinel birds, either the Haemagglutination-Inhibition
Test (HI), the AGID-test or the ELISA-test shall be used.
However, the iIFA-test shall also be used if necessary;

(ii) have been clinically inspected by an official veterinarian
within 48 hours before loading, with particular attention
to be paid to the sentinel birds;

(iii) have been tested serologically with negative results at the
National Laboratory for avian influenza, by using the
sampling and testing procedure laid down in Annex II to
this Decision;

— no contacts or other epidemiological

links in relation to
avian influenza have been established between the holding
of origin and with a holding or a hatchery situated in the
area described in Annex I, and

(iv) must be sent directly to a slaughterhouse designated by the
competent authority and be slaughtered immediately after
arrival. The birds shall be kept separated from other flocks
not complying with the present provisions.

(1) OJ L 315, 1.12.2001, p. 61.

(2) OJ L 268, 24.9.1991, p. 35.

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Fresh turkey meat fulfilling the requirements as set out in
3.
paragraph 2 shall be accompanied by the health certificate laid
down in Annex VI of Directive 71/118/EEC (1), which shall
include under point IV(a) of the certificate the following attesta-
tion of the official veterinarian:

‘The turkey meat described above is in accordance with
Decision 2002/975/EC’.

Article 8

1.
Italy shall notify to the Commission and to other Member
States the date of the commencement of the vaccination, at
least one day in advance.

The provisions of the Articles 2 to 7 shall be enforced

2.
from the date of the commencement of the vaccination.

Article 6

Italy shall ensure that in the area described in Annex I:

1. Only disposable packaging material, or packaging material
which can be effectively washed and disinfected, is used for
the collection, storage and transport of table eggs.

transport used for
transporting poultry,
2. All means of
table eggs and poultry feedstuff must be
hatching eggs,
cleaned and disinfected immediately before and after each
transport with disinfectants in accordance with the methods
of use approved by the competent authority.

Article 7

Movements of live poultry and hatching eggs coming from
areas of Italy outside the area described in Annex I to other
Member States shall only be allowed following five days
advance notification to the central and local veterinary authori-
ties of destination. The notification shall be dispatched by the
competent veterinary authority.

Article 9

Italy shall, at

six-month intervals, present a report
1.
containing information on the effectiveness of the vaccination
programme referred to in Article 1.

2.
This Decision, and in particular the period of time during
which the movement restrictions provided for in Articles 2 to
7 shall continue to apply after the completion of the vaccina-
tion programme, shall be reviewed accordingly.

Decision 2002/552/EC is repealed.

Article 10

This Decision is addressed to the Member States.

Article 11

Done at Brussels, 12 December 2002.

For the Commission

David BYRNE

Member of the Commission

(1) OJ L 55, 8.3.1971, p. 23.

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ANNEX I

VACCINATION AREA

Veneto region

Verona province

The vaccination area comprises the territory of
following municipalities:

the

Soave area to the south of the A4 motorway

Sommacampagna

Sona area to the south of the A4 motorway

Albaredo d'Adige

Angiari

Arcole

Belfiore

Bevilacqua

Bonavigo

Boschi Sant'Anna

Bovolone

Buttapietra

Calmiero area to the south of the A4 motorway

Casaleone

Castel d'Azzano

Castelnuovo del Garda area to the south of the A4
motorway

Cerea

Cologna Veneta

Colognola ai Colli area to the south of
motorway

the A4

Concamarise

Erbè

Gazzo Veronese

Isola della Scala

Isola Rizza

Lavagno area to the south of the A4 motorway

Minerbe

Monteforte d'Alpone area to the south of
motorway

the A4

Mozzecane

Nogara

Nogarole Rocca

Oppeano

Palù

Peschiera del Garda area to the south of
motorway

the A4

Povegliano Veronese

Pressana

Ronco all'Adige

Roverchiara

Roveredo di Guà

S. Bonifacio area to the south of the A4 motorway

S. Giovanni Lupatoto area to the south of
motorway

the A4

S. Martino Buon Albergo area to the south of the A4
motorway

S. Pietro di Morubio

Salizzole

Sanguinetto

Sorgà

Trevenzuolo

Valeggio sul Mincio

Verona area to the south of the A4 motorway

Veronella

Vigasio

Villafranca di Verona

Zevio

Zimella

Vicenza province

The vaccination area comprises the territory of
following municipalities:

the

Agugliaro

Albettone

Alonte

Asigliano Veneto

Barbarano Vicentino

Campiglia dei Berici

Castegnero

Lonigo

Montegalda

Montegaldella

Mossano

Nanto

Noventa Vicentina

Orgiano

Poiana Maggiore

S. Germano dei Berici

Sossano

Villaga

Padova province

The vaccination area comprises the territory of
following municipalities:

the

Carceri

Casale di Scodosia

Este

Lozzo Atestino

Megliadino S. Fidenzio

Megliadino S. Vitale

Montagnana

Ospedaletto Euganeo

Ponso

S. Margherita d'Adige

Saletto

Urbana

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Lombardia region

Mantova province

Castegnato area to the south of the A4 motorway

The vaccination area comprises the territory of
following municipalities:

the

Castel Mella

Castelcovati

Acquanegra Sul Chiese

Castenedolo area to the south of the A4 motorway

Asola

Bigarello

Canneto Sull'oglio

Casalmoro

Casaloldo

Casalromano

Castel D'ario

Castel Goffredo

Castelbelforte

Castiglione Delle Stiviere

Cavriana

Ceresara

Gazoldo Degli Ippoliti

Goito

Guidizzolo

Mariana Mantovana

Marmirolo

Medole

Monzambano

Piubega

Ponti Sul Mincio

Porto Mantovano

Redondesco

Rodigo

Roncoferraro

Roverbella

San Giorgio Di Mantova

Solferino

Villimpenta

Volta Mantovana

Brescia province

Castrezzato

Cazzago San Martino

Chiari

Cigole

Boccaglio

Cologne

Comezzano-Cizzago

Corzano

Dello

Desenzano del Garda area to the south of
motorway

the A4

Erbusco area to the south of the A4 motorway

Fiesse

Flero

Gambara

Ghedi

Gottolengo

Isorella

Leno

Lograto

Lonato area to the south of the A4 motorway

Longhena

Maclodio

Mairano

Manerbio

Milzano

Montichiari

Montirone

Offlaga

Orzinuovi

Orzivecchi

The vaccination area comprises the territory of
following municipalities:

the

Acquafredda

Alfianello

Azzano Mella

Bagnolo Mella

Barbariga

Bassano Bresciano

Berlingo

Borgo San Giacomo

Borgosatollo

Brandico

Ospitaletto area to the south of the A4 motorway

Palazzolo sull'Oglio area to the south of
motorway

the A4

Pavone del Mella

Pompiano

Poncarale

Pontevico

Pontoglio

Pozzolengo area to the south of the A4 motorway

Pralboino

Quinzano d'Oglio

Remedello

Brescia area to the south of the A4 motorway

Rezzato area to the south of the A4 motorway

Calcinato area to the south of the A4 motorway

Roccafranca

Calvisano

Capriano del Colle

Carpendolo

Roncadelle area to the south of the A4 motorway

Rovato area to the south of the A4 motorway

Rudiano

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San Gervasio Bresciano

San Paolo

San Zeno Naviglio

Seniga

Torbole Casaglia

Travagliato

Trenzano

Urago d'Oglio

Verolanuova

Verolavecchia

Villachiara

Visano

ANNEX II

SAMPLING AND TESTING PROCEDURE

1. Introduction and general use

The developed indirect Immunofluorescence Assay (iIFA-test) is aimed at the differentiation between vaccinated/field
exposed and vaccinated/non field exposed turkeys in the framework of a ‘DIVA’ (Differentiating Infected from Vacci-
nated Animals) vaccination strategy using a heterologous subtype vaccine from the H7N3 field virus subtype.

2. Use of the test for the purpose of dispatching fresh turkey meat from the vaccination area in Italy to other

Member States

Meat originating from turkey flocks vaccinated against avian influenza may be dispatched to other Member States
provided that:

Blood samples shall be taken by the official veterinarian:
— from each group of turkeys destined for slaughter, which are kept in the same building of the holding in ques-

tion,

— within 48 hours before sending the animals to the slaughterhouse,
— from at least 10 vaccinated animals chosen at random from each group.