2003/258/EC: Commission Decision of 10 April 2003 concerning protective measures in relation to avian influenza in the Netherlands (Text with EEA relevance) (notified under document number C(2003) 1256)
Date: 2003-04-10
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: Netherlands, animal disease, egg, health control, health legislation, poultry, veterinary inspection

11.4.2003

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

L 95/65

COMMISSION DECISION

of 10 April 2003

concerning protective measures in relation to avian influenza in the Netherlands

(notified under document number C(2003) 1256)

(Only the Dutch text is authentic)

(Text with EEA relevance)

(2003/258/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 thereof,

Having regard to Council Directive 2002/99/EC of 16
December 2002 laying down the animal health rules governing
the production, processing, distribution and introduction of
products of animal origin for human consumption (3), and in
particular Article 4(1) and (3) thereof,

Whereas:

(1)

(2)

(3)

(4)

Since 28 February 2003 the Netherlands have declared
several outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza.

Avian influenza is a highly contagious poultry disease
that can pose a serious threat for the poultry industry.

The Netherlands took immediate action as provided for
by Council Directive 92/40/EEC of 19 May 1992 intro-
ducing Community measures for the control of avian
influenza (4), as amended by the Act of Accession of
Austria, Finland and Sweden, before the disease was offi-
cially confirmed.

Directive 92/40/EEC sets out
the minimum control
measures to be applied in the event of an outbreak of
avian influenza. The Member State may take more strin-
gent action in the field covered by this Directive if
deemed necessary and proportionate to contain the
disease, taking into account the particular epidemiolo-
gical, animal husbandry, commercial and social condi-
tions prevailing.

(1) OJ L 224, 18.8.1990, p. 29.
(2) OJ L 315, 19.11.2002, p. 14.
(3) OJ L 18, 23.1.2003, p. 11.
(4) OJ L 167, 22.6.1992, p. 1.

(5)

(6)

(7)

(8)

(9)

All movements of live poultry and hatching eggs within
the Netherlands and their dispatch to other Member
States have been prohibited. Furthermore the dispatch to
Member States and third countries of fresh, unprocessed
manure and litter of poultry should also be prohibited.

The same prohibitions
should apply to exports of
poultry and hatching eggs to third countries in order to
protect their health status and to prevent the risk of re-
entry of such consignments in another Member State.

For the sake of clarity and transparency the Commission
after consultation with the Dutch authorities, thereby
reinforcing the measures taken by the Netherlands, has
taken Decision 2003/153/EC of 3 March 2003
concerning protection measures in relation to strong
suspicion of avian influenza in the Netherlands (5).

Subsequently Commission Decisions 2003/156/EC (6),
2003/172/EC (7), 2003/186/EC (8), 2003/191/EC (9) and
2003/214/EC (10) were adopted after consultation with
the Dutch authorities and evaluation of the situation
with all Member States.

The favourable results of the surveillance programme
carried out nationwide in the Netherlands suggested that
the occurrence of the highly pathogenic avian influenza
virus appeared to be restricted to a confined area in the
centre of the Netherlands.

(10) However, despite the measures taken, on 4 April 2003
the disease was confirmed in turkey farms in the
southern province of Limburg.

(11)

In view of the occurrence of disease in Limburg, appro-
priate biosafety, control and surveillance measures are
being taken in Belgium and Germany to prevent the
introduction of disease into these countries.

(12) On basis of Decision 2003/214/EC, the Dutch authori-
ties started preventive emptying and culling of poultry in
holdings and areas at risk which should be completed
swiftly in order to avoid further spreading of the virus.

(5) OJ L 59, 4.3.2003, p. 32.
(6) OJ L 64, 7.3.2003, p. 36.
(7) OJ L 69, 13.3.2003, p. 27.
(8) OJ L 71, 15.3.2003, p. 30.
(9) OJ L 74, 20.3.2003, p. 30.
(10) OJ L 81, 28.3.2003, p. 48.

L 95/66

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

11.4.2003

(13) As a further disease control measure, the Dutch authori-
ties have applied the strategy of compartmentalisation
by dividing the territory into several compartments by
restricting transports and activities linked to the poultry
sector between compartments.

(14)

Fresh poultry meat destined for intra-Community trade
has to be marked with a health mark in accordance with
the health mark foreseen in Chapter XII of Annex I to
Council Directive 71/118/EEC (1), as last amended by
Directive 97/79/EC (2). In order to allow the marketing
on the Dutch market of fresh poultry meat obtained
from poultry originating from the established surveil-
lance zones, special provisions for its health marking
shall be laid down.

(15)

The Dutch authorities should reinforce bio-security and
hygiene measures including cleaning and disinfection
procedures to prevent the further spread of the disease
at all levels of poultry and egg production.

(16)

The measures laid down in Decision 2003/214/EC must
be adapted in the light of the evolution of the disease.

(17)

The other Member States have already adjusted the
measures they apply to trade, and they are sufficiently
informed by the Commission, and, in particular in the
context of the Standing Committee on the Food Chain
and Animal Health, on the appropriate period for their
implementation.

(18)

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

1. Without prejudice to the measures taken by the Nether-
lands within the framework of Directive 92/40/EEC applied to
the surveillance zones, the Dutch veterinary authorities shall
ensure that no live poultry, hatching eggs and fresh, unpro-
cessed and unpasteurised poultry manure or
are
dispatched from the Netherlands to other Member States and
to third countries.

litter

2. Without prejudice to the measures taken by the Nether-
lands within the framework of Directive 92/40/EEC within the
surveillance zones and buffer zones as described in the Annex,
the Dutch veterinary authorities shall ensure that no live
poultry and hatching eggs are transported within the Nether-
lands.

authority,

By way of derogation from paragraph 2, the competent
3.
veterinary
bio-security
all
measures in accordance with Articles 4 and 5 to avoid the
spread of avian influenza, may authorise the transport from
areas situated outside the surveillance zones of:

appropriate

taking

(a) poultry for immediate slaughter,

laying
hens, to a slaughterhouse that has been designated by the
competent veterinary authority;

including spent

(b) day-old chicks and ready-to-lay pullets to a holding under

official control, where no other poultry is kept;

(c) hatching eggs to a hatchery under official control.

If live poultry transported in accordance with (a) or (b) origi-
nate in another Member State or third country, the transport
has to be approved by the Dutch authorities and the competent
authority of the Member State or third country of dispatch.

taking

authority,

appropriate

By way of derogation from paragraph 2 the competent
4.
veterinary
bio-security
all
measures to avoid the spread of avian influenza, may authorise
transport of live poultry and hatching eggs not prohibited by
Directive 92/40/EEC and in particular in respect to movements
of day-old chicks in accordance with the provisions of Article
9(4)(a),
(b) and (c), which shall be transported to holdings
within the Netherlands under official control.

Article 2

Fresh poultry meat obtained from slaughter poultry transported
by taking all appropriate bio-security measures in accordance
with Articles 4 and 5 and originating from the established
surveillance zones:

(a) shall be marked with a round format mark in accordance
with the further requirements of the competent authorities;

(b) shall not be dispatched to other Member States or third

countries;

(c) must be obtained, cut, stored and transported separately
from other fresh poultry meat destined for intra-Commu-
nity trade and for exports to third countries and must be
used in such a way as to avoid it being introduced into
meat products or meat preparations intended for intra-
Community trade or for export to third countries, unless it
has undergone the treatment specified in table 1(a), (b) or
(c) of Annex III to Directive 2002/99/EC.

Article 3

Without prejudice to the measures already taken in the frame-
work of Directive 92/40/EEC, the Netherlands shall ensure that
the preventive emptying and culling of poultry in holdings and
areas at risk in the restricted zones and the zones described in
the Annex is completed as soon as possible.

The precautionary measures referred to in the first subpara-
graph shall be taken without prejudice to Council Decision 90/
424/EEC of 26 June 1990 on expenditure in the veterinary
field (3), as last amended by Decision 2001/572/EC (4).

(1) OJ L 55, 8.3.1971, p. 23.
(2) OJ L 13, 16.1.1997, p. 18.

(3) OJ L 224, 18.8.1990, p. 19.
(4) OJ L 203, 28.7.2001, p. 16.

11.4.2003

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

L 95/67

Article 4

In order to enhance bio-security in the poultry sector, the
competent veterinary authority of the Netherlands shall ensure
that:

in disposable packaging or

(a) table eggs shall only be transported from a holding to a
in
packing station either
containers,
trays and other non-disposable equipment,
which must be cleaned and disinfected before and after
each use in accordance with (d). In addition, in case of table
eggs originating from another Member State, the competent
veterinary authority shall ensure
the packaging,
containers, trays and other non-disposable equipment used
for their transport are returned;

that

(b) slaughter poultry intended for immediate slaughter shall be
transported with trucks and in crates or cages which must
be cleaned and disinfected before and after each use in
accordance with (d).
in case of slaughter
In addition,
poultry originating from another Member State, the compe-
tent veterinary authority shall ensure that the crates and
cages and containers are returned;

(c) day-old chicks are transported in disposable packing

material to be destroyed after use;

(d) the disinfectants and the method of cleaning and disinfec-

tion must be approved by the competent authority.

farms. These measures aim in particular to avoid risky contacts
of poultry, transport means, equipment and people entering or
leaving poultry farms, egg packing stations, hatcheries, slaugh-
terhouses, feedmills, litter processing and rendering plants. For
this purpose, all poultry farmers shall keep a register for all
professional visits to their farms as well as their professional
visits to other poultry holdings.

Article 6

This Decision shall apply from 0.00 on 11 April 2003 until
24.00 on 25 April 2003.

Article 7

The Netherlands shall amend the measures which they apply to
trade so as to bring them into compliance with this Decision
and they shall give immediate appropriate publicity to the
measures adopted. They shall immediately inform the Commis-
sion thereof.

Article 8

This Decision is addressed to the Netherlands.

Article 5

Done at Brussels, 10 April 2003.

The competent veterinary authority of the Netherlands shall
ensure that stringent bio-security measures are taken on all
levels of poultry and egg production in order to avoid risky
contacts that may cause the spread of avian influenza between

For the Commission

David BYRNE

Member of the Commission

L 95/68

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

11.4.2003

Area A: Buffergebied Wageningen (24.3.2003)

ANNEX

1. Vanaf de kruising Werftweg/Veensteeg (De Kraats) de Veensteeg volgend in zuidoostelijke richting tot aan de

Heuvelweg.

2. De Heuvelweg volgend in noordoostelijke richting tot aan de Slagsteeg.

3. De Slagsteeg volgend in zuidelijke richting tot aan de Weerdjesweg.

4. De Weerdjesweg volgend in oostelijke richting tot aan de Harsloweg.

5. De Harsloweg volgend in zuidelijk richting tot aan de Lange Rijnsteeg.

6. De Lange Rijnsteeg volgend in oostelijke richting, overgaand in de Dijkgraaf, overgaand in de Lange Steeg tot aan

de Doctor Willem Dreeslaan (N781).

7. De Doctor Willem Dreeslaan (N781) volgend in zuidoostelijke richting, overgaand in de Mansholtlaan, overgaand in
de Diedenweg, overgaand in de Westerbergweg, overgaand in de Onderlangs, overgaand in de Veerdam tot aan de
rivier de Rijn.

8. De rivier de Rijn stroomafwaarts volgend tot aan de Rijnbrug N233 (Rhenen).

9. De Rijnbrug (N233) volgend in noordelijke richting, overgaand in de Lijnweg (N233), overgaand in de Cuneraweg

(N233) tot aan de Zuidelijke Meentsteeg.

10. De Zuidelijke Meentsteeg volgend in noordoostelijke richting, overgaand in de Werftweg.

11. De Werftweg volgend in oostelijke richting tot aan de kruising Werftweg/Veensteeg (De Kraats).

Area B: Buffergebied Putten (24.3.2003)

1. Vanaf de Strand Horst de Palmbosweg volgend in zuidelijke richting tot aan de Buitenbrinkweg.

2. De Buitenbrinkweg volgend in zuidoostelijke richting tot aan de Schaapsdijk.

3. De Schaapsdijk volgend in zuidoostelijke richting tot aan de Zeeweg.

4. De Zeeweg volgend in oostelijke richting tot aan de Telgterweg.

5. De Telgterweg volgend in zuidelijke richting, overgaand in de Telgterengweg tot aan de Bulderweg.

6. De Bulderweg volgend in oostelijke richting tot aan de Volenbeekweg.

7. De Volenbeekweg volgend in zuidelijke richting tot aan de Oude Telgterweg.

8. De Oude Telgterweg volgend in westelijke richting tot aan de Watervalweg.

9. De Watervalweg volgend in zuidelijke richting tot aan de kruising Watervalweg/Telgterweg (Ermelo).

10. Vanaf de kruising Watervalweg/Telgterweg (Ermelo) de Telgterweg volgend in zuidelijke richting tot aan de Oude

Rijksweg N798 (Putten).

11. De Oude Rijksweg N798 (Putten) volgend in zuidwestelijke richting tot aan de Stationsstraat.

12. De Stationsstraat volgend in westelijke richting, overgaand in de Zuiderzeestraatweg tot aan de Waterweg.

13. De Waterweg volgend in zuidwestelijke richting tot aan de Hoornsdam.

14. De Hoornsdam volgend in westelijke richting tot aan het Nuldernauw.

15. Het Nuldernauw volgend in noordoostelijke richting tot aan de Strand Horst.

Area C: Buffergebied Opheusden (25.3.2003)

1. Vanaf de kruising Nederrijn/Veerweg, de Veerweg volgend in zuidelijk richting, overgaand in de Randwijkse Rijndijk,
overgaand in de Knoppersweg (N836), volgend in zuidoostelijke richting overgaand in de Wageningsestraat (N836)
tot aan de snelweg A15 (E31).

2. De snelweg A15 volgend in oostelijke richting tot aan het knooppunt Valburg/snelweg (A50).

3. De snelweg (A50) volgend in zuidwestelijke richting tot aan de rivier de Waal.

4. De rivier de Waal volgend in westelijke richting tot aan de Cuneraweg.

5. De Cuneraweg volgend in noordelijke richting, overgaand in N233, overgaand in de Rijnburg tot aan de rivier de

Nederrijn.

6. De rivier de Nederrijn volgend in oostelijke richting tot aan de Veerweg.

11.4.2003

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

L 95/69

Area D: Buffergebied Beneden-Leeuwen (25.3.2003)

1. De rivier de Waal ter hoogte van het Kanaal van Sint Andries in noordoostelijke richting volgend tot het verlengde

van Noord-Zuidweg (Boven-Leeuwen).

2. Het verlengde van de Noord-Zuidweg (Boven-Leeuwen) volgend in zuidelijke richting, overgaand in de Noord-

Zuidweg, overgaand in Noord-Zuid (N322), overgaand in Noord-Zuid (N329) tot aan de rivier de Maas.

3. De rivier de Maas volgend in westelijke richting tot aan het kanaal van Sint Andries.

4. Het kanaal van Sint Andries volgend in noordwestelijke richting tot aan de rivier de Waal.

Area E: Buffergebied Druten (27.3.2003)

1. Vanaf de kruising van de verlengde weg van de Noord-Zuidweg (Beneden-Leeuwen) en de rivier de Waal, de rivier de

Waal volgend in oostelijke richting tot aan de A50.

2. De A50 volgend in zuidelijke richting tot aan de rivier de Maas.

3. De rivier de Maas volgend in westelijke richting tot aan Noord-Zuid (N329).

4. Noord-Zuid (N329) volgend in noordoostelijke richting, overgaand in de Noord-Zuidweg tot aan de rivier de Waal.

Area F: Buffergebied Nijkerk (27.3.2003)

1. Vanaf de Hoornsdam volgend in westelijke richting tot aan oprit 10 van de A28 (Strand Nulde).

2. De A28 volgend in zuidelijke richting tot aan het verkeersknooppunt Hoevelaken.

3. Vanaf het verkeersknooppunt Hoevelaken de A1 volgend in noordwestelijke richting tot aan de kruising A1/Oude

Zevenhuizerstraat (Amersfoort).

4. De Oude Zevenhuizerstraat volgend in noordelijke richting, overgaand in de Groenweg tot het Nijkerkernauw.

5. Het Nijkerkernauw volgend in oostelijke richting tot de Hoornsdam.

Area G: Buffergebied Lienden (27.3.2003)

1. Vanaf Wijk bij Duurstede de rivier de Neder-Rijn volgend in oostelijke richting tot aan de Rijnbrug N233 (Rhenen).

2. De Rijnbrug N233 (Rhenen) volgend in zuidelijke richting, overgaand in de provinciale weg N233, overgaand in de

Cuneraweg tot aan de rivier de Waal.

3. De rivier de Waal volgend in westelijke richting tot aan het Amsterdam-Rijnkanaal

4. Het Amsterdam-Rijnkanaal volgend in noordwestelijke richting tot aan de rivier de Neder-Rijn (Wijk bij Duurstede).

Area H: Buffergebied Oss (3.4.2003)

1. Vanaf de kruising van de rivier de Maas met de A50 ter hoogte van afslag 17 (Ravensteijn) de A50 volgend in zuid-

westelijke richting tot aan afslag 15 (Oss).

2. Afslag 15 volgend tot de Cereslaan.

3. De Cereslaan volgend in noordwestelijke richting tot aan de Ruwaardsingel (Oss).

4. De Ruwaardsingel (Oss) volgend in noordoostelijke richting tot aan de Doctor Saal van Zwanenbergsingel.

5. De Doctor Saal van Zwanenbergsingel volgend in noordwestelijke richting, overgaand in de Hertogin Johannasingel,

overgaand in de John F. Kennedylaan tot aan de Gewandeweg.

6. De Gewandeweg volgend in westelijke richting, overgaand in de Burgemeester Smitsweg, overgaand in de Wildseweg

tot aan de Nieuwe Provincialeweg (N625).

7. De Nieuwe Provincialeweg (N625) volgend in noordelijke richting, overgaand in de Wildsedijk (N625) tot aan de

Veerweg.

8. De Veerweg volgend in westelijke richting tot aan de rivier de Maas.

9. De rivier de Maas volgend in noordoostelijke richting tot aan de kruising met de A50.