2005/464/EC: Commission Decision of 21 June 2005 on the implementation of survey programmes for avian influenza in poultry and wild birds to be carried out in the Member States (notified under document number C(2005) 1827) Text with EEA relevance
Date: 2005-06-21
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: EU financing, analytical chemistry, avian influenza, bird, epidemiology, poultry, veterinary inspection

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Official Journal of the European Union

24.6.2005

COMMISSION DECISION

of 21 June 2005

on the implementation of survey programmes for avian influenza in poultry and wild birds to be
carried out in the Member States

(notified under document number C(2005) 1827)

(Text with EEA relevance)

(2005/464/EC)

THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,

applied in the event of an outbreak of avian influenza in
poultry. However, it does not provide for regular surveys
of that disease in poultry and wild birds.

Having regard to the Treaty
Community,

establishing the European

Having regard to Council Decision 90/424/EEC of 26 June
1990 on expenditure in the veterinary field (1) and in particular
Article 20 thereof,

Whereas:

(1)

(2)

a Community
Decision 90/424/EEC provides
financial contribution for the undertaking of technical
and scientific measures necessary for the development
of Community veterinary legislation and for veterinary
education and training.

for

The Scientific Committee on Animal Health and Animal
Welfare in a report of 27 June 2000 recommended that
surveys be carried out on poultry flocks and wild birds
for avian influenza,
to determine the
infections with avian influenza virus
prevalence of
subtypes H5 and H7.

in particular

(3)

Council Directive 92/40/EEC of 19 May 1992 intro-
ducing Community measures for the control of avian
influenza (2) defines Community control measures to be

(1) OJ L 224, 18.8.1990, p. 19. Decision as last amended by Directive
2003/99/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council
(OJ
L 325, 12.12.2003, p. 31).

(2) OJ L 167, 22.6.1992, p. 1. Directive as last amended by Regulation

(EC) No 806/2003 (OJ L 122, 16.5.2003, p. 1).

(4)

(5)

(6)

(7)

Accordingly, Commission Decisions 2002/649/EC (3) and
2004/111/EC (4)
of
surveillance programmes concerning avian influenza by
the Member States to the Commission.

submission

provided

the

for

Decisions

2002/673/EC (5)

and
Commission
2004/630/EC (6) approved programmes
submitted by
the Member States for surveys of avian influenza in
poultry and wild birds for
the periods specified in
those programmes.

States. Although the

During those surveys, the presence of different subtypes
of H5 and H7 avian influenza viruses has been detected
in several Member
current
prevalence of avian influenza viruses can be considered
rather low, it is important to continue and to improve
the surveillance so as to better understand the epide-
miology of the low pathogenic avian influenza viruses
and prevent that viruses do not circulate unnoticed in
the poultry population. The results of the surveys carried
out in the Member States have proven to be very useful
in monitoring the presence of avian influenza virus
subtypes that could present a substantial risk if
they
form. Taking into
mutated into a more virulent
the results obtained and the current disease
account
situation in the Community,
to
increase the total amount of Community contribution
to ensure increased surveillance.

appropriate

is

it

Accordingly, Member
their
for avian influenza to the
programmes
Commission for approval so that the financial assistance
by the Community may be granted.

surveys

submit

should

States

for

(3) OJ L 213, 9.8.2002, p. 38.
(4) OJ L 32, 5.2.2004, p. 20. Decision as amended by Decision

2004/615/EC (OJ L 278, 27.8.2004, p. 59).

(5) OJ L 228, 24.8.2002, p 27. Decision as amended by Decision

2003/21/EC (OJ L 8, 14.1.2003, p. 37).

(6) OJ L 287, 8.9.2004, p. 7. Decision as amended by Decision

2004/679/EC (OJ L 310, 7.10.2004, p. 75).

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(8)

The measures provided for
accordance with
Committee of the Food Chain and Animal Health,

in this Decision are in
Standing
the

opinion

the

of

HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:

Article 1

By 30 June 2005, Member States shall submit for approval to
the Commission programmes for the implementation of surveys
for avian influenza in poultry and wild birds in accordance with
the Annex.

Article 3

The maximum amounts of the testing costs to be reimbursed
shall not exceed:

(a) ELISA test:

EUR 1 per test;

(b) agar gel immune diffusion test:

EUR 0,6 per test;

(c) HI test for H5/H7:

EUR 4 per test;

(d) virus isolation test:

EUR 30 per test.

Article 4

This Decision is addressed to the Member States.

Article 2

Done at Brussels, 21 June 2005.

The Community’s financial contribution towards the measures
provided for in Article 1 shall be at the rate of 50 % of the
costs
incurred in Member States up to a maximum of
EUR 1 200 000 for the Member States in total.

For the Commission

Markos KYPRIANOU
Member of the Commission

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Official Journal of the European Union

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ANNEX

Programmes for surveillance of avian influenza in poultry and wild birds to be carried out in the Member States
in 2005 and 2006

A. OBJECTIVES

1.

2.

To estimate the prevalence of infections with avian influenza virus subtypes H5 and H7 in different species of
poultry by repeating previous screening exercises provided for in Decisions 2004/111/EC and 2004/630/EC in a
modified, more targeted manner.

To continue surveillance for avian influenza on a voluntary basis in wild birds. The outcome of such surveillance
should further provide valuable information for an early warning system of strains that may be introduced into
poultry flocks from wild birds.

3.

To contribute to the knowledge on the threats of avian influenza to animal health from wildlife.

4.

To foster the connection and integration of human and veterinary networks for influenza surveillance.

B.

1.

GENERAL REQUIREMENTS AND CRITERIA FOR SURVEYS IN POULTRY

Sampling shall cover a period appropriate to production periods for each poultry category as required. For example,
in many Member States a large slaughter of poultry (in particular turkeys and geese) takes place around Christmas.
Sampling shall not extend beyond 31 January 2006.

2.

31 March 2006 shall be the date for the submission of the final survey results.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

Testing of samples shall be carried out at national laboratories for avian influenza (NL) in Member States or by other
laboratories authorised by the competent authorities and under the control of the NL.

All results (both serological and virological) shall be sent to the Community Reference Laboratory (CRL) for
collation. A good flow of information must be ensured. The CRL shall provide technical support and keep an
enlarged stock of diagnostic reagents. Antigens for use in the survey shall be supplied to NL’s by the CRL to ensure
uniformity.

All avian influenza (AI) virus isolates shall be submitted to the CRL in accordance with Community legislation.
Viruses of H5/H7 subtype shall be submitted without delay and shall be subjected to the standard characterisation
tests (nucleotide sequencing/IVPI) according to Directive 92/40/EEC. In addition, the CRL shall require that H5 or
H7 positive sera collected from anseriformes be submitted ‘blind’ in order that an archive be established to facilitate
future test development.

All positive findings shall be retrospectively investigated at the holding and the conclusions of this investigation shall
be reported to the Commission and the CRL.

Specific protocols to accompany the sending of material to the CRL and reporting tables for collection of survey
data shall be provided by the CRL. In those tables the laboratory testing methods used shall be indicated. The tables
provided shall be used to submit results in a single document.

Blood samples for serological examination shall be collected from all species of poultry including those reared in
free-range systems, from at least 5 to 10 birds (except ducks geese and quail) per holding, and from the different
sheds, if more than one shed is present on a holding.

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9.

Sampling shall be stratified throughout the territory of the whole Member State, so that samples can be considered
as representative for the whole of the Member State, taking into account:

(a)

the number of holdings to be sampled (excluding ducks, geese and turkeys); that number shall be defined so as
to ensure the identification of at least one infected holding if the prevalence of infected holdings is at least 5 %,
with a 95 % confidence interval; (see table 1) and

(b) the number of birds sampled from each holding shall be defined so as to ensure 95 % probability of identifying

at least one positive bird if the prevalence of sero-positive birds is ≥ 30 %.

10. The sampling design shall also consider:

(a) The types of production and their specific risks, shall be targeted to free range production and outdoor keeping
plus taking into account other factors such as multi-age, use of surface water, a relatively longer life span, the
presence of more than one species on the holding or other relevant factors.

(b) The number of turkey, duck and goose holdings to be sampled shall be defined to ensure the identification of at
least one infected holding if the prevalence of infected holdings is at least 5 %, with a 99 % confidence interval
(see table 2).

(c) Where significant number of holdings producing ratites and quails are present in a Member State they shall be

included in the programme. With regard to quails only adult (or laying) breeders shall be sampled.

(d) The time period for sampling shall coincide with seasonal production. However, where appropriate, sampling
can be adapted to other identified periods at local level, during which time the presence of other poultry hosts
on a holding might pose a greater risk for disease introduction.

(e) Member States that must carry out sampling for Newcastle disease to maintain their status as Newcastle disease
non-vaccinating countries in accordance with Commission Decision 94/327/EC (1) may utilise these samples
from breeding flocks for the surveillance of H5/H7 antibodies.

Number of holdings to be sampled of each poultry category (except turkey, duck and goose holdings)

Table 1

Number of holdings per poultry category
per Member State

Number of holdings to be sampled

Up to 34

35-50

51-80

81-250

> 250

All

35

42

53

60

Number of turkey, duck and goose holdings to be sampled

Table 2

Number of holdings per Member State

Number of holdings to be sampled

Up to 46

47-60

61-100

101-350

> 350

(1) OJ L 146, 11.6.1994, p. 17.

All

47

59

80

90

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C.

1.

2.

SPECIFIC REQUIREMENTS FOR DETECTION OF INFECTIONS WITH H5/H7 SUBTYPES OF AVIAN INFLUENZA IN
DUCKS, GOOSE AND QUAIL

Blood samples for serological testing shall be taken preferably from birds which are kept outside in fields.

From each selected holding 40 to 50 blood samples shall be taken for serological testing.

D.

SURVEY FOR AVIAN INFLUENZA IN WILD BIRDS

In those Member States where surveillance will also concern wild birds the following guidelines shall be followed.

D.1. Survey design and implementation

1. Liaisons with bird conservation/watching institutions and ringing stations are necessary. Sampling where appro-

priate shall be carried out by staff from these groups/stations or by hunters.

2. Experience with the previous surveys has shown that the virus isolation rate was extremely low, therefore

sampling shall focus on the birds migrating south during autumn and early winter.

D.2. Sampling procedures
1. Cloacal swabs for virological examination shall be taken. In addition to ‘first year’ birds in autumn, host species
with high susceptibility and increased contact with poultry (such as Mallard ducks) may offer the highest chance
of success.

2. Samples shall be taken from different species of free living birds. Waterfowl and shorebirds shall be the main

sampling targets.

3. Swabs containing faeces, or carefully collected fresh faeces shall be taken from wild birds trapped, hunted and

found freshly dead.

4. Pooling of up to five samples from the same species is possible. Specific care has to be taken for the storage and
transport of samples. If rapid transport within 48 hours to the laboratory (in transport medium at 4° Celsius) is
not guaranteed, samples shall be stored and then transported in dry ice at – 70° Celsius.

E.

LABORATORY TESTING

Laboratory tests shall be carried out in accordance with the diagnostic procedures for the confirmation and
differential diagnostic of avian influenza (AI) set out in Annex III to Directive 92/40/EEC (including examination
of sera from ducks and geese by haemagglutination-inhibition (HI) test. However, if laboratory tests not laid down in
Directive 92/40/EEC, nor described in the OIE Terrestrial Manual, are envisaged, Member States shall provide the
necessary validation data to the CRL, in parallel to submitting their programme to the Commission for approval. All
positive serological findings shall be confirmed by the National laboratories for avian influenza by an haemagglu-
tination-inhibition test, using designated strains supplied by the Community Reference Laboratory:

H5

(a)

Initial test using Duck/Denmark/64650/03 (H5N7)

(b) Test all positives with Ostrich/Denmark/72420/96 (H5N2) to eliminate N7 cross reactive antibody.

H7

(a)

Initial test using Turkey/England/647/77 (H7N7)

(b) Test all positives with African Starling/983/79 (H7N1) to eliminate N7 cross reactive antibody.