Opinion of the European Economic and Social Committee on the  Proposal for a Council Directive on Community measures for the control of Avian Influenza  and the  Proposal for a Council Decision amending Council Decision 90/424 EEC on expenditure in the veterinary field (COM(2005) 171 final — 2005/0062 + 0063 CNS)
Date: 2005-09-28
Institutions: European Economic and Social Committee
Subjects: animal disease, disease prevention, health control, poultry, public health

C 24/16

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

31.1.2006

2. Conclusions

The Committee agrees with most of the Commission docu-
ment, but it does not go far enough. In the future, with the
increase in air traffic movements, and more crowded skies, air

Brussels, 28 September 2005

safety will become a greater problem in the years to come.
Therefore the period for revision of the regulation can be
shorter than five years. There is also a need to tighten up safety
i.e. the amount of hand luggage allowed to
on EU airlines,
carry on board. Also the proficiency of English of the Air
Traffic Controllers, and a proper definition of crew rest periods,
etc.

The President

of the European Economic and Social Committee

Anne-Marie SIGMUND

Opinion of the European Economic and Social Committee on the ‘Proposal for a Council Directive
on Community measures for the control of Avian Influenza’ and the ‘Proposal for a Council Deci-
sion amending Council Decision 90/424 EEC on expenditure in the veterinary field’

(COM(2005) 171 final — 2005/0062 + 0063 CNS)

(2006/C 24/05)

On 14 June 2005 the Council decided to consult the European Economic and Social Committee, under
Article 37 of the Treaty establishing the European Community, on the abovementioned proposals.

The Section for Agriculture, Rural Development and the Environment, which was responsible for preparing
the Committee's work on the subject, adopted its opinion on 7 September 2005. The rapporteur was
Mr Donnelly.

At its 420th plenary session, held on 28 and 29 September 2005 (meeting of 28 September), the European
Economic and Social Committee adopted the following opinion by 160 votes to one with 5 abstentions.

1. Introduction

1.1
Avian Influenza (AI) is a highly contagious viral disease
of poultry, which can also spread to other animals and occa-
sionally to humans. In recent months China has implemented a
major vaccination programme after migrating wild geese were
found killed by the virus in the western Qinghai province.

1.2
During recent outbreaks of the highly pathogenic form
of the disease which occurred in several parts of the world,
including some EU Member States, more than 200 million
poultry have died or have been killed and destroyed with the
aim to control the disease. This mass killing and destruction of
animals has raised major ethical, animal welfare, economic,
social and environmental concerns particularly among EU citi-
zens.

latter originate from a mutation of certain LPAI viruses, namely
those of types H5 and H7, and can cause a disease in poultry
with a very high mortality rate. Data available indicates that
HPAI viruses of types H5 and H7 have been responsible for the
vast majority of the cases of AI reported in humans and all
cases of human deaths due to AI viruses. Although there is
evidence regarding the transmission to humans of LPAI virus of
type H9 arising from pigs and poultry, the actual threat to
human health remains unclear.

1.4
Uncontrolled Avian Influenza outbreaks have the poten-
tial to lead to the emergence of a virus fully adapted to humans
and ultimately leading to an Influenza pandemic with devas-
tating health and socio-economic consequences for the world.

1.3
The Influenza virus' ability to rapidly mutate and adapt
poses a particular threat to animal and human health. Although
current knowledge indicates that the health risks posed by the
so-called Low Pathogenic AI (LPAI) viruses are inferior to the
ones posed by the Highly Pathogenic AI (HPAI) viruses, the

2.1
The first proposal sets out to repeal Directive 92/40/EEC
on Avian Influenza and to replace it by a new Directive
updating existing provisions.

2. Gist of Commission proposal

31.1.2006

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 24/17

The proposal

2.2
includes a change in the definition of
Avian Influenza to encompass LPAI as well as HPAI viruses.
Control measures however will vary reflecting the different
risks posed by LPAI and HPAI viruses.

The proposal

2.3
introduces compulsory surveillance and
control measures for LPAI. It is proposed that Member States
be required to submit LPAI surveillance plans for early detec-
for Commission approval so that the disease
tion of LPAI
control measures can be rapidly applied and mutation of LPAI
to HPAI is prevented.

2.4
It is proposed that positive identification of LPAI would
prompt control measures, which would include the option of
controlled slaughter when the risks are judged negligible.
Stamping out would however not be excluded as a control
measure when it would be deemed appropriate.

New and flexible provisions on the vaccination of
2.5
poultry and other birds are envisioned. This includes the possi-
bility of the use of both ‘emergency’ and ‘protective’ vaccina-
tion.

It

is proposed to include domestic birds other than
2.6
poultry such as those kept in zoos in provisions for the control
of both LPAI and HPAI. It is proposed however that it would
be a matter for Member States to decide on whether to adopt a
vaccination or stamping out approach on the basis of risk
analysis.

2.7
Provisions regarding the co-operation between veter-
inary and public health authorities in the case of detection of
AI are proposed as a public health protection measure.

It is proposed to adopt a provision to introduce a rapid
2.8
decision-making process by means of the Comitology proce-
dures.

It is proposed in the second proposal to include the
assistance provision to eradication

2.9
Community
measures relating to LPAI carried out by Member States.

financial

2.10
the possibility of establishing an avian influenza vaccine bank.

It is also proposed that the Commission may examine

presence of the virus in wild birds, experience gained from the
management of outbreaks and new knowledge on the ability of
the influenza virus to mutate including LPAI virus.

3.2
The EESC is also very conscious of the potential risk to
public health and animal health if new measures to control the
disease are not adopted.

The EESC regards the new definition of Avian Influenza
3.3
and the requirement of surveillance and control of LPAI as an
important step in the battle against the virus and its potential
negative impacts.

The EESC accepts the negative public reaction to a
3.4
policy of mass slaughter of birds as the sole means of control-
ling Avian Influenza.

3.5
The EESC recognises the knowledge gained in relation
to vaccination and welcomes the introduction of an emergency
and protective vaccination policy as an additional tool in the
control of Avian Influenza.

The EESC welcomes the proposal for the mandatory

3.6
notification of Avian Influenza to public health authorities.

4. Specific comments

4.1
The EESC recognises the potential risks in the area of
animal health particularly as a consequence of the EU's new
borders following enlargement;
the EESC therefore recom-
mends that sufficient resources are made available by the
Commission for the inspection and auditing of the implementa-
tion and transposition of relevant Directives.

4.2
The EESC understands the international dimensions of
Avian Influenza and requests the Commission to seek equiva-
lent control worldwide regarding Avian Influenza Controls.

4.3 While the EESC welcomes the financial package and the
EU contribution when using stamping out as a means of
controlling LPAI,
the compensation figure
it proposes that
should increase from 30 % to 50 %.

3. General comments

3.1
response to increasing outbreaks of Avian Influenza,

The EESC welcomes this proposal as an important
the

5.1
The EESC supports the Commission's proposal, in the
interests of the protection of animal and human health arising
out of the rapidly mutating and adapting avian influenza virus.

5. Conclusions

Brussels, 28 September 2005.

The President

of the European Economic and Social Committee

Anne-Marie SIGMUND