2005/926/EC: Commission Decision of  21 December 2005  on introducing supplementary measures to control infections with low pathogenic avian influenza in Italy and repealing Decision 2004/666/EC  (notified under document number C(2005) 5566)   (Text with EEA relevance)
Date: 2005-12-21
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: Italy, animal disease, derogation from EU law, egg, export restriction, poultry, poultrymeat, safety standard, vaccination, veterinary inspection

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Official Journal of the European Union

22.12.2005

COMMISSION DECISION

of 21 December 2005

on introducing supplementary measures to control infections with low pathogenic avian influenza
in Italy and repealing Decision 2004/666/EC

(notified under document number C(2005) 5566)

(Text with EEA relevance)

(2005/926/EC)

THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,

Having regard to the Treaty
Community,

establishing the European

infected from vaccinated animals (DIVA) strategy was
applied by using a heterologous vaccine of H7N1
subtype, which allows differentiation between infected
and vaccinated poultry.

Having regard to Council Directive 89/662/EEC of 11
in intra-
December 1989 concerning
Community trade with a view to the completion of
the
internal market (1), and in particular, Article 9(4) thereof,

veterinary

checks

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 (2), and in
particular, Article 10(4) thereof,

Having regard to Council Directive 92/40/EEC of 19 May 1992
introducing Community measures for the control of avian
influenza (3), and in particular Article 16 thereof,

Having regard to Council Directive 2002/99/EC of 16
animal health rules
December 2002 laying down the
governing the production, processing, distribution and intro-
duction
human
consumption (4), and in particular Articles 4(3) and 13(3)
thereof,

products

animal

origin

for

of

of

Whereas:

(1)

on

2002

vaccination

introducing

Under Commission Decision 2002/975/EC of 12
December
to
supplement the measures to control infections with low
pathogenic avian influenza in Italy and on specific
vaccination
movement
programme was carried out in parts of Northern Italy
to control
avian
subtype H7N3. A differentiating
influenza

infections with low pathogenic

control measures (5)

strain

a

(1) OJ L 395, 30.12.1989, p. 13. Directive as last amended by Directive
2004/41/EC of
the Council
(OJ L 157, 30.4.2004, p. 33); corrected version (OJ L 195,
2.6.2004, p. 12).

the European Parliament and of

(2) OJ L 224, 18.8.1990, p. 29. Directive as last amended by Directive
the Council

the European Parliament and of

2002/33/EC of
(OJ L 315, 19.11.2002, p. 14).

(3) OJ L 167, 22.6.1992, p. 1. Directive as last amended by 2003 Act

of Accession.

(4) OJ L 18, 23.1.2003, p. 11.
(5) OJ L 337, 13.12.2002, p. 87. Decision as last amended by Decision

2004/159/EC (OJ L 50, 20.2.2004, p. 63).

(2)

(3)

(4)

(5)

on

2004

vaccination

introducing

Under Commission Decision 2004/666/EC of 29
September
to
supplement the measures to control infections with low
pathogenic avian influenza in Italy and on specific
movement control measures and repealing Decision
2002/975/EC (6) a new vaccination programme was
Italy compared to the
approved in a smaller area of
previous
Decision
vaccination
2002/975/EC. The new programme is carried out with
a bivalent vaccine containing both avian influenza
subtypes H5 and H7. This kind of vaccination is
least 31 December 2005. That
carried out until at
Decision also provides
for a prohibition on intra-
Community trade in live poultry and hatching eggs
coming from and/or originating from the vaccination
area and conditions for intra-Community trade in fresh
meat originating from vaccinated poultry in accordance
with article 3 of Decision 2004/666/EC.

campaign

under

The results of the vaccination programme, as provided
for in Decision 2004/666/EC and reported at several
meetings of
the Standing Committee on the Food
Chain and Animal Health, were generally favourable.

As a result of the favourable situation within the vacci-
nation area provided for in Decision 2004/666/EC and in
the light of the increased experience on the application of
vaccination, dispatch of slaughter poultry, hatching eggs
and day-old chicks from Italy should be permitted if
certain conditions are fulfilled.

In the light of the particular risk of introduction of avian
Italy in question, and the
influenza in the areas of
vaccination
an amended
Italy of
submission by
programme by the letter dated 23 June 2005 for
approval, it appears appropriate to continue vaccination
in the areas at higher
risk of disease introduction.
Furthermore, an intensive monitoring and surveillance
should be performed both in the vaccination area and
in its surroundings.

(6) OJ L 303, 30.9.2004, p. 35. Decision as amended by Decision

2005/10/EC (OJ L 4, 6.1.2005, p. 15).

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Special sampling and testing procedures should also be
applicable to slaughter poultry.

(a) come from holdings that are not located in a restriction
zone established in accordance with the provisions laid
down in the vaccination programme;

(6)

(7)

(8)

In the interests of clarity of Community legislation, it is
appropriate to repeal Decision 2004/666/EC and replace
it by this Decision.

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

in this Decision are in
Standing
the

opinion

the

of

HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:

Article 1

Approval of the vaccination programme

The

amended vaccination programme

1.
avian
influenza, submitted by Italy to the Commission on 23 June
2005, is approved (‘the vaccination programme’).

against

The vaccination programme shall be carried out with a bivalent
vaccine in the areas listed in Annex I (‘the vaccination area’).
The vaccination programme shall be implemented efficiently.

2.
Intensive monitoring and surveillance, as set out in the
vaccination programme shall be carried out in the vaccination
area and in the areas listed in Annex III.

Article 2

(b) originate from flocks which have been regularly inspected
and tested with negative results for avian influenza, with
particular attention paid to sentinel birds;

(c) originate from flocks which have been clinically inspected
by an official veterinarian within 48 hours before loading,
with particular attention paid to sentinel birds;

(d) originate from flocks which have been tested serologically
for avian influenza 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;

(e) are sent directly to a slaughterhouse and slaughtered imme-

diately upon arrival.

For the testing of flocks, as provided for in point (b) of

2.
paragraph 1, the following tests shall be used:

(a)

for vaccinated birds, the developed indirect Immunofluor-
escence Assay (‘iIFA-test’);

Restrictions on movements of live poultry, hatching eggs,
day-old chicks and fresh meat of poultry

(b) for non-vaccinated birds:

The restrictions on movements of live poultry, hatching eggs,
day-old chicks and fresh meat of poultry into, out of and within
the vaccination area and from holdings located in a restriction
zone established in accordance with the provisions laid down in
the vaccination programme shall apply in accordance with
Article 3 to 9 of this Decision.

(i) the Haemagglutination-Inhibition Test (HI);

(ii) the AGID-test;

Article 3

(iii) the ELISA-test; or

Restrictions on dispatch of live poultry, hatching eggs and
day-old chicks

No live poultry, hatching eggs and day-old chicks coming from
and/or originating from holdings in the vaccination area and
from holdings located in a restriction zone established in
accordance with the provisions laid down in the vaccination
programme shall be dispatched from Italy.

Article 4

Derogation from restrictions on dispatch of slaughter
poultry

(iv) the iIFA-test, if necessary.

Article 5

Derogation from restrictions on dipatch of hatching eggs

By way of derogation from Article 3, hatching eggs that come
from and/or originate from holdings in the vaccination area,
may be dispatched from Italy if:

1.
By way of derogation from Article 3, slaughter poultry
that come from and/or originate from holdings in the vacci-
nation area, may be dispatched from Italy if the poultry:

(a)

they come from holdings
restriction zone
provisions laid down in the vaccination programme;

located in a
established in accordance with the

that are not

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(b) they come from flocks which have been regularly inspected
and tested with negative results for avian influenza using the
tests as provided for in Article 4(2);

in particular, not be oval. That mark shall contain the
shall,
approval number of the establishment but not the letters C.E.

(c)

they are disinfected before departure from the holding;

Article 9

(d) they are transported directly to the hatchery of destination;

(e)

the hatchery of destination can ensure the traceability of the
hatching eggs by means of the records of the holding of
origin of the hatching eggs and of the destination of the
day-old chicks hatched from such eggs.

Article 6

Derogation from restrictions on dispatch of day-old chicks

By way of derogation from Article 3, day-old chicks that come
from and/or originate from holdings located in the vaccination
they orginate from
area, may be dispatched from Italy if
in
hatching eggs that comply with the conditions set out
Article 5.

Article 7

Animal health certificates for consignments of live poultry,
hatching eggs and day-old chicks

Animal health certificates accompanying consignments of live
poultry, hatching eggs and day-old chicks from Italy shall
include the words:
this
consignment are in accordance with Commission Decision
2005/926/EC’.

‘The animal health conditions of

Article 8

Restrictions on dispatch and special marking of fresh meat
of poultry

1.
Fresh meat of poultry as provided in Article 2 shall be
marked in accordance with paragraph 2 and shall not be
dispatched from Italy if it is derived from:

(a) poultry originating from holdings located in a restriction
zone established in accordance with the provisions laid
down in the vaccination programme;

(b) poultry vaccinated against avian influenza;

(c) poultry from avian influenza sero-positive poultry flocks
destined for slaughter under official control in accordance
with the vaccination programme.

Fresh meat of poultry as provided in paragraph 1 shall be
2.
marked with a special health or identification mark which
cannot be confused with the health mark as provided in
Chapter XII, Annex I to Council Directive 71/118/EEC (1) and

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

Derogation from restrictions on dispatch of fresh meat of
poultry

By way of derogation from Article 8(1)(b) and paragraph 2,
fresh meat derived from turkeys and chickens vaccinated
against
avian influenza with a heterologous vaccine of
subtype (H7N1) and (H5N9) may be dispatched from Italy,
provided that
the meat comes from turkeys and chickens
which:

(a) originate from flocks which have been regularly inspected
and tested with negative results for avian influenza, with
particular attention paid to sentinel birds;

(b) originate from flocks which have been clinically inspected
by an official veterinarian within 48 hours before loading,
with particular attention paid to sentinel birds;

(c) originate from flocks which have been tested serologically
for avian influenza 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;

(d) come from flocks which have been tested with negative
results for avian influenza using the tests as provided for
in Article 4(2);

(e) are kept separated from other flocks which do not comply

with this Article;

(f) are sent directly to a slaughterhouse and slaughtered imme-

diately upon arrival.

Article 10

Health certificate for fresh meat of turkey and chicken

turkey and chicken complying with the
Fresh meat of
in Article 9 shall be accompanied by a
conditions set out
in
health certificate in accordance with the model set out
Annex VI
include
under point IV (a) of that certificate the following attestation
of the official veterinarian:

to l Directive 71/118/EEC, which shall

‘The turkey meat/chicken meat (*) described above is in
accordance with Commission Decision 2005/926/EC.

___________
(*) Delete as appropriate.’

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Article 11

Washing and disinfection of packaging and means of
transport

Italy shall ensure that in the vaccination area listed in Annex I:

(a) only disposable packaging material, or packaging material
which can be effectively washed and disinfected, is used for
the collection, storage and transport of hatching eggs and
day-old chicks;

(b) all means of transport used for transporting live poultry,
fresh poultry meat and
hatching eggs, day-old chicks,
poultry feedstuff are cleaned and disinfected immediately
before and after each transport with disinfectants and
methods of use approved by the competent authority.

Article 12

Reports

Article 13

Repeals

Decision 2004/666/EC is repealed.

Article 14

Applicability

This Decision shall apply from the tenth day following that of
its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.

Article 15

Addresses

This Decision is addressed to the Member States.

Done at Brussels, 21 December 2005.

Italy shall submit a report to the Commission containing infor-
the vaccination programme
mation on the effectiveness of
within six mouths
this
Decision and thereafter at six-monthly intervals.

from the date of application of

For the Commission

Markos KYPRIANOU
Member of the Commission

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ANNEX I

VACCINATION AREA WHERE VACCINATION IS CARRIED OUT WITH A BIVALENT VACCINE

Veneto Region

Verona Province

ALBAREDO D'ADIGE

ANGIARI

ARCOLE

BELFIORE

BONAVIGO

BOVOLONE

BUTTAPIETRA

CALDIERO

CASALEONE

CASTEL D'AZZANO

CASTELNUOVO DEL GARDA

CEREA

COLOGNA VENETA

COLOGNOLA AI COLLI

CONCAMARISE

ERBÈ

GAZZO VERONESE

ISOLA DELLA SCALA

ISOLA RIZZA

LAVAGNO

MINERBE

area to the south of the A4 motorway

area to the south of the A4 motorway

area to the south of the A4 motorway

area to the south of the A4 motorway

MONTEFORTE D'ALPONE

area to the south of the A4 motorway

MOZZECANE

NOGARA

NOGAROLE ROCCA

OPPEANO

PALÙ

PESCHIERA DEL GARDA

POVEGLIANO VERONESE

PRESSANA

RONCO ALL'ADIGE

ROVERCHIARA

ROVEREDO DI GUÀ

SALIZZOLE

SAN BONIFACIO

SAN GIOVANNI LUPATOTO

SANGUINETTO

area to the south of the A4 motorway

area to the south of the A4 motorway

area to the south of the A4 motorway

SAN MARTINO BUON ALBERGO

area to the south of the A4 motorway

SAN PIETRO DI MORUBIO

SOAVE

SOMMACAMPAGNA

SONA

SORGÀ

TREVENZUOLO

area to the south of the A4 motorway

area to the south of the A4 motorway

area to the south of the A4 motorway

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VALEGGIO SUL MINCIO

VERONA

VERONELLA

VIGASIO

VILLAFRANCA DI VERONA

ZEVIO

ZIMELLA

Brescia Province

ACQUAFREDDA

ALFIANELLO

BAGNOLO MELLA

BASSANO BRESCIANO

BORGOSATOLLO

BRESCIA

CALCINATO

CALVISANO

CAPRIANO DEL COLLE

CARPENEDOLO

CASTENEDOLO

CIGOLE

DELLO

area to the south of the A4 motorway

Lombardia Region

area to the south of the A4 motorway

area to the south of the A4 motorway

area to the south of the A4 motorway

DESENZANO DEL GARDA

area to the south of the A4 motorway

FIESSE

FLERO

GAMBARA

GHEDI

GOTTOLENGO

ISORELLA

LENO

LONATO

MANERBIO

MILZANO

MONTICHIARI

MONTIRONE

OFFLAGA

PAVONE DEL MELLA

PONCARALE

PONTEVICO

POZZOLENGO

PRALBOINO

QUINZANO D'OGLIO

REMEDELLO

REZZATO

SAN GERVASIO BRESCIANO

SAN ZENO NAVIGLIO

SENIGA

VEROLANUOVA

VEROLAVECCHIA

VISANO

area to the south of the A4 motorway

area to the south of the A4 motorway

area to the south of the A4 motorway

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Mantova Province

CASTIGLIONE DELLE STIVIERE

CAVRIANA

CERESARA

GOITO

GUIDIZZOLO

MARMIROLO

MEDOLE

MONZAMBANO

PONTI SUL MINCIO

ROVERBELLA

SOLFERINO

VOLTA MANTOVANA

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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 and chickens in the framework of a Differentiating Infected from
Vaccinated Animals (DIVA) vaccination strategy using a heterologous subtype vaccine from the field virus subtype.

2. Use of the test for the purpose of dispatching fresh turkey and chicken meat from the vaccination area in

Italy

Meat originating from turkey and chicken flocks vaccinated against avian influenza may be dispatched from Italy
provided that, where all the birds are kept in one building, blood samples have been taken by the official veterinarian
within seven days prior to slaughter from at least 10 vaccinated turkeys or chickens destined for slaughter.

However, where the poultry are kept in more than one group or shed, at least 20 vaccinated birds selected randomly
from all the groups or sheds on the farm shall be sampled.

3. Use of the test for the purpose of dispatching slaughter poultry from the vaccination area in Italy

Slaughter poultry originating from the vaccination area may be dispatched from Italy provided that, where all the birds
have been kept in one building, blood samples from at least 10 birds destined for slaughter have been taken by the
official veterinarian within seven days prior dispatch. However, where the poultry are kept in more than one group or
shed, at least 20 birds selected randomly from all the groups or sheds on the farm shall be sampled.

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ANNEX III

AREAS BORDERING THE VACCINATION AREA WHERE INTENSIVE MONITORING AND SURVEILLANCE IS
CARRIED OUT

Lombardia Region

Bergamo province

ANTEGNATE

BAGNATICA

BARBATA

BARIANO

BOLGARE

CALCINATE

CALCIO

CASTELLI CALEPIO

CAVERNAGO

CIVIDATE AL PIANO

COLOGNO AL SERIO

CORTENUOVA

COSTA DI MEZZATE

COVO

FARA OLIVANA CON SOLA

FONTANELLA

GHISALBA

area to the south of the A4 motorway

area to the south of the A4 motorway

area to the south of the A4 motorway

area to the south of the A4 motorway

GRUMELLO DEL MONTE

area to the south of the A4 motorway

ISSO

MARTINENGO

MORENGO

MORNICO AL SERIO

PAGAZZANO

PALOSCO

PUMENENGO

ROMANO DI LOMBARDIA

SERIATE

TELGATE

TORRE PALLAVICINA

Brescia province

AZZANO MELLA

BARBARIGA

BASSANO BRESCIANO

BERLINGO

BORGO SAN GIACOMO

BRANDICO

CASTEGNATO

CASTEL MELLA

CASTELCOVATI

CASTREZZATO

area to the south of the A4 motorway

area to the south of the A4 motorway

area to the south of the A4 motorway

CAZZAGO SAN MARTINO

area to the south of the A4 motorway

CHIARI

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area to the south of the A4 motorway

area to the south of the A4 motorway

area to the south of the A4 motorway

area to the south of the A4 motorway

area to the south of the A4 motorway

COCCAGLIO

COLOGNE

COMEZZANO-CIZZAGO

CORZANO

ERBUSCO

LOGRATO

LONGHENA

MACLODIO

MAIRANO

ORZINUOVI

ORZIVECCHI

OSPITALETTO

PALAZZOLO SULL'OGLIO

POMPIANO

PONTOGLIO

ROCCAFRANCA

RONCADELLE

ROVATO

RUDIANO

SAN PAOLO

TORBOLE CASAGLIA

TRAVAGLIATO

TRENZANO

URAGO D'OGLIO

VILLACHIARA

Cremona province

CAMISANO

CASALE CREMASCO-VIDOLASCO

CASALETTO DI SOPRA

CASTEL GABBIANO

SONCINO

Mantova province

ACQUANEGRA SUL CHIESE

ASOLA

BIGARELLO

CANNETO SULL'OGLIO

CASALMORO

CASALOLDO

CASALROMANO

CASTEL D'ARIO

CASTEL GOFFREDO

CASTELBELFORTE

GAZOLDO DEGLI IPPOLITI

MARIANA MANTOVANA

PIUBEGA

PORTO MANTOVANO

REDONDESCO

RODIGO

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Veneto Region

area to the north of the A4 motorway

area to the north of the A4 motorway

RONCOFERRARO

SAN GIORGIO DI MANTOVA

VILLIMPENTA

Padua province

CARCERI

CASALE DI SCODOSIA

ESTE

LOZZO ATESTINO

MEGLIADINO SAN FIDENZIO

MEGLIADINO SAN VITALE

MONTAGNANA

OSPEDALETTO EUGANEO

PONSO

SALETTO
SANTA MARGHERITA D’ADIGE
URBANA

Verona province

BEVILACQUA

BOSCHI SANT'ANNA

BUSSOLENGO

PESCANTINA

SOMMACAMPAGNA

SONA

Vicenza province

AGUGLIARO

ALBETTONE

ALONTE

ASIGLIANO VENETO

BARBARANO VICENTINO

CAMPIGLIA DEI BERICI

CASTEGNERO

LONIGO

MONTEGALDA

MONTEGALDELLA

MOSSANO

NANTO

NOVENTA VICENTINA

ORGIANO

POIANA MAGGIORE

SAN GERMANO DEI BERICI

SOSSANO

VILLAGA