2006/148/EC: Commission Decision of  24 February 2006  on introducing preventive vaccination against highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1 and related provisions for movements in France  (notified under document number C(2006) 632)
Date: 2006-02-24
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: France, avian influenza, health certificate, health control, intra-EU trade, poultry, poultrymeat, transport of animals, vaccination

25.2.2006

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

L 55/51

COMMISSION DECISION

of 24 February 2006

on introducing preventive vaccination against highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1 and related
provisions for movements in France

(notified under document number C(2006) 632)

(Only the French text is authentic)

(2006/148/EC)

THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,

However, such a practice should not jeopardise the strict
biosecurity and other measures that should be in force in
such areas aimed at eradicating any introduction of virus.

Having regard to the Treaty
Community,

establishing the European

Having regard to Council Directive 2005/94/EC of 20
December 2005 on Community measures for the control of
avian influenza and repealing Directive 92/40/EEC (1), and in
particular, Article 57(2) thereof;

Whereas:

Avian influenza is an infectious viral disease in poultry
and birds, causing mortality and disturbances which can
quickly take epizootic proportions liable to present a
serious threat to animal health and under certain circum-
stances to human health. There is a risk that the disease
agent might be spread to other holdings thus reducing
sharply the profitability of poultry farming, to wild birds
and from one Member State to other Member States and
third countries through the international trade in live
birds or their products.

Highly pathogenic avian influenza A virus of subtype
H5N1 has been isolated from wild birds in certain
parts of the Community and in third countries adjacent
to the Community or populated by migratory birds
during winter. The likelihood of virus introduction with
wild birds is increasing during the forthcoming migratory
season.

(5)

(6)

(7)

On 21 February 2006, France has submitted to the
Commission for approval a plan for preventive vacci-
nation in the light of the particular risk of introduction
of avian influenza in certain areas of its territory. The
Commission has immediately examined this plan in
collaboration with France and deems that after certain
adaptations
relevant
Community provisions. It appears therefore appropriate
to approve this plan.

in conformity with the

is

it

According to this plan France intends to vaccinate ducks
and geese against highly pathogenic avain influenza
H5N1. This should be considered as a ‘pilot project’
since there is limited experience with preventive vacci-
nation in these species.

the European Parliament and of

Only vaccines authorised in accordance with Directive
2001/82/EC of
the
Council of 6 November 2001 on the Community code
relating to veterinary medicinal products (2) or Regulation
No 726/2004 of the European Parliament and of the
Council of 31 March 2004 laying down Community
procedures
the authorisation and supervision of
medicinal products for human and veterinary use and
establishing a European Medicines Agency (3) should be
used.

for

Early detection systems and biosecurity measures to
reduce the risk of transmission of avian influenza to
poultry flocks are in place in France.

(8) Where preventive vaccination is carried out in France
monitoring on vaccinated and unvaccinated poultry
flocks and movement restrictions for vaccinated birds
have to be implemented.

In its opinion on ‘Animal health and welfare aspects of
avian influenza’ of 20 September 2005 the Animal
Health and Welfare Panel of the European Food Safety
Authority (EFSA)
that preventive vacci-
nation can be considered if a high risk of virus intro-
duction is identified in densely populated poultry areas.

recommends

(1) OJ L 10, 14.1.2006, p. 16.

(9)

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

in this Decision are in
Standing
the

opinion

the

of

(2) OJ L 311, 28.11.2001, p. 1. Directive as last amended by Directive

2004/28/EC (OJ L 136, 30.4.2004, p. 58).

(3) OJ L 136, 30.4.2004, p. 1.

(1)

(2)

(3)

(4)

L 55/52

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

25.2.2006

HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:

Article 1

Subject matter, scope and definitions

1.
This Decision lays down certain measures to be applied in
France where preventive vaccination is carried out in certain
poultry holdings in defined areas at particular risk for intro-
duction of highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1 including
provisions for movements of vaccinated poultry and certain
products derived thereof.

preventive vaccination is carried out and on movement of
day-old chicks and fresh poultry meat, minced meat, meat
preparations, mechanically separated meat and meat products
derived from poultry vaccinated in accordance with the
preventive vaccination plan shall meet the requirements laid
down in Article 4 to 9 of this Decision.

Article 4

Provisions for movements and dispatch of live poultry,
hatching eggs and day-old chicks

The competent authority shall ensure that vaccinated

1.
poultry may only be moved from its holding to:

2.
For the purpose of this Decision the definitions in Article
2 of Council Directive 2005/94/EC shall apply as appropriate.

(a) other holdings where vaccination is carried out; or

Article 2

(b) other holdings where only vaccinated poultry are kept; or

Approval of the vaccination programme

1.
The plan for preventive vaccination against highly
pathogenic avian influenza H5N1, submitted by France to the
Commission on 21 February 2006, is approved (‘the preventive
vaccination plan’).

(c) other

holdigns where

between
vaccinated and non vaccinated poultry can be ensured; or

separation

complete

The preventive vaccination shall be carried out with inactivated
heterologous vaccine of avian influenza subtypes H5 authorised
by France in ducks and geese in the areas listed in the Annex
(‘the preventive vaccination areas’).

within France.

(d) a slaughterhouse for immediate slaughter,

Intensive monitoring and surveillance, as set out in the
in the

2.
preventive vaccination plan shall be
preventive vaccination areas.

carried out

2.
No vaccinated live poultry, hatching eggs and day-old
chicks originating from such poultry shall be dispatched from
France.

The preventive vaccination plan shall be implemented effi-

3.
ciently.

3.
No live poultry, hatching eggs and day-old chicks origi-
nating from holdings where vaccination has been carried out or
from the holdings referred to in paragraph 1(a), 1(b) or 1(c)
shall be dispatched from France.

The Commission shall publish the preventive vaccination

4.
plan.

Article 5

certification

Health
for
consignments of live poultry, day-old chicks and hatching
eggs

intra-Community

trade

for

Article 3

Provisions for movements of live poultry, hatching eggs,
fresh poultry meat, minced meat, meat
day-old chicks,
and meat
preparations, mechanically separated meat

products

Provisions for movements of live poultry and hatching eggs
in which
coming from and/or originating from holdings

Health certificates for intra-Community trade in live poultry,
day-old chicks and hatching eggs from France shall
include
the words:

‘The consignment consists of
live poultry/day-old chicks
/hatching eggs originating from holdings where no vacci-
nation against avian influenza has been carried out’.

25.2.2006

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

L 55/53

Article 6

Provisions for dispatch of fresh meat of poultry, minced
meat, meat preparations, mechanically separated meat and
meat products

The competent authority shall ensure that

1.
fresh meat
derived from vaccinated poultry in France is only placed on
the market provided that
from poultry
which:

the meat comes

(a) originate from holdings which have been regularly inspected
and tested with negative results for highly pathogenic avian
influenza H5N1 in accordance with ‘the preventive vacci-
nation plan’, 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) are kept separated from other flocks which do not comply

with Article 4 and with this Article; and

(d) that the meat has been produced in accordance with Annex
II and Sections II and III of Annex III to Regulation (EC) No
853/2004 (1) and controlled in accordance with Sections I,
II, III, and Chapters V and VII of Section IV of Annex I to
Regulation (EC) No 854/2004 (2);

The competent authority shall ensure that minced meat,
2.
meat preparations, mechanically separated meat and meat
products containing meat derived from vaccinated ducks and
geese flocks is only dispatched from France if the meat complies
with paragraph (1) and are produced in accordance with
to Regulation (EC) No
Sections V and VI of Annex III
853/2004.

Article 7

Commercial documents for fresh meat of poultry, minced
meat, meat preparations, mechanically separated meat and
meat products

France shall ensure that fresh meat of poultry, minced meat,
meat preparations, mechanically separated meat and meat

(1) OJ L 139, 30.4.2004, p. 55. Corrected version in OJ L 226,
25.6.2004, p. 22. Regulation as last amended by Commission Regu-
lation (EC) No 2076/2005 (OJ L 338, 22.12.2005, p. 83).

(2) OJ L 139, 30.4.2004, p. 206. Corrected version in OJ L 226,
25.6.2004, p. 83. Regulation as last amended by Commission Regu-
lation (EC) No 2076/2005 (OJ L 338, 22.12.2005, p. 83).

products complying with the conditions set out in Article 6 is
accompanied by commercial documents stating:

‘The consignment complies with the animal health conditions
laid down in Commission Decision 2006/148/EC.’

Article 8

Information to Member States

France shall inform in advance the central veterinary authority
in the Member State of destination on movements of
consignments referred to in Article 7.

Article 9

Washing and disinfection of packaging and means of
transport

France shall ensure that the following measures are taken on
listed in the Annex, where
holdings,
preventive vaccination is carried out:

located in areas as

(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,
hatching eggs, day-old poultry, fresh poultry meat, minced
meat, meat preparations, mechanically separated meat and
meat products and poultry feedstuff are cleaned and disin-
fected immediately before and after each transport with
disinfectants
the
competent authority.

and methods of use

approved by

Article 10

Penalties

France shall lay down the rules on penalties applicable to infrin-
gements of provisions of this Decision and shall take all the
measures necessary to ensure that they are implemented. The
penalties provided for must be effective, proportionate and
to the
dissuasive.
Commission by 7 March 2006 at the latest and shall notify
the Commission of any subsequent amendments thereof.

those provisions

shall notify

France

Article 11

Reports

the preventive

France shall submit a report containing information on the
effectiveness of
vaccination plan to the
Commission within one month from the date of application
of
the Standing
Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health starting as
from 7 March 2006.

this Decision and give monthly reports at

L 55/54

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

25.2.2006

Article 12

Review of measures

The measures shall be reviewed in the light of the development of the epidemiological situation and new
information becoming available.

This Decision is addressed to the French Republic.

Article 13

Addressee

Done at Brussels, 24 February 2006.

For the Commission

Markos KYPRIANOU
Member of the Commission

25.2.2006

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

L 55/55

ANNEX

AREAS WHERE PREVENTIVE VACCINATION AGAINST AVIAN INFLUENZA IS
CARRIED OUT IN CERTAIN DUCK AND GEESE HOLDINGS

List of communes

DÉPARTEMENT DES LANDES

AIRE-SUR-L'ADOUR

GRENADE-SUR-L'ADOUR

PORT-DE-LANNE

ANGRESSE

ARBOUCAVE

ARTASSENX

ARTHEZ-D'ARMAGNAC

AUBAGNAN

AUDIGNON

HAGETMAU

HAUT-MAUCO

HERRÉ

HONTANX

HORSARRIEU

POUDENX

POUYDESSEAUX

PUJO-LE-PLAN

PUYOL-CAZALET

RENUNG

LABASTIDE-CHALOSSE

RIMBEZ-ET-BAUDIETS

BAHUS-SOUBIRAN

LABASTIDE-D'ARMAGNAC

SAINT-AGNET

BASCONS

BAS-MAUCO

BATS

BÉNESSE-MAREMNE

BENQUET

BETBEZER-D'ARMAGNAC

BIARROTTE

BIAUDOS

BISCARROSSE

BORDÈRES-ET-LAMENSANS

BOSTENS

BOUGUE

BOURDALAT

BRETAGNE-DE-MARSAN

BUANES

CAPBRETON

CASTANDET

CASTELNAU-TURSAN

CAZÈRES-SUR-L'ADOUR

CLASSUN

CLÈDES

COUDURES

CRÉON-D'ARMAGNAC

DUHORT-BACHEN

DUMES

ESCALANS

ESTIGARDE

EUGÉNIE-LES-BAINS

EYRES-MONCUBE

FARGUES

FRÈCHE (LE)

GABARRET

GAILLÈRES

GEAUNE

LABENNE

LACAJUNTE

LACQUY

LACRABE

LAGLORIEUSE

LAGRANGE

LARRIVIÈRE

LATRILLE

LAURET

LOSSE

LUSSAGNET

MANT

MAURIES

MAURRIN

SAINT-ANDRÉ-DE-SEIGNANX

SAINT-BARTHÉLEMY

SAINTE-COLOMBE

SAINT-CRICQ-VILLENEUVE

SAINT-ÉTIENNE-D'ORTHE

SAINTE-FOY

SAINT-GEIN

SAINT-JEAN-DE-MARSACQ

SAINT-JULIEN-D'ARMAGNAC

SAINT-JUSTIN

SAINT-LAURENT-DE-GOSSE

SAINT-LOUBOUER

SAINTE-MARIE-DE-GOSSE

SAINT-MARTIN-DE-HINX

MAUVEZIN-D'ARMAGNAC

SAINT-MARTIN-DE-SEIGNANX

MAZEROLLES

SAINT-MAURICE-SUR-L'ADOUR

MIRAMONT-SENSACQ

SAINT-PIERRE-DU-MONT

MOMUY

MONGET

MONSÉGUR

MONT-DE-MARSAN

MONTÉGUT

MONTGAILLARD

MONTSOUÉ

MORGANX

ONDRES

ORX

PARLEBOSCQ

PAYROS-CAZAUTETS

PÉCORADE

PERQUIE

PEYRE

PHILONDENX

PIMBO

SAINT-SEVER

SAINT-VINCENT-DE-TYROSSE

SAMADET

SANGUINET

SARRAZIET

SARRON

SAUBION

SAUBRIGUES

SERRES-GASTON

SOORTS-HOSSEGOR

SORBETS

TARNOS

URGONS

VIELLE-TURSAN

VIGNAU (LE)

VILLENEUVE-DE-MARSAN

L 55/56

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

25.2.2006

DÉPARTEMENT DE LA LOIRE-ATLANTIQUE

ARTHON-EN-RETZ

ASSÉRAC

AVESSAC

BASSE-GOULAINE

BAULE-ESCOUBLAC (LA)

BATZ-SUR-MER

GRIGONNAIS (LA)

GUÉMÉNÉ-PENFAO

GUENROUET

GUÉRANDE

HERBIGNAC

INDRE

SAINT-ANDRÉ-DES-EAUX

SAINTE-ANNE-SUR-BRIVET

SAINT-BRÉVIN-LES-PINS

SAINT-COLOMBAN

SAINT-ÉTIENNE-DE-MONTLUC

SAINT-GILDAS-DES-BOIS

BERNERIE-EN-RETZ (LA)

JUIGNÉ-DES-MOUTIERS

SAINT-HERBLAIN

BESNÉ

BIGNON (LE)

BLAIN

BOUAYE

BOUÉE

BOUGUENAIS

BOURGNEUF-EN-RETZ

BOUVRON

BRAINS

CAMPBON

CARQUEFOU

LIMOUZINIÈRE (LA)

LAVAU-SUR-LOIRE

MACHECOUL

MALVILLE

MARNE (LA)

MARSAC-SUR-DON

MASSÉRAC

MESQUER

MISSILLAC

MONTAGNE (LA)

SAINT-HILAIRE-DE-CHALÉONS

SAINT-JEAN-DE-BOISEAU

SAINT-JOACHIM

SAINT-JULIEN-DE-VOUVANTES

SAINT-LÉGER-LES-VIGNES

SAINTE-LUCE-SUR-LOIRE

SAINT-LUMINE-DE-COUTAIS

SAINT-LYPHARD

SAINT-MALO-DE-GUERSAC

SAINT-MARS-DE-COUTAIS

MONTOIR-DE-BRETAGNE

SAINT-MÊME-LE-TENU

CHAPELLE-DES-MARAIS (LA)

MOUTIERS-EN-RETZ (LES)

SAINT-MICHEL-CHEF-CHEF

CHAPELLE-GLAIN (LA)

NANTES

SAINT-MOLF

CHAPELLE-LAUNAY (LA)

NOTRE-DAME-DES-LANDES

SAINT-NAZAIRE

CHAPELLE-SUR-ERDRE (LA)

CHAUVÉ

CHEIX-EN-RETZ

CHÉMÉRÉ

ORVAULT

PAIMBOEUF

PELLERIN (LE)

PIERRIC

SAINT-NICOLAS-DE-REDON

SAINTE-PAZANNE

SAINT-PÈRE-EN-RETZ

SAINT-PHILBERT-DE-GRAND-LIEU

CHEVROLIÈRE (LA)

PIRIAC-SUR-MER

SAINTE-REINE-DE-BRETAGNE

CONQUÉREUIL

CORDEMAIS

CORSEPT

COUËRON

CROISIC (LE)

CROSSAC

DONGES

DREFFÉAC

FAY-DE-BRETAGNE

FÉGRÉAC

FRESNAY-EN-RETZ

FROSSAY

GÂVRE (LE)

GENESTON

PLAINE-SUR-MER (LA)

SAINT-SÉBASTIEN-SUR-LOIRE

PLESSÉ

PONT-CHÂTEAU

PONT-SAINT-MARTIN

PORNIC

PORNICHET

PORT-SAINT-PÈRE

POULIGUEN (LE)

PRÉFAILLES

PRINQUIAU

QUILLY

REZÉ

ROUANS

SAINT-VIAUD

SAUTRON

SAVENAY

SÉVERAC

SORINIÈRES (LES)

TEMPLE-DE-BRETAGNE (LE)

TREILLIÈRES

TRIGNAC

TURBALLE (LA)

VAY

VERTOU

VIGNEUX-DE-BRETAGNE

SAINT-AIGNAN-GRANDLIEU

VUE

25.2.2006

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

L 55/57

DÉPARTEMENT DE LA VENDÉE

AIGUILLON-SUR-MER (L')

AIGUILLON-SUR-VIE (L')

GROSBREUIL

GRUES

SABLES-D'OLONNE (LES)

SAINT-AUBIN-LA-PLAINE

GUÉ-DE-VELLUIRE (LE)

SAINT-AVAUGOURD-DES-LANDES

ANGLES

AUZAY

AVRILLÉ

BARBÂTRE

BARRE-DE-MONTS (LA)

BEAUVOIR-SUR-MER

BENET

BERNARD (LE)

BESSAY

BOIS-DE-CÉNÉ

GUÉRINIÈRE (LA)

ÎLE-D'ELLE (L')

ÎLE-D'OLONNE (L')

JARD-SUR-MER

JONCHÈRE (LA)

LAIROUX

LANDEVIEILLE

LANGON (LE)

LIEZ

SAINT-BENOIST-SUR-MER

SAINT-CYR-EN-TALMONDAIS

SAINT-DENIS-DU-PAYRÉ

SAINT-ÉTIENNE-DE-BRILLOUET

SAINTE-FOY

SAINTE-GEMME-LA-PLAINE

SAINT-GERVAIS

SAINT-GILLES-CROIX-DE-VIE

SAINTE-HERMINE

SAINT-HILAIRE-DE-RIEZ

BOISSIÈRE-DES-LANDES (LA)

LONGÈVES

BOUILLÉ-COURDAULT

LONGEVILLE-SUR-MER

SAINT-HILAIRE-DES-LOGES

BOUIN

BREM-SUR-MER

BRÉTIGNOLLES-SUR-MER

BRETONNIÈRE (LA)

CHAILLÉ-LES-MARAIS

LUÇON

SAINT-HILAIRE-LA-FORÊT

MAGNILS-REIGNIERS (LES)

SAINT-JEAN-DE-BEUGNÉ

MAILLÉ

MAILLEZAIS

SAINT-JEAN-DE-MONTS

SAINT-JULIEN-DES-LANDES

MAREUIL-SUR-LAY-DISSAIS

SAINT-MARTIN-DE-FRAIGNEAU

CHAILLÉ-SOUS-LES-ORMEAUX

MAZEAU (LE)

SAINT-MATHURIN

CHAIX

CHAIZE-GIRAUD (LA)

MONTREUIL

MOREILLES

SAINT-MICHEL-EN-L'HERM

SAINT-MICHEL-LE-CLOUCQ

CHAPELLE-ACHARD (LA)

MOTHE-ACHARD (LA)

SAINTE-PEXINE

CHAMPAGNÉ-LES-MARAIS

MOUTIERS-LES-MAUXFAITS

SAINT-PIERRE-LE-VIEUX

CHAMP-SAINT-PÈRE (LE)

MOUTIERS-SUR-LE-LAY

SAINTE-RADEGONDE-DES-NOYERS

CHASNAIS

CHÂTEAU-D'OLONNE

CHÂTEAU-GUIBERT

CHÂTEAUNEUF

CLAYE (LA)

CORPE

COUTURE (LA)

CURZON

DAMVIX

DOIX

ÉPINE (L')

FAUTE-SUR-MER (LA)

FENOUILLER (LE)

FONTAINES

FONTENAY-LE-COMTE

GIROUARD (LE)

GIVRAND

GIVRE (LE)

MOUZEUIL-SAINT-MARTIN

SAINT-RÉVÉREND

NALLIERS

NIEUL-LE-DOLENT

NIEUL-SUR-L'AUTISE

SAINT-SIGISMOND

SAINT-URBAIN

SAINT-VINCENT-SUR-GRAON

NOIRMOUTIER-EN-L'ÎLE

SAINT-VINCENT-SUR-JARD

NOTRE-DAME-DE-MONTS

SALLERTAINE

OLONNE-SUR-MER

ORBRIE (L')

OULMES

PÉAULT

PERRIER (LE)

PETOSSE

PISSOTTE

POIRÉ-SUR-VELLUIRE (LE)

POIROUX

POUILLÉ

PUYRAVAULT

ROSNAY

SÉRIGNÉ

TABLIER (LE)

TAILLÉE (LA)

TALMONT-SAINT-HILAIRE

TRANCHE-SUR-MER (LA)

TRIAIZE

VAIRÉ

VELLUIRE

VIX

VOUILLÉ-LES-MARAIS

XANTON-CHASSENON