2006/227/EC: Commission Decision of  17 March 2006  concerning certain interim protection measures in relation to a suspicion of highly pathogenic avian influenza in Israel  (notified under document number C(2006) 902)   (Text with EEA relevance)
Date: 2006-03-17
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: Israel, animal disease, egg, health certificate, import restriction, meat product, poultry, poultrymeat, veterinary inspection

18.3.2006

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

L 81/43

COMMISSION DECISION

of 17 March 2006

concerning certain interim protection measures in relation to a suspicion of highly pathogenic avian
influenza in Israel

(notified under document number C(2006) 902)

(Text with EEA relevance)

(2006/227/EC)

THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,

ratites, farmed and wild feathered game birds, live birds
other than poultry and hatching eggs of these species
from Israel.

Having regard to the Treaty
Community,

establishing the European

(4)

(5)

(6)

(7)

Having regard to Council Directive 91/496/EEC of 15 July 1991
laying down the principles governing the organisation of
veterinary checks on animals entering the Community from
89/662/EEC,
third
90/425/EEC and 90/675/EEC (1), and in particular Article 18
(1) thereof,

amending Directives

countries

and

Having regard to Council Directive 97/78/EC of 18 December
1997 laying down the principles governing the organisation of
veterinary checks on products entering the Community from
third countries (2), and in particular Article 22 (1) thereof,

Whereas:

(1)

(2)

(3)

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
to animal and public health and to
serious
reduce sharply the profitability of poultry farming.
There is a risk that the disease agent might be introduced
via international
trade in live poultry and poultry
products.

threat

Isarel has notified to the Commission the isolation of an
H5 avian influenza virus collected from a clinical case.
the suspicion of highly
The clinical picture allows
pathogenic avian influenza pending the determination
of the neuraminidase (N) type.

In view of the animal health risk of disease introduction
into the Community,
it is therefore appropriate as an
immediate measure to suspend imports of live poultry,

for human consumption,

As Israel is authorised for imports of game trophies and
eggs
into the
Community of these products should be suspended as
well because of the animal health risk involved.

imports

Furthermore the importation into the Community from
Israel should be suspended for fresh meat of poultry,
ratites and wild and farmed feathered game and impor-
tation of meat preparations, minced meat, mechanically
separated meat and meat products consisting of or
containing meat of those species.

Certain products derived from poultry slaughtered before
15 February 2006 should also continue to be authorised,
taking into account the incubation period of the disease.

for

and

countries

from third

Commission Decision 2005/432/EC (3) laying down the
animal and public health conditions and model certi-
for human
ficates
imports of meat products
consumption
repealing
Decisions 97/41/EC, 97/221/EC and 97/222/EC lays
down the list of third countries from which Member
States may authorise the importation of meat products
and establishes treatment regimes considered effective in
inactivating the respective pathogens. In order to prevent
the risk of disease transmission via such products,
appropiate treatment must be applied depending on the
health status of the country of origin and the species the
product is obtained from.
It appears therefore appro-
priate, that imports of poultry meat products originating
in Israel and treated to a temperature of at least 70 °C
be
throughout
authorised.

continue

product

should

the

to

(1) OJ L 268, 24.9.1991, p. 56. Directive as last amended by the 2003

Act of Accession.

(2) OJ L 24, 31.1.1998, p. 9. Directive as last amended by Regulation
(EC) No 882/2004 of the European Parliament and of the Council
(OJ L 165, 30.4.2004, p. 1; corrected version in OJ L 191,
28.5.2004, p. 1).

(8)

The situation shall be reviewed at the next meeting of the
Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal
Health,

(3) OJ L 151, 14.6.2005, p. 3.

L 81/44

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

18.3.2006

HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:

Article 1

1. Member States shall suspend the importation from the
territory of Israel of:

— live poultry, ratites, farmed and wild feathered game,
live
birds other than poultry as defined in Article 1,
third
indent, of Decision 2000/666/EC, and hatching eggs of
these species,

— fresh meat of poultry, ratites, farmed and wild feathered

game,

— minced meat, meat preparations, mechanically separated
meat and meat products consisting of or containing meat
of those species,

— raw pet food and unprocessed feed material containing any

parts of those species,

— eggs for human consumption, and

— non-treated game trophies from any birds.

By way of derogation from paragraph 1, Member States
2.
shall authorise the importation of
the products covered by
paragraph 1 first to fourth indent, which have been obtained
from birds slaughtered before 15 February 2006.

In the

veterinary

documents
3.
accompanying consignments of
the products referred to in
paragraph 2 the following words as appropriate to the species
shall be included:

certificates/commercial

consisting of, or containing meat of poultry, ratites, farmed
or wild feathered game meat/raw pet food and unprocessed
feed material containing any parts of poultry, ratites, farmed
or wild feathered game (A) obtained from birds slaughtered
before 15 February 2006 and in accordance with Article 1(2)
of Commission Decision 2006/227/EC (*).

___________
(A) Delete as appropriate.
(*) OJ L 81, 18.3.2006, p. 35.’

shall

authorise

By derogation from paragraph 1, third indent, Member
4.
importation of meat products
the
States
consisting of or containing meat of poultry, ratites,
farmed
and wild feathered game under the condition that the meat of
these species has undergone at
the specific
treatments referred to under points B, C or D in Part IV of
Annex II to Commission Decision 2005/432/EC.

least one of

Article 2

Member States shall amend the measures they apply to imports
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 Commission
thereof.

Article 3

This Decision shall apply until 31 May 2006.

Article 4

This Decision is addressed to the Member States.

Done at Brussels, 17 March 2006.

‘Fresh poultry meat/fresh ratite meat/fresh meat of wild
feathered game/fresh meat of farmed feathered game/meat
product consisting of, or containing meat of poultry,
ratites, farmed or wild feathered game meat/meat preparation

For the Commission

Markos KYPRIANOU
Member of the Commission