2007/638/EC: Commission Decision of 24 September 2007 on emergency vaccination of poultry in Italy against low pathogenic avian influenza (notified under document number C(2007) 4393)
Date: 2007-09-24
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: Italy, animal disease, poultry, trade restriction, vaccination

4.10.2007

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

L 258/31

COMMISSION DECISION

of 24 September 2007

on emergency vaccination of poultry in Italy against low pathogenic avian influenza

(notified under document number C(2007) 4393)

(Only the Italian text is authentic)

(2007/638/EC)

THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,

(5)

Having regard to the Treaty
Community,

establishing the European

In its scientific opinions on the use of vaccination to
control avian influenza issued by the European Food
Safety Authority in 2005 (3) and 2007 (4) the Animal
Health and Welfare Panel stated that emergency and
preventive vaccination against avian influenza is a
valuable tool to complement the control measures for
that disease.

The outbreaks of low pathogenic avian influenza in Italy
concern a densely populated poultry area and the epide-
miogical situation is still evolving.

The Italian authorities have carried out a risk assessment
and identified a particular risk for further spread of the
virus in the areas concerned. Italy has, therefore, by letter
dated 7 September 2007, submitted an emergency vacci-
nation plan to the Commission for its approval.

The Commission has examined that plan together with
Italy and is satisfied that it conforms with the relevant
Community provisions. In the light of the development
of the epidemiological situation in Italy, it is appropriate
to approve the emergency vaccination plan submitted by
Italy to supplement the control measures taken by that
Member State and to introduce certain restrictions on
movements of poultry, hatching eggs of poultry and
day-old chicks and certain poultry products.

Italy intends

According to the vaccination plan,
to
vaccinate certain poultry categories following the Differ-
entiating Infected from Vaccinated Animal
(DIVA)
vaccines directed
strategy using both monovalent
against
subtype H7 and
avian influenza virus of
bivalent vaccines against H7 and H5 subtypes.

(6)

(7)

(8)

(9)

(3) The EFSA Journal

(2005) 266, 1-21; Animal health and welfare

aspects of Avian Influenza.

(4) The EFSA Journal (2007) 489, Scientific Opinion on ‘Vaccination
against avian influenza of H5 and H7 subtypes in domestic poultry
and captive birds’.

to

regard

Council Directive

Having
of
20 December 2005 on Community measures for the control
of avian influenza and repealing Directive 92/40/EEC (1), and in
particular, Article 54(2) thereof;

2005/94/EC

Whereas:

(1)

(2)

(3)

(4)

Directive 2005/94/EC sets out
the minimum control
measures to be applied in the event of an outbreak of
avian influenza in poultry or other captive birds.

Decision

Commission

2005/926/EC

Under
of
21 December 2005 on introducing supplementary
infections with low pathogenic
measures
avian
repealing Decision
Italy
influenza
2004/666/EC (2)
Italy carried out vaccination against
low pathogenic avian influenza until the end of 2006.

to control
in

and

Since May 2007 outbreaks of
low pathogenic avian
influenza have occurred in parts of Northern Italy and
measures in accordance with Directive 2005/94/EC have
been taken to control the spread of the virus.

In July and August 2007 an increase of low pathogenic
avian influenza outbreaks in particular of the subtype H7
has been observed and further outbreaks of that disease
continue to be detected. A small number of outbreaks
caused by the low pathogenic avian influenza subtype H5
have been reported.

(1) OJ L 10, 14.1.2006, p. 16.
(2) OJ L 337, 22.12.2005, p. 60.

L 258/32

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

4.10.2007

the European Parliament and of

(10) 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 (1) or Regulation
(EC) 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 (2) should be
used.

for

Italy shall carry out the emergency vaccination plan in the

2.
areas listed in Annex I (‘the emergency vaccination area’).

It shall ensure that the emergency vaccination plan is imple-
mented effectively.

The Commission shall publish the emergency vaccination

3.
plan on its website.

(11)

In addition, surveillance and monitoring of vaccinated
in the
and unvaccinated poultry flocks as
emergency vaccination plan should be carried out.

set out

Article 3

Vaccines to be used

(12)

The measures provided for in Decision 2005/926/EC are
no longer appropriate and that Decision should therefore
be repealed.

Italy shall ensure that poultry is vaccinated in accordance with
the emergency vaccination plan with one of the following types
of vaccine authorised in accordance with Directive 2001/82/EC
or Regulation (EC) No 726/2004:

(13)

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

in this Decision are in
Standing
the

opinion

the

of

(a) an inactivated heterologous vaccine of avian influenza

subtype H7; or

HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:

(b) a bivalent inactivated heterologous vaccine containing both

avian influenza subtypes H5 and H7.

Article 1

Article 4

Subject matter, scope and definitions

This Decision lays down certain measures to be applied in
1.
Italy where emergency vaccination is carried out
in certain
poultry holdings at particular risk for introduction of avian
including certain restrictions on movements and
influenza,
dispatch of poultry, hatching eggs of poultry and day-old
chicks and certain products derived thereof.

Restrictions on movements of poultry

1.
The competent authority shall ensure that poultry that
come from and/or originate from holdings in Italy where
emergency vaccination has been carried out (‘emergency vacci-
nation holdings’) are not moved to other parts of
Italy or
dispatched to other Member States.

This Decision shall apply without prejudice

2.
measures
2005/94/EC to control outbreaks of
influenza.

taken by

Italy

to the
in accordance with Directive
low pathogenic avian

2.
By way of derogation from paragraph 1 poultry for
slaughter that come from and/or originate from emergency
vaccination holdings may be moved to other parts of Italy or
dispatched to other Member States, where the poultry originate
from flocks which:

Article 2

The emergency vaccination plan

(a) before loading have been examined with favourable results

in accordance with point 1 of Annex II, and

emergency

The plan for

1.
low
pathogenic avian influenza in Italy, as submitted by Italy to
the Commission on 7 September 2007 (‘the emergency vacci-
nation plan’) is approved.

vaccination against

(b) are dispatched to a slaughterhouse:

(1) 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).

(2) OJ L 136, 30.4.2004, p. 1. Regulation as last amended by Regu-

lation (EC) No 1901/2006 (OJ L 378, 27.12.2006, p. 1).

(i) within Italy and are slaughtered immediately upon

arrival; or

4.10.2007

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

L 258/33

(ii) in another Member State following the agreement of the
Member State of destination and are slaughtered imme-
diately upon arrival.

Article 5

Restrictions on movements of hatching eggs of poultry

The competent authority shall ensure that hatching eggs of
poultry that come from and/or originate from emergency vacci-
nation holdings are moved to other parts of Italy or dispatched
to other Member States, only where the hatching eggs:

Article 8

Restrictions on movements of table eggs

The competent authority shall ensure that table eggs that come
from and/or originate from emergency vaccination holdings are
moved to other parts of Italy or dispatched to other Member
States, only where the eggs:

(a) originate from flocks which have been examined with
favourable results in accordance with point 2 of Annex II;

(a) originate from flocks which have been examined with
favourable results in accordance with point 2 of Annex II;

(b) are directly transported to:

(b) have been disinfected before movement or dispatch in
accordance with a method approved by the competent
authority;

(c) are transported directly to the hatchery of destination;

(d) are traceable within the hatchery.

Article 6

Restrictions on movements of day-old chicks

The competent authority shall ensure that day-old chicks that
from emergency vaccination
come from and/or originate
holdings are moved to other parts of Italy or dispatched to
other Member States, only where the day-old chicks:

(a) originate from hatching eggs of poultry which satisfy the

conditions set out in Article 5;

(i) a packing centre designated by the competent authority
and are packed in disposable packaging and comply
with
the
competent authority, or

biosecurity measures

required

the

by

in Chapter II of Section X of Annex III

(ii) an establishment for the manufacture of egg products as
to
set out
Regulation (EC) No 853/2004 where they are to be
handled and treated in accordance with Chapter XI of
Annex II to Regulation (EC) No 852/2004.

Article 9

Restrictions on movements of poultrymeat, minced meat,
meat preparations, mechanically separated meat and meat
products consisting of or containing poultrymeat

1.
The competent authority shall ensure that poultrymeat
that comes from and/or originates from emergency vaccination
holdings is moved to other parts of Italy or dispatched to other
Member States, only where the meat is:

(b) are placed in a poultry house or shed where there are no

(a) obtained from poultry that complies with Article 4;

resident poultry.

Article 7

certification

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

intra-Community

trade

for

The competent authority shall ensure that health certificates for
intra-Community trade in poultry, hatching eggs of poultry and
day-old chicks that come from and/or originate from Italy
include the words:

‘The animal health conditions of this consignment are in
accordance with Decision 2007/638/EC’.

(b) produced in accordance with Annex II and Sections II and
to Regulation (EC) No 853/2004 and
III of Annex III
subject to controls in accordance with Sections I,
III,
and Chapters V and VII of Section IV of Annex I to Regu-
lation (EC) No 854/2004.

II,

The competent authority shall ensure that minced meat,
2.
meat preparations, mechanically separated meat and meat
products consisting of or containing poultrymeat that come
from and/or originate from emergency vaccination holdings
are moved to other parts of
Italy or dispatched to other
Member States, only where such products are produced:

L 258/34

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

4.10.2007

(a)

from meat that complies with paragraph 1;

Article 13

Repeal

(b) in accordance with Sections V and VI of Annex III to Regu-

lation (EC) No 853/2004.

Decision 2005/926/EC is repealed.

Article 10

Monitoring and surveillance

Monitoring and surveillance of vaccinated and unvaccinated
poultry flocks, as set out in the emergency vaccination plan,
shall be carried out.

Article 14

Applicability

This Decision shall apply from 24 September 2007 until
31 March 2008.

Article 11

Reports

Italy shall submit to the Commission a preliminary report on
the emergency vaccination plan by
the implementation of
1 November 2007 at
submit
quarterly reports within one month of the end of each quarter.

and thereafter

latest,

the

Article 15

Addresses

This Decision is addressed to the Italian Republic.

The Commission shall ensure that the Standing Committee on
the Food Chain and Animal Health is informed of those reports.

Done at Brussels, 24 September 2007.

Article 12

Review of measures

The measures provided for in this Decision shall be reviewed in
the light of the development of the epidemiological situation in
Italy and any new information that becoms available.

For the Commission

Markos KYPRIANOU
Member of the Commission

4.10.2007

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

L 258/35

ANNEX I

EMERGENCY VACCINATION AREA

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

L 258/36

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

4.10.2007

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

Lombardy 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

4.10.2007

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

L 258/37

Mantova Province

CASTIGLIONE DELLE STIVIERE

CAVRIANA

CERESARA

GOITO

GUIDIZZOLO

MARMIROLO

MEDOLE

MONZAMBANO

PONTI SUL MINCIO

ROVERBELLA

SOLFERINO

VOLTA MANTOVANA

L 258/38

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

4.10.2007

ANNEX II

EXAMINATION, SAMPLING AND TESTING PROCEDURES IN RELATION TO MOVEMENTS REFERRED TO IN
ARTICLES 4, 5 AND 8

Point 1

Before movement of poultry for slaughter referred to in Article 4(2) the official veterinarian must carry out:

(a) a check of the production and health records of the holding;

(b) a clinical inspection in each production unit, including an evaluation of its clinical history and clinical examinations of

the poultry within 72 hours prior to the time of departure with particular attention to the sentinel birds;

(c)

the collection of the following samples:

— vaccinated poultry: 20 blood samples for using an appropriate DIVA strategy assay within 72 hours prior to the

time of departure;

(d) the collection of the following samples, where the result of the checks and clinical

inspection and examinations

referred to in (a), (b) and (c) are not satisfactory:

— sentinel birds: 20 tracheal/oro-pharyngeal and 20 cloacal swabs and 20 blood samples for serology using the HI

test within 72 hours prior to the time of departure.

Point 2

Before the first movement and thereafter at least every 30 days of hatching eggs and table eggs referred to in Articles 5
and 8, the official veterinarian must carry out:

(a) a clinical inspection of the parent or layer poultry in each production unit, including an evaluation of its clinical

history and clinical examinations of the sentinel birds present in those flocks;

(b) the collection of 10 blood samples from sentinel birds. However,

if necessary, 20 samples for testing with the

iIFA-test shall also be taken.