2007/878/EC: Commission Decision of 21 December 2007 amending Decision 2006/415/EC concerning certain protection measures in relation to highly pathogenic avian influenza of the subtype H5N1 in poultry in Germany, Poland and the United Kingdom (notified under document number C(2007) 6802) (Text with EEA relevance )

28.12.2007 EN Official Journal of the European Union L 344/54
COMMISSION DECISION
of 21 December 2007
amending Decision 2006/415/EC concerning certain protection measures in relation to highly pathogenic avian influenza of the subtype H5N1 in poultry in Germany, Poland and the United Kingdom
(notified under document number C(2007) 6802)
(Text with EEA relevance)
(2007/878/EC)
THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES
,
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,
Having regard to Council Directive 89/662/EEC of 11 December 1989 concerning veterinary checks in intra-Community trade with a view to the completion of the internal market (1), and in particular Article 9(4) thereof,
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 2005/94/EC of 20 December 2005 on Community measures for the control of avian influenza and repealing Directive 92/40/EEC (3), and in particular Article 63(3) thereof,
Whereas:
(1) Commission Decision 2006/415/EC of 14 June 2006 concerning certain protection measures in relation to highly pathogenic avian influenza of the subtype H5N1 in poultry in the Community and repealing Decision 2006/135/EC (4) lays down certain protection measures to be applied in order to prevent the spread of that disease, including the establishment of areas A and B following a suspected or confirmed outbreak of the disease.
(2) Following outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza of H5N1 subtype in Poland and Germany Decision 2006/415/EC was amended by Commission Decisions 2007/785/EC (5), 2007/816/EC (6), 2007/838/EC (7) and 2007/844/EC.
(3) The protection measures taken by Poland and Germany pursuant to Decision 2006/415/EC, including the establishment of areas A and B, as provided for in Article 4 of that Decision, have now been reviewed within the framework of the Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health.
(4) The protection measures concerning Germany can be confirmed.
(5) Due to a further outbreak of the disease in Poland the borders of area A and the duration of the measures should be modified to take account of the epidemiological situation.
(6) The United Kingdom has notified to the Commission that due to the favourable disease situation in that Member State all control measures in relation to outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza of the subtype H5N1 on their territory have been lifted by 19 December 2007 and therefore the establishment of areas A and B in that Member State in accordance with Article 4(2) of Decision 2006/415/EC is no longer necessary.
(7) For reasons of clarity the Annex to Decision 2006/415/EC should be replaced in whole.
(8) Decision 2006/415/EC should therefore be amended accordingly.
(9) The measures provided for in this Decision are in accordance with the opinion of the Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health,