2004/666/EC: Commission Decision of 29 September 2004 on introducing vaccination 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 (notified under document number C(2004) 3581)(Text with EEA relevance)

30.9.2004 EN Official Journal of the European Union L 303/35
COMMISSION DECISION
of 29 September 2004
on introducing vaccination 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
(notified under document number C(2004) 3581)
(Text with EEA relevance)
(2004/666/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 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 December 2002 laying down animal health rules governing the production, processing, distribution and introduction of products of animal origin for human consumption (4), and in particular Article 13(3) thereof,
Whereas:
(1) In October 2002, Italy reported to the Commission that infections with low pathogenic avian influenza virus of subtype H7N3 had occurred in the regions of Veneto and Lombardia and that the disease was spreading quickly.
(2) Italy took immediate action including stamping out of infected poultry flocks to control the propagation of the infection. As a supplementary measure the Italian authorities also requested approval for a vaccination programme against avian influenza for at least 18 months in order to avoid the further spread of infection.
(3) The vaccination programme was approved by Commission Decision 2002/975/EC, of 12 December 2002 introducing vaccination to supplement the measures to control infections with low pathogenic avian influenza in Italy and on specific movement control measures (5), which lays down the rules concerning vaccination against avian influenza in a defined geographical area. The Decision also includes specific control measures such as movement restrictions on live poultry, hatching and table eggs for intra-Community trade.
(4) The results of the vaccination programme reported at several meetings of the Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health were generally favourable concerning the control of the disease within the vaccination area. However, the infection had spread to some areas adjacent to the established vaccination area. Accordingly, Decision 2002/975/EC, as amended by Decision 2003/436/EC (6) extended the vaccination area to cover those adjacent areas.
(5) Since the end of September 2003, no further circulation of the avian influenza field virus subtype H7N3 has been detected during the intense monitoring carried out in the vaccination area. Consequently Italy requested to introduce some changes to the vaccination programme and the restrictions on intra-Community trade. Accordingly, Decision 2002/975/EC, as amended by Decision 2004/159/EC approved those changes and restrictions.
(6) In February 2004, a low pathogenic avian influenza virus strain of subtype H5N3 was isolated in one duck flock in the region of Lombardia within the vaccination area. Although the epidemiological investigations have not revealed any spread of the infection, the risk of introduction of avian influenza subtype H5 has been demonstrated. At present neither the poultry vaccinated against H7 subtype within the framework of the existing vaccination campaign nor the non-vaccinated poultry population is protected against disease possibly caused by avian influenza subtype H5. Therefore Italy has requested to amend the current vaccination programme in order to authorise the vaccination of poultry within the established vaccination area with a bivalent vaccine which protects against avian influenza virus infection of both H7 and H5 subtypes and to carry out this kind of vaccination until at least 31 December 2005.
(7) As Decision 2002/975/EC has already been amended twice, for reasons of clarity of Community legislation, it is appropriate to repeal that Decision and replace it by this Decision.
(8) The measures provided for in this Decision are in accordance with the opinion of the Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health.