2004/615/EC: Commission Decision of 23 July 2004 amending Decision 2004/111/EC on the implementation of surveys for avian influenza in poultry and wild birds in the Member States to be carried out during 2004 (notified under document number C(2004) 2459)(Text with EEA relevance)

27.8.2004 EN Official Journal of the European Union L 278/59
COMMISSION DECISION
of 23 July 2004
amending Decision 2004/111/EC on the implementation of surveys for avian influenza in poultry and wild birds in the Member States to be carried out during 2004
(notified under document number C(2004) 2459)
(Text with EEA relevance)
(2004/615/EC)
THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES
,
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,
Having regard to Council Decision 90/424/EEC of 26 June 1990 on expenditure in the veterinary field (1), and in particular Article 20 thereof,
Whereas:
(1) Commission Decision 2004/111/EC of 29 January 2004 on the implementation of surveys for avian influenza in poultry and wild birds in Member States, to be carried out during 2004 (2), provides that Member States are to submit their plans for the implementation of those surveys by 15 March 2004.
(2) Decision 2004/111/EC also provides for the Community to make a financial contribution at a rate of 50 % of the costs incurred in Member States for sampling and analysing of samples, up to a maximum of EUR 600 000.
(3) Certain Member States, and in particular new Member States, have been unable to meet the deadline of 15 March 2004. Experience has shown that the implementation for the first time of such surveys can pose logistical obstacles due to the diversity of the poultry sector and the structures that have to be established for the wild bird surveys.
(4) Due to the increased interest of Member States in early detection of low pathogenic avian influenza in their poultry and wild bird populations, the amounts applied for by the Member States under Commission Decision 2004/111/EC exceed EUR 600 000.
(5) In view of the need to gain more knowledge concerning avian influenza which is posing increasing risks throughout the world, it is appropriate to enhance Member States surveillance activities by increasing the Community’s financial participation from EUR 600 000 to a total amount of EUR 1 000 000, and extending the deadline from 15 March 2004 to 15 June 2004.
(6) Guidelines for the design of avian influenza surveillance programmes have been reviewed and it is appropriate to provide for Member States to submit programmes which follow the established guidelines.
(7) The measures provided for in this Decision are in accordance with the opinion of the Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health,