2005/726/EC: Commission Decision of 17 October 2005 amending Decision 2005/464/EC on the implementation of survey programmes for avian influenza in poultry and wild birds to be carried out in the Member States (notified under document number C(2005) 3960)

19.10.2005 EN Official Journal of the European Union L 273/21
COMMISSION DECISION
of 17 October 2005
amending Decision 2005/464/EC on the implementation of survey programmes for avian influenza in poultry and wild birds to be carried out in the Member States
(notified under document number C(2005) 3960)
(2005/726/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) Decision 90/424/EEC provides for a Community financial contribution for the undertaking of technical and scientific measures necessary for the development of Community veterinary legislation and for veterinary education and training.
(2) The Scientific Committee on Animal Health and Animal Welfare, in a report of 27 June 2000, recommended that surveys be carried out on poultry flocks and wild birds for avian influenza, in particular to determine the prevalence of infections with avian influenza virus subtypes H5 and H7.
(3) Council Directive 92/40/EEC of 19 May 1992 introducing Community measures for the control of avian influenza (2), defines Community control measures to be applied in the event of an outbreak of avian influenza in poultry. However, it does not provide for regular surveys of that disease in poultry and wild birds.
(4) Commission Decision 2005/464/EC of 21 June 2005 on the implementation of survey programmes for avian influenza in poultry and wild birds to be carried out in the Member States (3) provides for the implementation in 2005 of surveys for avian influenza in poultry and wild birds in the Member States, subject to the survey plans being approved by the Commission. Such surveys should investigate the presence of infections in poultry, which could lead to a review of current legislation and contribute to the knowledge of the possible threats for animals and humans from wildlife. That Decision provides that, by 30 June 2005, Member States are to submit to the Commission for approval programmes for the implementation of those surveys in accordance with the guidelines set out in the Annex thereto.
(5) Member States submitted those programmes by 30 June 2005. However, following the recent evolution of the avian influenza situation in Asia, and in particular as regards surveillance in migratory birds, an expert group meeting convened on 25 August 2005 and 6 September 2005 concluded that, taking into account the existing knowledge on the migratory routes of the species of birds proceeding from central and western Asia it is appropriate to improve surveillance in wild birds and intensify the surveillance programmes already planned for 2005/2006, by increasing sampling on migratory waterfowl along the flyways that could pose a risk for disease introduction.
(6) In accordance with those conclusions, Member States have modified their programmes and have communicated those amendments to the Commission for approval. In order to allow those amended programmes to be approved and the Community’s financial contribution to be decided in due time, the deadline for the submission of the programmes, the list of tests to be financed and the conditions set out in the Annex to Decision 2005/464/EC should be amended.
(7) Decision 2005/464/EC should therefore be amended accordingly.
(8) The measures provided for in this Decision are in accordance with the opinion of the Standing Committee of the Food Chain and Animal Health,