2001/847/EC: Commission Decision of 30 November 2001 amending for the third time Decision 2000/721/EC to modify the Italian avian influenza vaccination programme and current trade restrictions for fresh meat originating from vaccinated turkeys (Text with EEA relevance) (notified under document number C(2001) 3815)

Commission Decision
of 30 November 2001
amending for the third time Decision 2000/721/EC to modify the Italian avian influenza vaccination programme and current trade restrictions for fresh meat originating from vaccinated turkeys
(notified under document number C(2001) 3815)
(Text with EEA relevance)
(2001/847/EC)
THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES
,
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,
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(1), as last amended by Directive 92/118/EEC(2), and in particular Article 10(4) thereof,
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(3), as last amended by Council Directive 92/118/EEC, and in particular Article 9(4) thereof,
Having regard to Council Directive 92/40/EEC of 19 May 1992 introducing Community measures for the control of avian influenza(4), and in particular Article 16(a) thereof,
Whereas:
(1) The Commission has adopted Decision 2000/721/EC(5) on 7 November 2000, introducing vaccination to supplement the measures to control avian influenza in Italy and specific movement control measures.
(2) By Commission Decisions 2000/785/EC(6) and 2001/627/EC(7) certain amendments were made to the vaccination programme and to the movement restrictions applicable to intra-Community trade.
(3) Italian authorities reported that the disease situation for avian influenza has improved and have requested further amendments to the approved vaccination programme and to the current trade restrictions. The use of a newly developed iIFA-test, which shall allow a differentiation between animals vaccinated with the H7N3 strain and animals infected with H7N1 field strain, should also be added to the currently applied disease control measures.
(4) The capabilities of the newly developed iIFA-test have been examined by a group of experts of the Member States and the Community Reference Laboratory for avian influenza and the test was considered a useful way to differentiate between vaccinated and infected turkey flocks.
(5) The improved disease situation makes it appropriate to modify the vaccination programme and current trade restrictions for fresh meat originating from vaccinated turkeys.
(6) The measures provided for in this Decision are in accordance with the opinion of the Standing Veterinary Committee,