(1)

Avian influenza is a highly contagious viral disease in poultry and birds, which can quickly take epizootic proportions liable to present a serious threat to animal and public health and to reduce sharply the profitability of poultry farming.

(2)

There is a risk that the disease agent might be introduced via international trade in live poultry and poultry products.

(3)

On 6 August 2004 the Republic of South Africa have confirmed an outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza in two ratite farms in the Eastern Cape Province.

(4)

This detected avian influenza virus strain is of subtype H5N2 and therefore different from the strain currently causing the epidemic in Asia. Current knowledge suggests that the risk for public health in relation to this subtype is inferior to the risk of the strain circulating in Asia, which is an H5N1 virus subtype.

(5)

At this moment for poultry and poultry products, the Republic of South Africa is only authorised to export to the Community live ratites and their hatching eggs and fresh meat from ratites and meat products containing ratite meat, as well as birds other than poultry.

(6)

However the competent authorities of South Africa suspended certification of live raties and their meat to the European Union on 6 August 2004 until the situation becomes clearer.

(7)

In view of the animal health risk of disease introduction into the Community, it is therefore appropriate as an immediate measure to suspend imports of live ratites and hatching eggs of these species from the Republic of South Africa.

(8)

In accordance with Commission Decision 2000/666/EC (3) importation of birds other than poultry is authorised from all member countries of the OIE (World Organisation for Animal Health) subject to animal health guarantees provided by the country of origin, and to strict post-import quarantine measures in the Member States.

(9)

However, the importation of birds other than poultry, and also of pet birds accompanying their owners into the Community from the Republic of South Africa should be suspended as an additional measure in order to exclude any possible risk for disease occurrence in quarantine stations under the authority of the Member States.

(10)

Furthermore the importation into the Community from the Republic of South Africa should be suspended for fresh meat of ratites and wild and farmed feathered game, meat preparations and meat products consisting of, or containing meat of those species, obtained from birds slaughtered after 16 July 2004.

(11)

Commission Decision 97/222/EC (4), lays down the list of third countries from which Member States may authorise the importation of meat products, and establishes treatment regimes in order to prevent the risk of disease transmission via such products. The treatment that must be applied to the product depends on the health status of the country of origin, in relation to the species the meat is obtained from; in order to avoid an unnecessary burden on trade, imports of poultry meat products originating in the Republic of South Africa treated to a temperature of at least 70° Celsius throughout the product should continue to be authorised.

(12)

As soon as the Republic of South Africa has communicated further information on the disease situation and the control measures taken in this respect the measures taken on Community level in relation to this outbreak should be reviewed.

(13)

The provisions of this Decision will be reviewed at the next meeting of the Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health,

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live ratites and hatching eggs of these species, and

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birds other than poultry including pet birds accompanying their owners.

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fresh meat of ratites, and of

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meat preparations and meat products consisting of, or containing meat of those species.