30.9.2004   

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

L 303/35

(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.

(a)

poultry vaccinated against avian influenza.

(b)

poultry from avian influenza sero-positive poultry flocks destined for slaughter under official control in accordance with the vaccination programme referred to in Article 1.

(c)

poultry originating from holdings located in a restriction zone established in accordance with the provisions laid down in the vaccination programme referred to in Article 1.

(i)

originate from flocks which have been regularly inspected and tested with negative results for avian influenza as laid down in the approved vaccination programme, with particular attention to be paid to the sentinel birds.For the testing of:

(ii)

originate from flocks which have been clinically inspected by an official veterinarian within 48 hours before loading, with particular attention to be paid to the sentinel birds;

(iii)

originate from flocks which have been tested serologically with negative results at the National Laboratory for avian influenza, by using the sampling and testing procedure laid down in Annex III to this Decision;

(iv)

shall be sent directly to a slaughterhouse designated by the competent authority and shall be slaughtered immediately after arrival. The birds shall be kept separated from other flocks not complying with the present provisions.

(a)

only disposable packaging material, or packaging material which can be effectively washed and disinfected, is used for the collection, storage and transport of table eggs;

(b)

all means of transport used for transporting live poultry, hatching eggs, fresh poultry meat, table eggs and poultry feedstuff are cleaned and disinfected immediately before and after each transport with disinfectants and methods of use approved by the competent authority.