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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) Accordingly, Commission Decisions 2002/649/EC(3) and 2004/111/EC(4) provided for the submission of surveillance programmes concerning avian influenza by the Member States to the Commission.
(5) Commission Decisions 2002/673/EC(5) and 2004/630/EC(6) approved programmes submitted by the Member States for surveys of avian influenza in poultry and wild birds for the periods specified in those programmes.
(6) During those surveys, the presence of different subtypes of H5 and H7 avian influenza viruses has been detected in several Member States. Although the current prevalence of avian influenza viruses can be considered rather low, it is important to continue and to improve the surveillance so as to better understand the epidemiology of the low pathogenic avian influenza viruses and prevent that viruses do not circulate unnoticed in the poultry population. The results of the surveys carried out in the Member States have proven to be very useful in monitoring the presence of avian influenza virus subtypes that could present a substantial risk if they mutated into a more virulent form. Taking into account the results obtained and the current disease situation in the Community, it is appropriate to increase the total amount of Community contribution to ensure increased surveillance.
(7) Accordingly, Member States should submit their programmes for surveys for avian influenza to the Commission for approval so that the financial assistance by the Community may be granted.
(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,
HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:
By [F113 September 2005], Member States shall submit for approval to the Commission programmes for the implementation of surveys for avian influenza in poultry and wild birds in accordance with the Annex.
Textual Amendments
The Community’s financial contribution towards the measures provided for in Article 1 shall be at the rate of 50 % of the costs incurred in Member States up to a maximum of EUR 1 200 000 for the Member States in total.
The maximum amounts of the testing costs to be reimbursed shall not exceed:
:
EUR 1 per test;
:
EUR 0,6 per test;
:
EUR 4 per test;
Textual Amendments
This Decision is addressed to the Member States.
the number of holdings to be sampled (excluding ducks, geese and turkeys); that number shall be defined so as to ensure the identification of at least one infected holding if the prevalence of infected holdings is at least 5 %, with a 95 % confidence interval; (see table 1) and
the number of birds sampled from each holding shall be defined so as to ensure 95 % probability of identifying at least one positive bird if the prevalence of sero-positive birds is ≥ 30 %.
The types of production and their specific risks, shall be targeted to free range production and outdoor keeping plus taking into account other factors such as multi-age, use of surface water, a relatively longer life span, the presence of more than one species on the holding or other relevant factors.
The number of turkey, duck and goose holdings to be sampled shall be defined to ensure the identification of at least one infected holding if the prevalence of infected holdings is at least 5 %, with a 99 % confidence interval (see table 2).
Where significant number of holdings producing ratites and quails are present in a Member State they shall be included in the programme. With regard to quails only adult (or laying) breeders shall be sampled.
The time period for sampling shall coincide with seasonal production. However, where appropriate, sampling can be adapted to other identified periods at local level, during which time the presence of other poultry hosts on a holding might pose a greater risk for disease introduction.
Member States that must carry out sampling for Newcastle disease to maintain their status as Newcastle disease non-vaccinating countries in accordance with Commission Decision 94/327/EC(7) may utilise these samples from breeding flocks for the surveillance of H5/H7 antibodies.
Number of holdings to be sampled of each poultry category (except turkey, duck and goose holdings)
Number of holdings per poultry category per Member State | Number of holdings to be sampled |
---|---|
Up to 34 | All |
35-50 | 35 |
51-80 | 42 |
81-250 | 53 |
> 250 | 60 |
Number of turkey, duck and goose holdings to be sampled
Number of holdings per Member State | Number of holdings to be sampled |
---|---|
Up to 46 | All |
47-60 | 47 |
61-100 | 59 |
101-350 | 80 |
> 350 | 90 |
In those Member States where surveillance will also involve wild birds the following guidelines shall be followed.
the population of wild bird species presenting a higher risk to be identified, based upon:
origin and migratory flyways;
numbers of wild birds in the Community; and
likelihood of contact with domestic poultry;
identify sites at risk, based upon:
mixing sites of high number of migratory birds involving different species and in particular those listed in part F;
proximity to domestic poultry farms; and
location along migratory flyways.
Sampling must take account of the seasonality of migration patterns, which may vary in different Member States and the species of birds listed in Annex F.
wild birds species listed in part F and other wild birds living in contact with them; and
at sites as referred to in point 2(b)(i).
The occurrence of mortality in several species at the same site shall be an additional factor to be considered.
Laboratory tests shall be carried out in accordance with the diagnostic procedures for the confirmation and differential diagnostic of avian influenza (AI) set out in Annex III to Directive 92/40/EEC (including examination of sera from ducks and geese by haemagglutination-inhibition (HI) test. However, if laboratory tests not laid down in Directive 92/40/EEC, nor described in the OIE Terrestrial Manual, are envisaged, Member States shall provide the necessary validation data to the CRL, in parallel to submitting their programme to the Commission for approval. All positive serological findings shall be confirmed by the National laboratories for avian influenza by an haemagglutination-inhibition test, using designated strains supplied by the Community Reference Laboratory:
Initial test using Duck/Denmark/64650/03 (H5N7)
Test all positives with Ostrich/Denmark/72420/96 (H5N2) to eliminate N7 cross reactive antibody.
Initial test using Turkey/England/647/77 (H7N7)
Test all positives with African Starling/983/79 (H7N1) to eliminate N7 cross reactive antibody.
Latin name | English language name | |
---|---|---|
1. | Anser albifrons | White-fronted goose |
2. | Anser fabalis | Bean goose |
3. | Anas platyrhynchos | Mallard |
4. | Anas strepera | Gadwal |
5. | Anas acuta | Northern Pintail |
6. | Anas clypeata | Northern Shoveler |
7. | Anas Penelope | Eurasian Wigeon |
8. | Anas crecca | Common Teal |
9. | Anas querquedula | Garganay |
10. | Aythya ferina | Common Pochard |
11. | Aythya fuligula | Tufted duck |
12. | Vanellus vanellus | Northern Lapwing |
13. | Philomachus pugnax | Ruff |
14. | Larus ribibundus | Black-headed gull |
15. | Larus canus | Common gull] |
OJ L 224, 18.8.1990, p. 19. Decision as last amended by Directive 2003/99/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council (OJ L 325, 12.12.2003, p. 31).
OJ L 167, 22.6.1992, p. 1. Directive as last amended by Regulation (EC) No 806/2003 (OJ L 122, 16.5.2003, p. 1).
OJ L 32, 5.2.2004, p. 20. Decision as amended by Decision 2004/615/EC (OJ L 278, 27.8.2004, p. 59).
OJ L 228, 24.8.2002, p 27. Decision as amended by Decision 2003/21/EC (OJ L 8, 14.1.2003, p. 37).
OJ L 287, 8.9.2004, p. 7. Decision as amended by Decision 2004/679/EC (OJ L 310, 7.10.2004, p. 75).
[F2All naturally occurring wild birds species in the Community, including the the species listed in the table in this part, are covered by the protection regime of Directive 79/409/EEC on the conservation of wild birds and therefore full regard shall be taken of the requirements of this Directive in any surveillance for avian influenza.]