Commission Regulation (EC) No 798/2008 of 8 August 2008 laying down a list of third countries, territories, zones or compartments from which poultry and poultry products may be imported into and transit through the Community and the veterinary certification requirements (Text with EEA relevance) (c. 798)

ANNEX IX U.K. (as referred to in Article 14(1)(b))RATITES FOR BREEDING AND PRODUCTION, HATCHING EGGS AND DAY-OLD CHICKS THEREOF

I. Requirements applicable before import U.K.

1.

Imported ratites for breeding and production (ratites) shall be identified by neck-tags and/or microchips bearing the ISO code of the third country of origin. Such microchips must comply with ISO standards.

2.

Imported hatching eggs of ratites shall be marked with a stamp indicating the ISO code of the third country of origin and the approval number of the establishment of origin.

3.

Each package of hatching eggs as referred to in point 2 shall contain only eggs of ratites from the same third country, territory, zone or compartment of origin and consignor, and shall bear at least the following particulars:

(a)

the information shown on the eggs as provided for in point 2;

(b)

a clearly visible and legible indication that the consignment contains hatching eggs of ratites;

(c)

the consignor’s name or business name and address.

4.

Each box of imported day-old chicks of ratites for breeding and production shall contain only ratites from the same third country, territory, zone or compartment of origin, establishment and consignor, and shall bear at least the following particulars:

(a)

the ISO code of the third country of origin and the approval number of the establishment of origin;

(b)

a clearly visible and legible indication that the consignment contains day-old chicks of ratites;

(c)

the consignor’s name or business name and address.

II. Requirements applicable after import U.K.

1.

After the import controls have been carried out in accordance with Directive 91/496/EEC, consignments of ratites and hatching eggs and day-old chicks thereof shall be transported directly to the final destination.

2.

Imported ratites and day-old chicks thereof shall be kept on the establishment(s) of destination from their date of arrival:

(a)

for a period at least six weeks; or

(b)

where the birds are slaughtered before the expiry of the period referred to in (a), until the day of slaughter.

3.

Ratites which have hatched from imported hatching eggs shall be kept for a period of at least three weeks from the date of hatching in the hatchery or for at least three weeks on the establishment(s) to which they have been sent after hatching.

4.

During the relevant periods as referred to in points 2 and 3, imported ratites and ratites which have hatched from imported hatching eggs shall be kept in isolation in poultry houses where no other ratites or poultry are present.

However, they may be introduced into poultry houses where other ratites or poultry are already present. In that case, the periods referred to in points 2 and 3 shall commence from the date of introduction of the last imported ratite and no ratites or poultry present shall be moved from the poultry housing before the end of those periods.

5.

Imported hatching eggs shall be hatched in separate incubators and hatchers.

However, imported hatching eggs may be introduced into incubators and hatchers where other hatching eggs are already present. In that case, the periods referred to in points 2 and 3 shall commence from the date of introduction of the last imported hatching egg and the measures as provided for in those points shall apply.

6.

No later than the date of expiry of the relevant periods as referred to in point 2 or 3, imported ratites and day-old chicks thereof shall undergo a clinical examination carried out by an official veterinarian and, where necessary, samples shall be taken to monitor their state of health.

III. Requirements for ratites for breeding and production and day-old chicks thereof from Asia and Africa applicable on their import into the Community U.K.

The protective measures for Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever set out in Part I of Annex X shall apply to ratites for breeding and production and day-old chicks thereof coming from third countries, territories, zones or compartments in Asia and Africa.

All ratites testing positive to the competitive ELISA test for antibodies to Crimean Congo haemorrhagic fever provided for therein shall be destroyed.

All birds of the same consignment shall be retested by the competitive ELISA test 21 days after the date of the original sampling. Where any bird tests positive all birds in the same consignment shall be destroyed.

IV. Requirements for ratites for breeding and production from a third country, territory or zone considered to be infected with Newcastle disease U.K.

The following rules shall apply to ratites and hatching eggs thereof coming from a third country, territory or zone considered as infected with Newcastle disease and to day-old chicks that have hatched from such eggs:

(a)

before the date the isolation period begins, the competent authority shall check the isolation facilities as referred to in point 4 of Part II of this Annex to verify whether they are satisfactory;

(b)

during the relevant periods as referred to in points 2 and 3 of Part II of this Annex a virus isolation test for Newcastle disease shall be carried out on a cloacal swab or faeces sample from each ratite;

(c)

where ratites are to be sent to a Member State, the status of which has been established in accordance with Article 12(2) of Directive 90/539/EEC, a serological test shall be carried out on each ratite, in addition to the virus isolation test provided for in point (b) of this Part;

(d)

negative results of the tests provided for in points (b) and (c) shall be available before any bird is released from isolation.