Commission Decision of 14 June 2006 concerning certain transitional measures in relation to highly pathogenic avian influenza in poultry or other captive birds in the Community (notified under document number C(2006) 2402) (Text with EEA relevance) (2006/416/EC)

Article 29 U.K. Re-population of holdings

1. Member States shall ensure that paragraphs 2 to 5 of this Article are complied with, following the application of the measures provided for in Article 7.

2. The re-population of commercial poultry holdings shall not take place for a period of 21 days following the date of completion of the final cleansing and disinfection in accordance with the instructions given by the official veterinarian.

3. The following measures shall be performed during a period of 21 days following the date of the re-population of the commercial poultry holdings:

(a) the poultry undergo at least one clinical examination carried out by the official veterinarian. That clinical examination, or if more than one is carried out, the final clinical examination, is undertaken as near as possible to the end of the 21 day-period referred to above;

(b) laboratory tests are carried out in accordance with the instructions of the competent authority;

(c) poultry that die during the re-population phase are tested in accordance with the instructions of the competent authority;

(d) any person entering or leaving the commercial poultry holding complies with appropriate biosecurity measures aimed at preventing the spread of avian influenza;

(e) during the re-population phase no poultry leaves the commercial poultry holding without the authorisation of the competent authority;

(f) the owner keeps a record on the production data, including morbidity and mortality data, which must be updated regularly;

(g) any significant change in production data, as referred to in point (f), and other abnormalities are immediately reported to the competent authority.

4. Based on a risk assessment, the competent authority may order that the procedures provided for in paragraph 3 be applied to holdings other than commercial poultry holdings or other species on a commercial poultry holding.

5. The re-repopulation of poultry in contact holdings shall take place in accordance with the instructions of the competent authority based on a risk assessment.