THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,
Having regard to Council Directive 91/496/EEC of 15 July 1991 laying down the principles governing the organisation of veterinary checks on animals entering the Community from third countries and amending Directives 89/662/EEC, 90/425/EEC and 90/675/EEC(1), and in particular Article 18(7) thereof,
Having regard to Council Directive 97/78/EC of 18 December 1997 laying down the principles governing the organisation of veterinary checks on products entering the Community from third countries(2), and in particular Article 22(6) thereof,
Whereas:
(1) Newcastle disease is a highly contagious viral disease in poultry and birds and there is a risk that the disease agent might be introduced via international trade in live poultry and poultry products.
(2) Commission Decision 2005/648/EC of 8 September 2005 concerning protection measures in relation to Newcastle disease in Bulgaria(3) was adopted following an outbreak of Newcastle disease in the administrative district of Vratsa. That Decision suspends the importation of live poultry, ratites, farmed and wild feathered game and hatching eggs, fresh meat and meat preparations and meat products from these species.
(3) Bulgaria confirmed outbreaks of Newcastle disease in one municipality of the administrative district of Dobrich and in one municipality of the administrative district of Razgrad in Bulgaria.
(4) Taking account of the current epidemiology situation in Bulgaria in relation to Newcastle disease and the fact that this country has applied certain disease control measures and has sent further information on the disease situation to the Commission, it appears that the situation in Bulgaria, except for the districts of Vratsa, Blagoevgrad, Kardzhali, Burgas (excluding the municipalities of Burgas and Sungurlare), for the municipality of Dobrichka situated in the district of Dobrich and for the municipality of Kubrat situated in the district of Razgrad is still satisfactory. It is therefore appropriate to limit the suspension of imports to those regions.
(5) The Annex to Decision 2005/648/EC should therefore be amended accordingly.
(6) 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:
OJ L 268, 24.9.1991, p. 56. Directive as last amended by the 2003 Act of Accession.
OJ L 24, 30.1.1998, p. 9. Directive as last amended by Regulation (EC) No 882/2004 of the European Parliament and of the Council (OJ L 165, 30.4.2004, p. 1).
OJ L 238, 15.9.2005, p. 16. Decision as last amended by Decision 2006/571/EC (OJ L 227, 19.8.2006, p. 58).