Avian influenza is an infectious viral disease in birds, including poultry. Infections with avian influenza viruses in domestic poultry cause two main forms of that disease that are distinguished by their virulence. The low pathogenic form generally only causes mild symptoms, while the highly pathogenic form results in very high mortality rates in most poultry species. The disease may have a severe impact on the profitability of poultry farming causing disturbance to trade within the Union and exports to third countries.

Since 2005, highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) viruses of the H5 subtype have been shown to be able to infect migratory birds, which can then spread these viruses over long distances during their autumn and spring migrations.

The presence of HPAI viruses in wild birds poses a continuous threat for the direct and indirect introduction of these viruses into holdings where poultry or other captive birds are kept.

In the event of an outbreak of HPAI, there is a risk that the disease agent may spread to other holdings where poultry or other captive birds are kept.

Council Directive 2005/94/EC3 sets out certain preventive measures relating to the surveillance and the early detection of avian influenza and the minimum control measures to be applied in the event of an outbreak of that disease in poultry or other captive birds. That Directive provides for the establishment of protection and surveillance zones in the event of an outbreak of HPAI. This regionalisation is applied in particular to preserve the health status of birds in the remainder of the territory of the country by preventing the introduction of the pathogenic agent and ensuring the early detection of the disease.

The United Kingdom recently notified the Commission of an outbreak of HPAI of subtype H5N1 on its territory, in one holding where poultry or other captive birds are kept in North Yorkshire, and it immediately took the measures required pursuant to Directive 2005/94/EC, including the establishment of protection and surveillance zones.

The Commission has examined those measures in collaboration with the United Kingdom, and it is satisfied that the borders of the protection and surveillance zones, established by the competent authority of the United Kingdom, are at a sufficient distance to the holding where the outbreak was confirmed.

In order to prevent any unnecessary disturbance to trade within the Union and to avoid unjustified barriers to trade being imposed by third countries, it is necessary to rapidly describe at Union level the protection and surveillance zones established in relation to HPAI in the United Kingdom.

Accordingly, the protection and surveillance zones in the United Kingdom where the animal health control measures as laid down in Directive 2005/94/EC are applied, should be defined in the Annex to this Decision and the duration of that regionalisation fixed.

Given the urgency of the epidemiological situation as regards the spread of the HPAI viruses, it is important that this Decision be adopted as soon as possible.

The measures provided for in this Decision are in accordance with the opinion of the Standing Committee on Plants, Animals, Food and Feed,