THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,
Having regard to Council Directive 91/496/EEC/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, and in particular Article 18 (1) 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, and in particular Article 22(1) thereof,
Whereas:
(1)
By Decision 2004/122/EC the Commission adopted protection measures in relation to avian influenza in several Asian countries, namely in Cambodia, Indonesia, Japan, Laos, Pakistan, the People’s Republic of China including the territory of Hong Kong, South Korea, Thailand and Vietnam.
(2)
On 19 August 2004 Malaysia has reported an outbreak of avian influenza.
(3)
Given the disease situation the measures laid down in Article 4 of Decision 2004/122/EC should apply also to Malaysia.
(4)
The provisions of this Decision will be reviewed at the next meeting of the Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health;
HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION: