Commission Decision

of 2 March 2006

amending Decision 2006/135/EC as regarding the establishment of areas A and B in France due to an outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza in that Member State

(notified under document number C(2006) 721)

(Text with EEA relevance)

(2006/175/EC)

THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,

Having regard to Council Directive 89/662/EEC of 11 December 1989 concerning veterinary checks in intra-Community trade with a view to the completion of the internal market(1), and in particular Article 9(4) thereof,

Having regard to Council Directive 90/425/EEC of 26 June 1990 concerning veterinary and zootechnical checks applicable in intra-Community trade in certain live animals and products with a view to the completion of the internal market(2), and in particular Article 10(4) thereof,

Having regard to Regulation (EC) 998/2003 of 26 May 2003 of the European Parliament and of the Council on the animal health requirements applicable to the non-commercial movement of pet animals and amending Council Directive 92/65/EEC(3), and in particular Article 18 thereof,

Having regard to Council Directive 2005/94/EC of 20 December 2005 on Community measures for the control of avian influenza and repealing Directive 92/40/EEC(4), and in particular Article 66(2) thereof,

Whereas:

(1) France has notified the Commission and the other Member States of an outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza A virus of subtype H5N1 in poultry in certain areas of its territory and has taken the appropriate measures provided for in Commission Decision 2006/135/EC of 22 February 2006 concerning certain protection measures in relation to highly pathogenic avian influenza in the Community(5).

(2) After notification of those measures, the Commission has examined them in collaboration with France, and is satisfied that areas A and B established by France are at sufficient distance to the outbreak in poultry and epidemiologically related cases in wild birds. It is therefore necessary to amend Parts A and B of Annex I to that Decision accordingly and to fix the duration of that regionalisation.

(3) The measures provided for in this Decision are in accordance with the opinion of the Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health,

HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:

(1)

OJ L 395, 30.12.1989, p. 13. Directive as last amended by Directive 2004/41/EC (OJ L 157, 30.4.2004, p. 33); corrected version (OJ L 195, 2.6.2004, p. 12).

(2)

OJ L 224, 18.8.1990, p. 29. Directive as last amended by Directive 2002/33/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council (OJ L 315, 19.11.2002, p. 14).

(3)

OJ L 146, 13.6.2003, p. 1. Regulation as last amended by Commission Regulation (EC) No 18/2006 (OJ L 4, 7.1.2006, p. 3).