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 18 U.K. Derogations for the direct transport of poultry for immediate slaughter and the movement or treatment of poultry meat

1. By way of derogation from Article 17, the competent authority may authorise the direct transport of poultry originating from a holding in the protection zone for immediate slaughter to a designated slaughterhouse subject to the following conditions:

(a) a clinical examination of the poultry on the holding of origin is carried out by the official veterinarian within 24 hours of being sent for slaughter;

(b) where appropriate, laboratory tests have been carried out on poultry on the holding of origin in accordance with instructions given by the official veterinarian with favourable results;

(c) the poultry are transported in vehicles sealed by the competent authority or under its supervision;

(d) the competent authority responsible for the designated slaughterhouse is informed and agrees to receive the poultry and then confirms the slaughter to the competent authority of dispatch;

(e) the poultry from the protection zone are kept separately from other poultry and are slaughtered separately or at different times from other poultry, preferably at the end of a working day; subsequent cleansing and disinfection shall be completed before other poultry are slaughtered;

(f) the official veterinarian shall ensure that a detailed examination of the poultry is carried out at the designated slaughterhouse when the poultry arrive and after they are slaughtered;

(g) the meat does not enter into intra-Community or international trade and bears the health mark for fresh meat provided for in Annex II to Council Directive 2002/99/EC(1);

(h) the meat is obtained, cut, transported and stored separately from meat intended for intra-Community and international trade and is used in such a way as to avoid it being introduced into meat products intended for intra-Community or international trade, unless it has undergone a treatment set out in Annex III to Directive 2002/99/EC.

2. By way of derogation from Article 17, the competent authority may authorise the direct transport of poultry from outside the protection zone for immediate slaughter to a designated slaughterhouse within the protection zone and subsequent movement of the meat derived from such poultry providing that:

(a) the competent authority responsible for the designated slaughterhouse is informed and agrees to receive the poultry and then confirms the slaughter to the competent authority of dispatch;

(b) the poultry are kept separate from other poultry originating within the protection zone and are slaughtered separately or at different times from other poultry;

(c) the poultry meat produced is cut, transported and stored separately from poultry meat obtained from other poultry originating in the protection zone;

(d) the animal by-products are disposed of.

(1)

OJ L 18, 23.1.2003, p. 11.