http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/eudn/2007/79

Commission Decision

of 31 January 2007

amending Decision 2006/415/EC concerning certain protection measures in relation to highly pathogenic avian influenza of the subtype H5N1 in poultry in Hungary

(notified under document number C(2007) 325)

(Text with EEA relevance)

(2007/79/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 market1, 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 market2, and in particular Article 10(4) 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/EEC3, and in particular Article 66(2) thereof,

Whereas:

(1)

Directive 2005/94/EC lays down measures for the control of avian influenza and repeals Council Directive 92/40/EEC of 19 May 1992 introducing Community measures for the control of avian influenza4, as from 1 July 2007.

(2)

As the final date for transposition of Directive 2005/94/EC into national law is 1 July 2007, Commission Decision 2006/415/EC of 14 June 2006 concerning certain protection measures in relation to highly pathogenic avian influenza of the subtype H5N1 in poultry in the Community and repealing Decision 2006/135/EC5 and Commission Decision 2006/416/EC of 14 June 2006 concerning certain transitional measures in relation to highly pathogenic avian influenza in poultry or other captive birds in the Community6, were adopted pending the transposition of that Directive. Those Decisions are to apply until 30 June 2007.

(3)

Decision 2006/415/EC lays down certain protection measures to be applied in the event of an outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza in poultry in the territory of a Member State caused by the highly pathogenic A virus of subtype H5, in order to prevent the spread of the avian influenza into the disease free parts of the Community thorough the movement of birds as well as products thereof.

(4)

Hungary has notified the Commission of an outbreak of H5N1 in poultry on its territory and has taken the appropriate measures as provided for in Decision 2006/415/EC, including the establishment of Areas A and B as provided for in Article 4 of that Decision.

(5)

The Commission has examined those measures in collaboration with Hungary, and is satisfied that the borders of Areas A and B established by the competent authority in that Member State are at a sufficient distance to the actual location of the outbreak. Areas A and B in Hungary can therefore be confirmed and the duration of that regionalisation fixed.

(6)

It is therefore necessary to amend Decision 2006/415/EC accordingly.

(7)

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: