http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/eudn/2011/214

Commission Decision

of 1 April 2011

amending Annexes II to IV to Council Directive 2009/158/EC on animal health conditions governing intra-Community trade in, and imports from third countries of, poultry and hatching eggs

(notified under document C(2011) 2068)

(Text with EEA relevance)

(2011/214/EU)

THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION,

Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,

Having regard to Council Directive 2009/158/EC of 30 November 2009 on animal health conditions governing intra-Community trade in, and imports from third countries of, poultry and hatching eggs1, and in particular Article 34 thereof,

Whereas:

(1)

Directive 2009/158/EC lays down animal health conditions governing intra-Union trade in, and imports from third countries of, poultry and hatching eggs. Annex II thereto sets out the rules for the approval of establishments for the purposes of intra-Union trade in those commodities. Chapters II, III and IV of that Annex set out the conditions for facilities and operation of establishments, disease surveillance programmes and the criteria for suspending or withdrawing approval of an establishment, which include testing for certain micro-organisms, Salmonella and Mycoplasma, that have to be carried out in establishments approved for trade within the Union.

(2)

Experience gained in implementing the conditions for facilities and operation of establishments set out in Chapter II of Annex II to Directive 2009/158/EC show that it is appropriate to adapt them to current practices in the industry, in particular with respect to the laying behaviour of different poultry species.

(3)

In addition, Chapters III and IV of Annex II to Directive 2009/158/EC should be amended to take account of scientific progress made in diagnostic techniques for Mycoplasma in line with Chapter 2.3.5 of the Manual of Diagnostic Tests and Vaccines of the World Organisation for Animal Health and changes to the nomenclature of Salmonella according to the Collaborating Centre of the World Health Organisation for Reference and Research on Salmonella in the White-Kauffmann-Le Minor Scheme for Antigenic Formulae of the Salmonella serovars of 2007 and in line with Chapter 2.3.11 of the Manual of Diagnostic Tests and Vaccines of the World Organisation for Animal Health.

(4)

Annex III to Directive 2009/158/EC sets out poultry vaccination conditions. It should be amended in order to include specific conditions for vaccination against Salmonella.

(5)

It is also necessary to amend certain references in relation to vaccination against avian influenza in the model veterinary certificates set out in Annex IV to Directive 2009/158/EC.

(6)

Regulation (EC) No 2160/2003 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 17 November 2003 on the control of salmonella and other specified food-borne zoonotic agents2 lays down rules to ensure that proper and effective measures are taken to detect and control salmonella and other zoonotic agents. It provides that the flocks and herds of origin of certain species listed in Annex I to that Regulation are to be tested for certain specified zoonoses and zoonotic agents prior to any dispatch of live animals or hatching eggs from the food business of origin. The date and the results of testing are to be included in the relevant veterinary certificates provided for in Union legislation, including Directive 2009/158/EC.

(7)

Annex IV to Directive 2009/158/EC sets out model veterinary certificates for intra-Union trade in poultry and hatching eggs.

(8)

Commission Regulation (EC) No 584/2008 of 20 June 2008 implementing Regulation (EC) No 2160/2003 of the European Parliament and of the Council as regards a Community target for the reduction of the prevalence of Salmonella enteritidis and Salmonella typhimurium in turkeys3 lays down that testing requirements also apply to turkey flocks from 1 January 2010 and the respective veterinary certificates set out in Annex IV to Directive 2009/158/EC should therefore be amended accordingly.

(9)

Annexes II, III and IV to Directive 2009/158/EC should therefore be amended accordingly.

(10)

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: