Commission Implementing Decision

of 28 November 2014

concerning certain protective measures in relation to highly pathogenic avian influenza of subtype H5N8 in Germany

(notified under document C(2014) 9112)

(Only the German text is authentic)

(Text with EEA relevance)

(2014/864/EU)

THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION,

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

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,

Whereas:

(1)

Avian influenza is an infectious viral disease in birds, including poultry. Infections with avian influenza viruses in domestic poultry cause two main forms of that disease that are distinguished by their virulence. The low pathogenic form generally only causes mild symptoms, while the highly pathogenic form results in very high mortality rates in most poultry species. That disease may have a severe impact on the profitability of poultry farming.

(2)

Avian influenza is mainly found in birds, but under certain circumstances infections can also occur in humans even though the risk is generally very low.

(3)

In the event of an outbreak of avian influenza, there is a risk that the disease agent might spread to other holdings where poultry or other captive birds are kept. As a result it may spread from one Member State to other Member States or to third countries through trade in live birds or their products.

(4)
Council Directive 2005/94/EC3 sets out certain preventive measures relating to the surveillance and the early detection of avian influenza and the minimum control measures to be applied in the event of an outbreak of that disease in poultry or other captive birds. That Directive provides for the establishment of protection and surveillance zones in the event of an outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza.
(5)
Following the notification by Germany of an outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza of subtype H5N8 in a turkey fattening holding in the commune of Heinrichswalde, in the district of Vorpommern-Greifswald in the Land Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, on 5 November 2014, Commission Implementing Decision 2014/778/EU4 was adopted.
(6)

Implementing Decision 2014/778/EU provides that the protection and surveillance zones established by Germany, in accordance with Directive 2005/94/EC, are to comprise at least the areas listed as protection and surveillance zones in the Annex to that Implementing Decision. Implementing Decision 2014/778/EU is to apply until 22 December 2014.

(7)

The interim protective measures put in place following the outbreak in Germany have now been reviewed within the framework of the Standing Committee on Plants, Animals, Food and Feed.

(8)

In order to prevent any unnecessary disturbance to trade within the Union and to avoid unjustified barriers to trade being imposed by third countries, it is necessary to define the protection and surveillance zones established in Germany at Union level in collaboration with that Member State and to fix the duration of that regionalisation. In addition, the boundaries of the areas listed in the Annex to Implementing Decision 2014/778/EU need to be amended slightly in order to enlarge the surveillance zone and to take better account of certain administrative boundaries in that Member State.

(9)

For the sake of clarity, Implementing Decision 2014/778/EU should be repealed.

(10)

The measures provided for in this Decision are in accordance with the opinion of the Standing Committee on Plants, Animals, Food and Feed,

HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:

Article 1

Germany shall ensure that the protection and surveillance zones established in accordance with Article 16(1) of Directive 2005/94/EC comprise at least the areas listed as protection and surveillance zones in Parts A and B of the Annex to this Decision.

Article 2

Implementing Decision 2014/778/EU is repealed.

Article 3

This Decision is addressed to the Federal Republic of Germany.

Done at Brussels, 28 November 2014.

For the Commission

Vytenis Andriukaitis

Member of the Commission

ANNEX

PART A

Protection zone as referred to in Article 1:

ISO Country Code

Member State

Code(if available)

Name

Date until applicable in accordance with Article 29 of Directive 2005/94/EC

DE

Germany

Postal code

Area comprising:

1.12.2014

Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania

17379

Municipality of Heinrichswalde

17335

Town of Strasburg including the part Neuensund

17379

Municipality of Wilhelmsburg including the part Mühlenhof

17379

An area of the municipality of Rothemühl with an approximate width of 1 800 m along the Northern, Western and Southern borders of that municipality

PART B

Surveillance zone as referred to in Article 1:

ISO Country Code

Member State

Code(if available)

Name

Date until applicable in accordance with Article 31 of Directive 2005/94/EC

DE

Germany

Postal

Area comprising:

10.12.2014

Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania

17099

Municipality of Galenbeck

17337

Municipality of Schönhausen

17098

Municipality of Friedland including the area of the Heinrichswalder Forest

17349

Municipality of Schönbeck including the area of the Ratteyer Forest

17349

Municipality of Voigtsdorf including the area of the gravel quarry

17379

Municipality of Wilhelmsburg including the parts:

  • Eichhof

  • Eichhof settlement

  • Fleethof

  • Friedrichshagen

  • Grünhof

  • Johannesberg

  • Mariawerth

  • Mittagsberg

  • Wilhelmsburg

17335

Town of Strasburg including the parts Gehren and Schwarzensee with the areas Rosenthal und Klepelshagen

Town of Strasburg including the parts:

  • Burgwall

  • Wilhelmslust

  • Ziegelhausen

  • Schwarzensee settlement

  • Schönburg

  • Marienfelde

  • Karlsfelde

17379

Municipality of Altwigshagen, including the parts Altwigshagen and Demnitz

17309

Municipality of Jatznick including the parts:

  • Klein Luckow

  • Waldeshöhe

  • Groß Spiegelberg

17379

Ferdinandshof including the part Ferdinandshof

17358

Town of Torgelow including the part Heinrichsruh

17337

Municipality of Groß Luckow

17379

Municipality of Rothemühl

Brandenburg

17337

Municipality of Uckerland including the parts Hansfelde and Wismar. This area is delimited to the East, North and West by the border of the Land of Brandenburg with the Land of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania and to the South by the motorway A 20