CHAPTER IVHIGHLY PATHOGENIC AVIAN INFLUENZA (HPAI)

SECTION 6Derogations and additional biosecurity measures

Article 33Derogations

1.

Member States shall define the detailed arrangements under which they may grant derogations provided for in Articles 16 and 23 to 27, including alternative appropriate measures and conditions. Such derogations shall be based on a risk assessment carried out by the competent authority.

2.

The competent authority may, based on a risk assessment, grant derogations from the measures provided in Sections 3 and 4 in cases of confirmation of HPAI in a hatchery.

3.

The competent authority may grant derogations from the measures provided for in Article 18, points (b) and (c), Article 22, and in Article 30, points (b), (c) and (f), in cases of an outbreak of HPAI in a non-commercial holding, a circus, a zoo, a wild life park, a fenced area where poultry or other captive birds are kept for scientific purposes or purposes related to the conservation of endangered species or officially registered rare breeds of poultry or other captive birds.

4.

By way of derogation from Sections 3 and 4, in cases of outbreaks of HPAI Member States may, based on a risk assessment, introduce specific measures on movements of racing pigeons into, from and within the protection and surveillance zones.

5.

The derogations provided for in paragraphs 1 to 4 shall only be granted provided that such derogations do not endanger disease control.

6.

Member States granting derogations provided for in paragraphs 1 to 4 shall immediately inform the Commission thereof.

7.

The Commission shall in all cases review the situation with the Member State concerned and in the Committee as soon as possible.

Taking account of any derogation granted, as provided for in paragraphs 1 to 4, measures to prevent the spread of avian influenza may be adopted in accordance with the procedure referred to in Article 64(3).

8.

Any poultry (including day-old-chicks), other captive birds, hatching eggs, used litter, manure or slurry which come from a holding that has been granted a derogation under this Article, cannot be marketed outside the Member State concerned unless otherwise decided in accordance with the procedure referred in Article 64(3).