CHAPTER V

LOW PATHOGENIC AVIAN INFLUENZA (LPAI)
SECTION 3

Establishment of restricted zones

Measures to be applied in the restricted zone
Article 44
1
The competent authority shall ensure that the following measures are applied in the restricted zone:
a
a census of all commercial holdings is made as soon as possible;
b
laboratory tests are carried out on commercial poultry holdings within a radius of at least one kilometre around the holding in accordance with the diagnostic manual;
c
all movements of poultry, other captive birds, ready-to-lay poultry, day old chicks and eggs within or into the restricted zone are subject to authorisation and to other control measures deemed appropriate by the competent authority; this restriction shall not apply to the transit through the restricted zone on road or rail without unloading or stopping;
d
the movement of poultry, other captive birds, ready-to-lay poultry, day-old chicks and eggs from the restricted zone are prohibited unless the competent authority authorises the direct transport of:
1. poultry for slaughter to a slaughterhouse in the same Member State;
2. live poultry to a holding or shed in the same Member State in which there is no other poultry. The live poultry shall remain there for 21 days and the holding shall be placed under official surveillance following their arrival;
3. day-old chicks:
  - to a holding or shed of such holding in the same Member State; the day old chicks shall remain there for 21 days and the holding shall be placed under official surveillance following their arrival; or
  - if hatched from eggs originating from poultry holdings located outside of the restricted zone to any other holding provided that the hatchery can ensure by its logistics and biosecurity working conditions that any contact is excluded with hatching eggs or day-old chicks originating from poultry flocks within the restricted zone and which are therefore of a different health status;
4. hatching eggs to a designated hatchery; the eggs and their packaging shall be disinfected before dispatch and the tracing back of these eggs must be ensured;
5. table eggs to a packing centre provided that they are packed in disposable packaging and that all biosecurity measures required by the competent authority are applied;
6. eggs to an establishment for the manufacture of egg products as set out in Chapter II of Section X of Annex III to Regulation (EC) No 853/2004 to be handled and treated in accordance with Chapter XI of Annex II to Regulation (EC) No 852/2004 located inside or outside the restricted zone;
7. eggs for disposal;
e
carcases shall be disposed of;
f
any person entering or leaving holdings in the restricted zone observes appropriate biosecurity measures aimed at preventing the spread of avian influenza;
g
vehicles and equipment used for transporting live poultry or other captive birds, feed, manure, slurry and bedding and any other material or substances likely to be contaminated are cleansed and disinfected without delay after contamination, by one or more of the procedures set down in Article 48;
h
no poultry, other captive birds or mammals of domestic species may enter or leave a holding without authorisation of the competent authority. This restriction shall not apply to mammals which have access only to the living areas for humans in which they:
1. have no contact with resident poultry or other captive birds, and
2. have no access to any cages or areas where such resident poultry or other captive birds are kept;
i
the removal or spreading of used litter, manure or slurry is prohibited, unless authorised by the competent authority; the movement of manure or slurry may be authorised from a holding situated in the restricted zone under biosecurity measures to a designated plant for treatment or for intermediate storage for subsequent treatment to destroy the possible presence of avian influenza viruses in accordance with Regulation (EC) No 1774/2002 or with specific rules which may be adopted in accordance with the procedure referred to in Article 64(2);
j
fairs, markets, shows or other gatherings of poultry or other captive birds are prohibited, unless authorised by the competent authority;
k
poultry or other captive birds for restocking of game are not released.
2
The competent authority may, based on a risk assessment, introduce further measures in addition to the measures provided for in this Section and shall inform the Commission thereof.
3
Further measures may be adopted to prevent the spread of avian influenza in accordance with the procedure referred to in Article 64(3).