Between 24 November 2015 and 5 August 2016, numerous outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza of subtype H5 were confirmed and notified by France. In total, 81 outbreaks were confirmed in the South-West of France. The species affected are ducks, geese, laying hens, turkeys, breeding fowls of the species Gallus domesticus, cockerels and chickens, Guinea fowls and quails.

France immediately and efficiently took all the necessary animal health and veterinary measures required in accordance with Council Directive 2005/94/EC.

a prohibition of placing in ducks and geese holdings located in the further restricted zone and in the protection and surveillance zones established following the last four outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza which occurred on 15 July, 18 July, 25 July and 5 August 2016. The prohibition of placing in ducks and geese holdings in the further restricted zone aimed in particular to ensure a 16-week period of depopulation; a prohibition of movements on large proportions of the susceptible poultry population and of trade of live poultry outside the further restricted zone; prolonged fallowing periods in susceptible poultry holdings other than ducks and geese located in the protection zones, surveillance zones and in the further restricted zone including the protection and surveillance zones established following the last four outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza which occurred on 15 July, 18 July, 25 July and 5 August 2016.

In applying those measures, the French authorities managed to eradicate the threat. The Union and national animal health and veterinary measures were applied until 15 September 2016 in all relevant holdings except for the poultry holdings located in the protection and surveillance zones established following the last four outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza which occurred on 15 July, 18 July, 25 July and 5 August 2016, in which measures applied respectively until 25 August, 25 September and 3 October 2016.

French authorities informed the Commission that the necessary health and veterinary measures, which had been applied to contain and eradicate the spread of the disease, had affected a very large number of operators and that those operators suffered income losses not eligible for Union financial contribution under Regulation (EU) No 652/2014 of the European Parliament and of the Council.

On 20 April, 20 September and 24 October 2016, the Commission received formal requests from French authorities for part-financing of certain exceptional measures pursuant to Article 220(3) of Regulation (EU) No 1308/2013.

As a result of the animal health and veterinary measures applied, placing of birds in all holdings with ducks and geese located in the further restricted zone and in the protection and surveillance zones established following the last four outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza which occurred on 15 July, 18 July, 25 July and 5 August 2016 was forbidden. This led to a loss of production of poultry meat in these ducks and geese holdings. It is therefore appropriate to compensate these losses.

As a result of animal health and veterinary measures, laying hens at the end of their production cycle and breeding fowls of the species Gallus domesticus could not be transported outside of the further restricted zone to be slaughtered for meat production in specialized slaughterhouses. This led to the killing and destruction in slaughterhouses or on farms of animals and a loss of production for laying hens and breeding fowls of the species Gallus domesticus producers located in the further restricted zone. It is therefore appropriate to compensate these losses.

As a result of animal health and veterinary measures, fallowing periods were prolonged in holdings of standard, organic, Label Rouge or free range chickens, cockerels, Label Rouge and free range Guinea fowls, turkeys and quails located in the protection zones, surveillance zones and in the further restricted zone including the protection and surveillance zones established following the last four outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza which occurred on 15 July, 18 July, 25 July and 5 August 2016. This led to a loss of production of poultry meat in these holdings. It is therefore appropriate to compensate these losses.

As a result of animal health and veterinary measures, live chickens, laying hens, Guinea fowls and turkeys could not be sold outside the further restricted zone. This led to a loss of production for producers of live chickens, laying hens, Guinea fowls and turkeys located in the further restricted zone. It is therefore appropriate to compensate these losses.

In accordance with Article 220(5) of Regulation (EU) No 1308/2013, the Union part-financing has to be equivalent to 50 % of the expenditure borne by France for the exceptional market support measures. The maximum quantities eligible for financing in respect of each exceptional market support measure should be fixed by the Commission after scrutinising the request received from France.

To avoid any risk of over compensation, the flat rate amount of part-financing should be based on technical and economic studies or accounting documents and fixed at an appropriate level for each animal and product according to the categories of animals produced in terms of species but also in terms of the production method, i.e. standard production, free range production, certified production under national scheme, certified production under the Label Rouge scheme, production covered by a Protected Geographical Indication (PGI), and, finally, in terms of the length of the production cycle, i.e. long cycle for geese and duck producers who only produce live animals, short cycle for geese and duck producers who produce live animals and transform them into processed products.

To avoid any risk of double funding, losses suffered should not have been compensated by state aids or insurances and the Union part-financing under this Regulation should be limited to eligible animals and products for which no Union financial contribution has been received under Regulation (EU) No 652/2014.

The extent and duration of the exceptional market support measures provided for in this Regulation should be limited to what is strictly necessary to support the market; in particular, the exceptional market support measures should apply only to the production of poultry meat in the holdings located in the regulated zones and for the duration of the animal health and veterinary measures laid down in the Union and French legislation relevant to the 81 outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza.

For the sake of a sound budgetary management of these exceptional market support measures, only those payments made by France to the beneficiaries by 30 September 2017 at the latest, should be eligible for Union part-financing. Article 5(2) of Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) No 907/2014 should not be applicable.

In order to ensure the eligibility and the correctness of the payments, French authorities should carry out ex-ante checks.

To allow the Union to perform its financial control, French authorities should communicate to the Commission the clearance of the payments.

In order to ensure an immediate implementation of these measures by France, this Regulation should enter into force on the day following that of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.

The measures provided for in this Regulation are in accordance with the opinion of the Committee for the Common Organisation of the Agricultural Markets,