Introductory text

THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,

Having regard to Council Directive 91/496/EEC of 15 July 1991 laying down the principles governing the organisation of veterinary checks on animals entering the Community from third countries and amending Directives 89/662/EEC, 90/425/EEC and 90/675/EEC^f1, and in particular Article 18(7) thereof,

Having regard to Council Directive 97/78/EC of 18 December 1997 laying down the principles governing the organisation of veterinary checks on products entering the Community from third countries^f2, and in particular Article 22(6) thereof,

Whereas:

On 23 December 2004 Bulgaria confirmed an outbreak of Newcastle disease in the administrative district of Kardzhali in Bulgaria. In order to reduce the risk of introduction of the disease into the Community, Commission Decision 2004/908/EC of 23 December 2004 concerning protection measures in relation to Newcastle disease in Bulgaria^f3 was adopted as an immediate measure to suspend imports of live poultry, ratites, farmed and wild feathered game birds and hatching eggs of these species from Bulgaria.

Bulgaria has communicated further information on the disease situation and requested regionalisation to allow lifting of the suspension for the country other than the administrative district of Kardzhali, since the situation in the rest of the country appears to be satisfactory.

Therefore the measures adopted by the Commission in relation to the outbreak of Newcastle disease in Bulgaria should be amended accordingly and Decision 2004/908/EC should be repealed and replaced by this Decision.

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: