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(1) and (6) 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(1) and (5) thereof,

Whereas:

Avian influenza is an infectious viral disease in poultry and birds, causing mortality and disturbances which can quickly take epizootic proportions liable to present a serious threat to animal and public health and to reduce sharply the profitability of poultry farming.

Commission Decision 2000/666/EC of 16 October 2000 laying down the animal health requirements and the veterinary certification for the import of birds, other than poultry and the conditions for quarantine^f3 provides that Member States are to authorise the import of birds from the third countries listed as members of the Office International des Epizootics (OIE). Russia is a member of the OIE and accordingly Member States are to accept imports of birds, other than poultry, from Russia under that Decision.

Under Regulation (EC) No 1774/2002 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 3 October 2002 laying down health rules concerning animal by-products not intended for human consumption^f4, the importation of unprocessed feathers and parts of feathers originating in Russia is authorised.

Commission Decision 2004/122/EC of 6 February 2004 concerning certain protection measures in relation to avian influenza in several third countries^f5 suspends certain imports of poultry and poultry products from affected third countries.

On 24 July 2005 Russia notified the OIE of an outbreak of avian influenza in poultry. Accordingly, Decision 2004/122/EC was amended to take account of those outbreaks by suspending imports of unprocessed feathers and birds other than poultry from that third country into the Community.

Decision 2004/122/EC was repealed and, with regard to the affected third countries, other than Russia, replaced by Commission Decision 2005/692/EC concerning certain protection measures in relation to avian influenza in several third countries^f6. It is therefore appropriate to lay down specific rules for the importation of certain birds and poultry products from Russia in a separate act.

Taking into account the potential serious consequences related to the specific avian influenza virus strain (H5N1) involved, which is the same as that confirmed in a number of Asian countries, the importation of certain birds from Russia should be suspended as a precautionary measure. In view of the current disease situation in Russia imports of unprocessed feathers and parts of feathers originating in Russia should also be suspended.

Russia has now provided further information indicating that the outbreak has been contained in the regions (Federal districts) located to the east of the Ural Mountains and can therefore be regionalised for imports of unprocessed feathers. Imports of birds other than poultry should still be suspended from the whole of Russia.

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: