{
  "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/eu-decision-2006-146/introduction",
  "json_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/eu-decision-2006-146/introduction.json",
  "legislation": "eudn/2006/146",
  "legislation_title": "Commission Decision of 21 February 2006 on certain protection measures with regard to certain fruit bats, dogs and cats coming from Malaysia (Peninsula) and Australia (notified under document number C(2006) 417) (Text with EEA relevance) (2006/146/EC)",
  "legislation_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/eu-decision-2006-146",
  "path": "introduction",
  "kind": "introduction",
  "number": null,
  "heading": "Introductory text",
  "text": "Commission Decision\nof 21 February 2006\non certain protection measures with regard to certain fruit bats, dogs and cats coming from Malaysia (Peninsula) and Australia\n(notified under document number C(2006) 417)\n(Text with EEA relevance)\n(2006/146/EC)\nTHE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,\nHaving regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,\nHaving 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, and in particular Article 18(1) thereof,\nWhereas:\n(1)\nCommission Decision 1999/507/EC of 26 July 1999 on certain protection measures with regard to certain fruit bats, dogs and cats coming from Malaysia (Peninsula) and Australia has been substantially amended several times. In the interests of clarity and rationality the said Decision should be codified.\n(2)\nThe principal animal health conditions to be complied with by Member States when importing from third countries dogs, cats and other animals susceptible to rabies are laid down in Council Directive 92/65/EEC of 13 July 1992 laying down animal health requirements governing trade in and imports into the Community of animals, semen, ova and embryos not subject to animal health requirements laid down in specific Community rules referred to in Annex A(I) to Directive 90/425/EEC. However the veterinary certification is not yet harmonised.\n(3)\nFatal cases of Hendra disease and Nipah disease in human beings have been declared respectively in Australia and in Malaysia.\n(4)\nFruit bats of the genus Pteropus are considered the natural host of Hendra disease virus and incriminated in being the virus reservoir for Nipah disease. However these mammals do not show clinical signs of disease and may harbour the virus in the presence of neutralising antibodies.\n(5)\nFruit bats are occasionally imported from third countries. Pending Community animal health conditions for imports from third countries of fruit bats, it appears necessary to introduce certain protection measures with regard to Hendra and Nipah diseases.\n(6)\nHendra disease may be transmitted by cats, and dogs and cats contract Nipah disease. The exposure to the respective viruses stimulates seroconversion in diseased and reconvalescent animals, which can be detected by laboratory testing.\n(7)\nThe presence of this zoonotic disease in the above countries is liable to constitute a danger for persons and susceptible animals in the Community.\n(8)\nIt is necessary to adopt protection measures at Community level with regard to imports of fruit bats, dogs and cats from Malaysia (Peninsula) and Australia.\n(9)\nHowever, Hendra disease, being a notifiable disease in accordance with Australian law, has not been reported in Australia since 1999. Therefore, no special laboratory tests should be required for cats imported from Australia.\n(10)\nFor the sake of clarity provisions should be made allowing the transit of dogs and cats through international airports in Malaysia.\n(11)\nThe measures provided for in this Decision are in accordance with the opinion of the Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health,\nHAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:",
  "extent": "E+W+S+N.I.",
  "status": null,
  "version": "current",
  "annotations": [
    {
      "type": "footnote",
      "label": "f1",
      "text": "OJ L 268, 24.9.1991, p. 56. Directive as last amended by the 2003 Act of Accession."
    },
    {
      "type": "footnote",
      "label": "f2",
      "text": "OJ L 194, 27.7.1999, p. 66. Decision as last amended by Decision 2000/708/EC (OJ L 289, 16.11.2000, p. 41)."
    },
    {
      "type": "footnote",
      "label": "f3",
      "text": "See Annex 1."
    },
    {
      "type": "footnote",
      "label": "f4",
      "text": "OJ L 268, 14.9.1992, p. 54. Directive as last amended by Directive 2004/68/EC (OJ L 139, 30.4.2004, p. 320, corrected by OJ L 226, 25.6.2004, p. 128)."
    }
  ],
  "outstanding_effects": [],
  "provenance": {
    "source": "legislation.gov.uk",
    "source_url": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/eudn/2006/146/introduction",
    "retrieved_at": "2026-11-01T15:17:41.675973+00:00"
  },
  "licence": "Open Government Licence v3.0",
  "licence_url": "https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/",
  "attribution": "Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives."
}