Commission Decision of 1 August 2007 amending Decision 2006/415/EC concerning certain protection measures in relation to highly pathogenic avian influenza of the subtype H5N1 in poultry in the Community (notified under document number C(2007) 3696) (Text with EEA relevance) (2007/556/EC) in Wales

THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,

Having regard to Council Directive 89/662/EEC of 11 December 1989 concerning veterinary checks in intra-Community trade with a view to the completion of the internal market^f1, and in particular Article 9(4) thereof,

Having regard to Council Directive 90/425/EEC of 26 June 1990 concerning veterinary and zootechnical checks applicable in intra-Community trade in certain live animals and products with a view to the completion of the internal market^f2, and in particular Article 10(4) thereof,

Having regard to Council Directive 2005/94/EC of 20 December 2005 on Community measures for the control of avian influenza and repealing Directive 92/40/EEC^f3, and in particular Article 63(3) thereof,

Whereas:

Commission Decision 2006/415/EC of 14 June 2006 concerning certain protection measures in relation to highly pathogenic avian influenza of the subtype H5N1 in poultry in the Community and repealing Decision 2006/135/EC^f4 lays down certain protection measures to be applied in order to prevent the spread of that disease, including the establishment of areas A and B following a suspected or confirmed outbreak of the disease.

Following an outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza of H5N1 subtype in the Czech Republic the Commission has adopted Decision 2007/434/EC of 21 June 2007 amending Decision 2006/415/EC concerning certain protection measures in relation to highly pathogenic avian influenza of the subtype H5 in poultry in the Czech Republic^f5.

In the following days the Commission has adopted Decision 2007/454/EC of 29 June 2007 concerning protection measures in relation to highly pathogenic avian influenza of subtype H5N1 in poultry in the Community^f6 to confirm the interim protective measures provided for in Decision 2007/434/EC as regards areas A and B in the Czech Republic and the duration of that regionalisation.

Following an outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza of H5N1 subtype in Germany the Commission has adopted Decision 2007/483/EC of 9 July 2007 amending Decision 2006/415/EC concerning certain protection measures in relation to highly pathogenic avian influenza of the subtype H5 in poultry in Germany^f7.

By Commission Decision 2007/496/EC of 13 July amending Decision 2006/415/EC concerning certain protection measures in relation to highly pathogenic avian influenza of the subtype H5N1 in poultry in the Community^f8 the interim protective measures provided for in Decision 2007/483/EC as regards areas A and B in Germany were confirmed. In addition, the delineation of the restricted areas and the duration of the measures applied by the Czech Republic were modified to take into account a change in the epidemiological situation in that Member State.

On 12 July 2007 the Czech Republic has reported the confirmation of two further outbreaks in poultry holdings located within area A which requires the application of the protection measures as regards the Czech Republic to be prolonged. Moreover, for reasons of clarity of Community legislation it appears appropriate to list areas under restriction in area A in that Member State in an alphabetical order without distinguishing between the protection and the surveillance zones.

Decision 2006/415/EC should therefore be amended accordingly.

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: