Brussels, 05/07/2006 (Agence Europe) - Although the spread of avian flu appears to have been brought under control in Member States, the European Union is continuing to take measures against the epizooty. On 4 July the Standing Committee voted in favour of extending measures to protect the EU against avian influenza.
Bird imports: EU experts voted in favour of an extension until 31 December 2006, on the ban on imports of live captive birds and the movement restrictions on pet birds entering the EU from third countries (excluding poultry). The decision-making process is expected to end on 31 July but there are certain derogations, for example an exemption for zoo birds and hatching eggs. These measures were first agreed in October 2005, as an EU protection measure in response to discovery of highly pathogenic avian flu in a quarantined bird in the United Kingdom. They have been extended several times. Experts have also extended reinforced health measure restrictions to the end of the year for pet birds accompanying their owners from third countries (such as parrots). They include an entry limit of 5 birds per accompanying owner into the EU and strict quarantine requirements for these birds and for poultry. Croatia is added to the list of countries for which the restrictions for pet birds do not apply. Already listed were Norway, Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Andorra, Iceland, Greenland, Faeroe Islands and San Marino.
Untreated feathers: the EU ban on untreated feathers from all third countries will also be extended until 31 December 2006. These countries include Azerbaijan, Armenia, Georgia, Syria, Iran and Iraq. Poultry meat and other poultry products from third countries have already been denied access to the EU. The European embargo on Turkish products already affected live birds, feathers and poultry and poultry derived products.
Embargo on Asian countries: the import bans on poultry products from China, Malaysia and Thailand will remain in place until 31 December 2007 due to the fact that the highly pathogenic H5N1 virus is still present in South East Asia. EU safeguard measures (which expire on 31 July) against avian influenza taken in relation to Turkish exports will also be prolonged until 31 December 2006. For Croatia, the import restrictions will only apply to regions for which the Croatian authorities apply restrictions themselves.
Vaccination: the Netherlands has also been authorised to continue its national preventive vaccination programme against bird flu. The Dutch plan was approved for the first time in February and slightly amended: geese can now be vaccinated, as well as privately reared poultry and free range egg laying chickens.