Commission asks member states to stay alert on bird flu

Hungary has become the fifth EU country in five days, to confirm the presence of H5N1. The Commission has asked the member states to constantly re-evaluate their national avian influenza risk zones and the timing for precautionary protection measures.

The standing committee on the food chain and animal health gave favourable opinions to two Commission draft proposals related to avian influenza on 15 February 2006. The first opinion concerns the approval of the member states’ national plans for surveillance of wild birds and poultry on avian influenza. The Commission is co-financing the tests carried out by member states between 1 February and 31 December 2006 to the tune of 1.96 million euro, which represents 50% of the total costs of around 4 million euro.

The second Commission proposal introduces suspension of the imports in the EU of untreated feathers from all third countries until at least 31 July 2006. These imports have already been banned from the affected third countries.

The committee will discuss, on 16 February 2006, the measures to be taken if bird flu reaches commercial poultry. Some countries have already announced their intentions on whether to expand national risk zones or to order poultry to be kept indoors earlier than foreseen.

In this regard, the Commission has asked member states to constantly re-evaluate their national risk zones and to examine planned timings for precautionary protection measures.

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