Commission Decision

of 16 June 2003

amending Decision 2002/975/EC on introducing vaccination to supplement the measures to control infections with low pathogenic avian influenza in Italy and on specific movement control measures

(notified under document number C(2003) 1834)

(Text with EEA relevance)

(2003/436/EC)

THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,

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(1), as last amended by Directive 2002/33/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council(2), and in particular Article 10(4) thereof,

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(3), as last amended by Regulation (EC) No 806/2003(4), and in particular Article 9(4) thereof,

Having regard to Council Directive 92/40/EEC of 19 May 1992 introducing Community measures for the control of avian influenza(5), as last amended by Regulation (EC) No 806/2003, and in particular Article 16 thereof,

Whereas:

(1) During 1999 and 2000 Italy has experienced outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza of subtype H7N1 with devastating economic losses for the poultry industry. Prior to the epidemic a virus of low pathogenicity had been circulating in the area.

(2) During monitoring for avian influenza the presence of low pathogenic avian influenza virus of subtype H7N3 was detected in the regions of Veneto and Lombardia in October 2002.

(3) In order to control the spread of infection with low pathogenic avian influenza virus the Commission has approved a vaccination programme by Commission Decision 2002/975/EC(6).

(4) The results of the vaccination programme reported at several meetings of the Standing Committees on the Food Chain and Animal Health are generally favourable in view of the control of the disease within the vaccination zone. However, the infection has spread to some areas adjacent to the established vaccination zone.

(5) The vaccination zone should therefore be extended to cover areas at risk for the propagation of the virus while the stringent monitoring measures and trade restrictions are applied accordingly.

(6) 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:

Article 1

In Decision 2002/975/EC Annex I shall be replaced by the Annex to this Decision.

Article 2

This Decision is addressed to the Member States.

Done at Brussels, 16 June 2003.

For the Commission

David Byrne

Member of the Commission

(1) OJ L 224, 18.8.1990, p. 29.

(2) OJ L 315, 19.11.2002, p. 14.

(3) OJ L 395, 30.12.1989, p. 13.

(4) OJ L 122, 16.5.2003, p. 1.

(5) OJ L 167, 22.6.1992, p. 1.

(6) OJ L 337, 13.12.2002, p. 87.

ANNEX

"ANNEX I

VACCINATION ZONE

Veneto Region

Verona Province

The vaccination zone comprises the territory of the following municipalities:

Albaredo d'Adige

Angiari

Arcole

Belfiore

Bevilacqua

Bonavigo

Boschi Sant'Anna

Bovolone

Bussolengo

Buttapietra

Calmiero area to the south of the A4 motorway

Casaleone

Castel d'Azzano

Castelnuovo del Garda area to the south of the A4 motorway

Cerea

Cologna Veneta

Colognola ai Colli area to the south of the A4 motorway

Concamarise

Erbè

Gazzo Veronese

Isola della Scala

Isola Rizza

Lavagno area to the south of the A4 motorway

Minerbe

Monteforte d'Alpone area to the south of the A4 motorway

Mozzecane

Nogara

Nogarole Rocca

Oppeano

Palù

Pescantina

Peschiera del Garda area to the south of the A4 motorway

Povegliano Veronese

Pressana

Ronco all'Adige

Roverchiara

Roveredo di Guà

S. Bonifacio area to the south of the A4 motorway

S. Giovanni Lupatoto area to the south of the A4 motorway

S. Martino Buon Albergo area to the south of the A4 motorway

S. Pietro di Morubio

Salizzole

Sanguinetto

Soave area to the south of the A4 motorway

Sommacampagna

Sona

Sorgà

Trevenzuolo

Valeggio sul Mincio

Verona area to the south of the A4 motorway

Veronella

Vigasio

Villafranca di Verona

Zevio

Zimella

Vicenza Province

The vaccination zone comprises the territory of the following municipalities:

Agugliaro

Albettone

Alonte

Asigliano Veneto

Barbarano Vicentino

Campiglia dei Berici

Castegnero

Lonigo

Montegalda

Montegaldella

Mossano

Nanto

Noventa Vicentina

Orgiano

Poiana Maggiore

S. Germano dei Berici

Sossano

Villaga

Padova Province

The vaccination zone comprises the territory of the following municipalities:

Carceri

Casale di Scodosia

Este

Lozzo Atestino

Megliadino S. Fidenzio

Megliadino S. Vitale

Montagnana

Ospedaletto Euganeo

Ponso

S. Margherita d'Adige

Saletto

Urbana

Lombardia Region

Mantova Province

The vaccination zone comprises the territory of the following municipalities:

Acquanegra Sul Chiese

Asola

Bigarello

Canneto Sull'oglio

Casalmoro

Casaloldo

Casalromano

Castel D'ario

Castel Goffredo

Castelbelforte

Castiglione Delle Stiviere

Cavriana

Ceresara

Gazoldo Degli Ippoliti

Goito

Guidizzolo

Mariana Mantovana

Marmirolo

Medole

Monzambano

Piubega

Ponti Sul Mincio

Porto Mantovano

Redondesco

Rodigo

Roncoferraro

Roverbella

San Giorgio Di Mantova

Solferino

Villimpenta

Volta Mantovana

Brescia Province

The vaccination zone comprises the territory of the following municipalities:

Acquafredda

Alfianello

Azzano Mella

Bagnolo Mella

Barbariga

Bassano Bresciano

Berlingo

Borgo San Giacomo

Borgosatollo

Brandico

Brescia area to the south of the A4 motorway

Calcinato area to the south of the A4 motorway

Calvisano

Capriano del Colle

Carpendolo

Castegnato area to the south of the A4 motorway

Castel Mella

Castelcovati

Castenedolo area to the south of the A4 motorway

Castrezzato

Cazzago San Martino

Chiari

Cigole

Boccaglio

Cologne

Comezzano-Cizzago

Corzano

Dello

Desenzano del Garda area to the south of the A4 motorway

Erbusco area to the south of the A4 motorway

Fiesse

Flero

Gambara

Ghedi

Gottolengo

Isorella

Leno

Lograto

Lonato area to the south of the A4 motorway

Longhena

Maclodio

Mairano

Manerbio

Milzano

Montichiari

Montirone

Offlaga

Orzinuovi

Orzivecchi

Ospitaletto area to the south of the A4 motorway

Palazzolo sull'Oglio area to the south of the A4 motorway

Pavone del Mella

Pompiano

Poncarale

Pontevico

Pontoglio

Pozzolengo area to the south of the A4 motorway

Pralboino

Quinzano d'Oglio

Remedello

Rezzato area to the south of the A4 motorway

Roccafranca

Roncadelle area to the south of the A4 motorway

Rovato area to the south of the A4 motorway

Rudiano

San Gervasio Bresciano

San Paolo

San Zeno Naviglio

Seniga

Torbole Casaglia

Travagliato

Trenzano

Urago d'Oglio

Verolanuova

Verolavecchia

Villachiara

Visano

Bergamo Province

The vaccination zone comprises the territory of the following municipalities:

Antegnate

Bagnatica area to the south of the A4 motorway

Barbata

Bariano

Bolgare area to the south of the A4 motorway

Calcinate

Calcio

Castelli Calepio area to the south of the A4 motorway

Cavernago

Cividale al Piano

Cologno al Serio

Cortenuova

Costa di Mezzate area to the south of the A4 motorway

Covo

Fara Olivana con Sola

Fontanella

Ghisalba

Grumello del Monte area to the south of the A4 motorway

Isso

Martinengo

Morengo

Mornico al Serio

Pagazzano

Palosco

Pumenengo

Romano di Lombardia

Seriate area to the south of the A4 motorway

Telgate area to the south of the A4 motorway

Torre Pallavicina

Cremona Province

The vaccination zone comprises the territory of the following municipalities:

Camisano

Casale Cremasco-Vidolasco

Casaletto di Sopra

Castel Gabbiano

Soncino".