European Commission

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Avian Influenza Legislation and current
Situationin the European Union

• European Commission
• Directorate General for Health and Consumer
  Protection
• Avian Influenza in the EU
• Legislation, Outbreak Management and Decision
  Making
• ASEM Workshop
• Beijing, 12-14 November 2007

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Topics

• Control measures for Avian Influenza
• Additional measures for subtype HPAI H5N1
• AI Surveillance and Situation in 2007 (as of
  12/10)
• Vaccination
• Financing
• Conclusions

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EU Control Measures - Directive 2005/94/EC

• Applicable as of 1 July 2007
• Notification and measures for LPAI H5 and H7
• Measures differ for HPAI and LPAI
• Scope Poultry and other captive birds
• Stamping out (including pre-emptive culling)
• derogations possible - (endangered species, zoo
  birds, etc.)
• Zoning at 3km and 10km radius with movement
  restrictions for live poultry, poultry products
  (fresh meat, eggs, manure), vehicles, persons

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Zoning

• Census-identification of poultry holdings
• Increased biosecurity
• Veterinary clinical examinations of all poultry
  holdings
• Derogations from movement restrictions possible
  after assessment of epidemiological situation and
  examinations at holding
• Collection of samples for laboratory
  investigations (gtLPAI)
• to assess further spread
• to authorise derogations from movement
  restrictions

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HPAI H5N1 in poultry Decision 2006/415/EC

• Area A (higher risk) includes
• 3km protection 10km surveillance zone
  established by the Directive
• Area B (lower risk) - buffer zone around
• Provides for additional detailed restrictions, in
  particular for by-products (game trophies, manure
  products, untreated feathers, pet food etc.)
• Area description published in Official Journal of
  the EU
• Transparency for other MS and trading partners

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Zoning
Buffer zone Area B
Protection Zone
3 km
10 km
Surveillance Zone
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EU Control Measures - Directive 2005/94/EC
(contd)

• Additional laboratory investigations in pigs
  (mixed holdings) and if appropriate in other
  mammals
• Cleaning disinfection
• Legal basis for routine surveillance in poultry
  and wild birds
• Emergency and preventive vaccination
• Community and National Reference Laboratories -
  Diagnostic Manual
• National contingency plans (1/9/2007)

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Biosecurity in poultry farms Decision 2005/734/EC

• Identification of high risk areas for HPAI
  introduction in (MS)
• - migratory flyways, poultry/wild bird density,
  season, experience
• - continued review based on risk assessment
• Prevention of contact between wild and domestic
  birds
• - confinement or protection by
  coverings/netting
• - no use of surface water, prevention of feed
  contamination
• Early detection systems prompt reporting in
  poultry farms
• lt water/feed intake, production data, egg
  drop,gt morbidity/mortality)

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Example of higher Risk Areas in Spain
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HPAI H5N1 in wild birds Decisions 2005/731/EC
(1) 2006/563/EC (2)

• Notification of increased wild bird
  morbidity/mortality
• 2) Establishment of Control Monitoring areas
• Size/shape of area (along rivers, lake/seas
  shores) and duration of measures decided on basis
  of risk assessment, geographical and ecological
  factors
• Surveillance/Biosecurity heightened in poultry
  farms to detect/prevent virus introduction
• Restrictions on movements of live poultry,
  hatching eggs, fresh poultry meat, by-products
• Ban on hunting, bird gatherings and game bird
  release

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AI surveillance

• Surveillance programmes according to revised
  harmonised guidelines in poultry and wild birds
  are co-financed by the Commission
• July 2005-Dec 2006 2.9 M
• 2007 2,5 M
• Dead wild bird surveillance provided in most
  cases early warning for subsequent poultry
  outbreaks
• (2006 - F, SE, DK, HU, not DE)
• Not in HU and UK in 2007!!!

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Avian flu in the EU - 2007
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New EU rules for AI vaccination

• Since entering into force of Directive 2005/94/EC
  on 3 February 2006 new legal basis for
  vaccination can already be used
• Emergency Vaccination
• Preventive Vaccination
• Establishment of vaccine banks (national and EU)
• Community approved vaccines by accelerated EMEA
  procedure
• 2 inactivated vaccines (H5N2 and H5N3 )

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New EU rules for AI vaccination (contd)

• Submission of vaccination plan according to DIVA
  strategy
• Plan must describe disease situation, risk
  factors, area, number of holdings/birds to be
  vaccinated, species, vaccine characteristics,
  envisaged duration
• Formal approval by Commission Decision after
  opinion of the Standing Committee on the Food
  Chain and Animal Health (SCoFCAH)

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Emergency vaccination
Short term measure - on basis of a risk
assessment concluding that there is a significant
and immediate threat of avian influenza
introduction or spread posed by (a) an outbreak
within that Member State (b) an outbreak in a
nearby Member State or third country
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Vaccination Provisions for movements

• Movement restrictions for live poultry, day-old
  chicks, eggs for hatching or consumption, fresh
  poultry meat
• within, into and towards outside the vaccination
  area
• in particular when moved to other MS
• Re-enforced cleaning disinfection of transport
  means
• Requirements for emergency vaccination as laid
  down in Directive are applicable until adaptation
  to national situation and after review at the
  SCoFCAH

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Vaccination Intensified surveillance

• Clinical and laboratory testing in vaccinated
  holdings and other holdings located in emergency
  vaccination area to monitor
• - epidemiological situation
• effectiveness of vaccination campaign
• authorised movements of vaccinated birds
• Serology in sentinel birds, unvaccinated birds
  and for efficacy control in vaccinated birds
• Diva test(iIFA) in vaccinated birds/sentinels
• PCR, virus isolation in vaccinated birds,
  sick/dead birds

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Preventive vaccination

Long term measure based on outcome of a risk
assessment concluding that certain areas of the
MS territory, types of poultry husbandry or
categories are at a specific risk for AI exposure
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Preventive vaccination plans for poultry

• Voluntary as alternative to confinement
• France ducks and geese flocks in free range in
  areas at risk until mid 2006
• The Netherlands hobby (backyard flocks) and free
  range layers in the whole country (to be
  prolonged?)
• Research orientated field study
• Germany (3 commercial holdings) until late 2008
• Densely populated poultry area
• Italy since 2000 mainly against LPAI H7, since
  2004 bivalent vaccine, cease end 2006

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Preventive vaccination of zoo birds Decision
2006/474/EC

• Vaccination plans of 17 MS approved
• Biosecurity measures to avoid wild bird contact
• Individual identification
• Registration, reporting
• Serological testing prior and after vaccinations
  
• Movement restrictions and certification
• Administration and doses according to manufacturer

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Financing Council Decision 90/424/EEC

• Member States obtain financial support from the
  Community
• in case of an outbreak
• 50 of the value of the killed birds, eggs,
  destroyed feed
• 50 for cleaning, disinfection, destruction of
  equipment
• For Emergency vaccination plans
• 100 of vaccine cost
• 50 of costs for performing vaccination
• Preventive vaccination plans are not EU
  co-financed

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Conclusions

• Major efforts have been made in the EU Member
  States to prevent, early detect and contain AI in
  particular HPAI H5N1
• Measures taken have so far successfully reduced
  the impact of the disease on animal (and public)
  health (no serious sickness or fatality in
  humans!)
• More flexible legislation allows adapting to
  specific and evolving disease situations

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Thank you for your attention! For further
information

http//ec.europa.eu/food/animal/diseases/controlme
asures /avian/index_en.htm