January 12, 2006

EU extends bird flu surveillance programme

The EU Wednesday extended its bird flu surveillance programme--which expires Jan 31--through the end of this year.

The move came after three people died from the H5N1 variant of the disease in Turkey. In a statement, the European Commission said its Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health had voted the measures, which ban imports of all live birds other than poultry.

EU governments originally put the ban in place Oct 25. The Commission proposed the measure after a parrot from South America died in UK quarantine from a virulent strain of bird flu that has plagued Asia and recently spread to Europe.

To gain entry into the EU, birds must now first spend 30 days in quarantine, be vaccinated against bird flu or have tested negative for the virus during a 10-day isolation period before movement. No more than five birds will be permitted per person.

Bird owners in Norway, Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Andorra, Iceland, Greenland, Faroe Islands and San Marino are exempt from the new pet travel restrictions.

No restrictions will be placed on the movement of animals between zoos and safari parks. Hatching eggs of non-poultry birds can be imported for use in authorised hatcheries if their shells are disinfected upon arrival or if they are being sent to zoos, the Commission said.

In addition, the Commission said it will provide up to EUR2 million for laboratory tests. It has already had provided EUR884,000.

Individual governments must submit their national surveillance programmes to the Commission for approval by February. These include requirements for laboratory testing and procedures for the sampling and testing of birds.

Since last October, the Commission said around 25,000 wild birds have been tested for bird flu in the 25 EU countries. All samples to date have tested negative, it added.