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EU- legislation related to pigeon races, shows,

and fairs to prevent the spread of highly

pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI)

Dr. Maria PittmanEuropean Commission – Directorate General for Health

and Consumer Protection

Veterinary conference of the Fédération Colombophile Internationale (FCI) on avian influenza and Racing

PigeonsOostende, 27 January 2007

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• HPAI in wild birds/poultry

• Control measures

• Surveillance in wild birds/poultry

• Biosecurity

• Measures in case of wild bird findings

• Regionalisation

• Import rules

• Conclusions

Topics

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748 HPAI cases in wild birds notified by MS to ADNS in 2006

09

116

7583

61

80

60

7875

38

2528

123 1 2 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

5 6 7 8 9 10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

29

30

31

32

33

34

35

36

37

38

39

40

41

42

43

44

45

46

47

48

49

50

51

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Febr.(200cas.)

March(362 cas.)

April(162cas.)

May (18cas.)

June (0cases)

July(1case)

Aug (1case)

Sept (0caes)

O ct (0cases)

Nov(0cases)

Dec(0cases)

Weeks\Months

Animal Disease Notification system - ADNS

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748 HPAI cases in wild birds notified by MS to ADNS in 2006

469

121

33 29

96

Swans (62,7%) Ducks (16,2%) Geese (4,4%) Birds of Prey(3,9%)

Others (12,8%)

ADNS cont.

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February – July 2006 outbreaks in poultry farms have occurred in 5 Member States:

France (1),Sweden (1),Germany (1 holding/1 zoo), Denmark (1),Hungary (29)

Swiftly controlled - no further spread

24/1/2007: Outbreak in Hungarian goose farm

Outbreaks in poultry2006-07

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So far no infection in pigeons was detected within the EU

• No indication racing pigeons involved in the spread of

disease

• Science indicates that pigeons are difficult to infect

• Hong Kong, Turkey, Russia, Thailand have reported

positive cases in pigeons

• HPAI H5N1 occurrence in the EU is an unprecedented

event

• More than 60 wild bird species and a few mammals

(cat, stone marten, mink) affected

• A cautious approach when dealing with this very

specific virus is necessary

Pigeons

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"poultry" means all birds that are reared or kept in captivity for the production of meat or eggs for consumption, the production of other products, for restocking supplies of game birds or for the purposes of any breeding programme for the production of these categories of birds

"other captive bird" means any bird other than poultry that is kept in captivity for any reason than poultry including those that are kept for shows, races, exhibitions, competitions, breeding or selling = includes pigeons

"wild bird" means a free-living bird

Control measures

of Council Directive 2005/94/EC - Definitions

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• Notification of suspicion of infection in “poultry” and “other captive birds” to national veterinary authorities

• Epidemiological/laboratory investigation by official veterinarian

• Confirmed disease in poultry and other captive birds must be notified to the Commission and the World Animal Health Organization (OIE)

• Compulsory surveillance in poultry populations at higher risk of infection (free range, game bird farms)

Control measures (cont.)

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On the holding:

• “stamping out” of infected poultry/captive birds or suspected to be infected or contaminated

• Destruction of eggs, meat, carcasses, waste, litter, manure

• Derogations from killing for certain species of poultry or other captive birds on basis of risk assessment

• Movement restrictions - other captive birds or mammals of domestic species shall not enter or leave the holding without official authorisation

Control measures (cont.)

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Protection zone:

• Established in a radius of 3km around outbreak

• Movement restrictions for live poultry, captive birds, eggs, fresh meat, vehicles/equipment used by poultry sector

• Confinement or other measures to limit contact to wild birds

• Cleaning and disinfection of vehicles transporting live birds

• Biosecurity measures for persons entering and leaving holdings

• Increased disease awareness

• Measures in place for at least 21 days after preliminary cleaning and disinfection

Control measures (cont.)

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Surveillance zone:

• Established in a radius of 10km around outbreak

• Measures in place for at least 30 days after preliminary cleaning and disinfection

In protection and surveillance zone, prohibition of:

• Fairs, markets or other gatherings of poultry and other birds – including pigeon races

• Release of poultry or other captive birds for restocking of game

Control measures (cont.)

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Member States may, based on a risk assessment, introduce specific measures on movements of racing pigeons into, from and within the protection and surveillance zones provided that:– disease control is not endangered– the Commission is immediately informed– the situation is reviewed by the Commission

together with Member State concerned and in the Committee

Control measures - derogations

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• Depending on epidemiological situation

• In areas with high density of poultry

• Further restricted zones around/adjacent to surveillance zones

• Standstill for the whole country for movement of poultry, captive birds, eggs, vehicles used by poultry sector may be introduced for whole country

• Preventive killing based on suspicion

Additional control measures

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• Emergency vaccination in case of outbreaks in poultry

• Preventive vaccination of poultry and other captive birds

• Investigations in and restrictive measures for other species– Pigs on mixed holdings – Other mammalian species

Further measures

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• Identification of HPAI “high risk areas” in each Member State

• Prevention of contact between wild and domestic birds

Confinement/netting and no use of surface water

• Early detection systems

Prohibition of bringing together of poultry and other birds at

markets, shows, exhibitions and cultural events, including

point-to-point races of birds.

By way of derogation, the competent authority may authorise

the gatherings of poultry and other captive birds.

Biosecurity in poultry farms (Dec. 2005/734/EC)

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A p e t lo n

Graz

Innsbruck

Klagenfurt

Linz

Salzburg

Sankt Pölten

Villach

Wels

Wien

Ams tetten

Baden

Bregenz

Dornbirn

Feldk i rc h

Kapfenberg

Klos terneuburg

Krem s

Leoben

Leonding

Liez en

M ödl ing

Stey r

Traun

Wiener Neus tadt

Wolfs berg

Ans felden

Bad Is chl

Bad Vös lau

Bisc hofs hofen

Bludenz

Braunau am Inn

Bruc k an der M ur

Eisens tadt

Enns

Feldk i rc hen in Kärnten

Gmunden

Hal l in Ti rol

Hal lein

Hard

Hol labrunn

Irdning

J udenburg

Kni ttel feld

Korneuburg

Kufs tein

Köflac h

Lienz

M arc htrenk

M ürz z us c hlag

Neunk irc hen

Perc htolds dorf

Rank wei l

Ried im Innk reis

Saal felden am Steinernen M eer

Sank t AndräSank t Vei t an der Glan

Schwaz

Schwechat

Spi ttal an der Drau

Stoc k erau

Tel fs

Terni tz

Trais k irc hen

Tul ln

Voi ts berg

Vöc k labruck

Völk ermark t

Waidhofen an der Ybbs

Zwettl

A b t e n a u

A c h a u

A c h le it e n

A lt m u n s t e r

A r n o ld s t e in

A s t e n

A t t n a n g - P u c h h e im

B a d A u s s e e

B a d G o is e r n

B a d H o f g a s t e in

B a d S t . L e o n h a r d

B a d g a s t e in

B e r n d o r f

B r u c k a n d e r L e it h a

C h r is t k in d l

D e u t s c h W a g r a m

D e u t s c h la n d s b e r g

E b e n s e e

E b e n t h a lE b e r n d o r f

E b r e ic h s d o r f

E is e n k a p p e l

E n g e r w it z d o r f

F e r la c h

F e r la c h

F o h n s d o r f

F r a n k e n b u r g a m H a u s r u c k

F r a s t a n z

F r e is t a d t

F r ie s a c h

F r o h n le it e n

F ü r s t e n f e ld

G a lln e u k ir c h e n

G e r a s d o r f

G le is d o r f

G lo g g n it z

G m u n d

G o t z is

G r a t k o r n

G r o ß - E n z e r s d o r f

G r ö d ig

G u n t r a m s d o r f

G ä n s e r n d o r f

H a a g

H a in b u r g a n d e r D o n a u

H a r t b e r g

H e r z o g e n b u r g

H im b e r g

H o p f g a r t e n

H o r n

H ö c h s t

H ö r b r a n z

I m s t

J e n b a c h

K a n in g

K in d b e r g

K it z b u h e l

K o t t in g b r u n n

K r e m s m ü n s t e r

K r ie g la c hK u c h l

L a a a n d e r T h a y a

L a a k ir c h e n

L a n d e c k

L a n g e n lo is

L a n g e n z e r s d o r f

L a u t e r a c h

L e ib n it z

L e n z in g

L o c h a u

M a r k t S t . F lo r ia n

M a t t e r s b u r g

M e lk

M it t e r s ill

M o n d s e e

N e n z in g

N e u le n g b a c h

O b e r w a r t

P a s c h in g

P a t e r n io n

P e r g

P in k a f e ld

P o y s d o r f

P r e ß b a u m

P u c h h e im

R a d e n t h e in

R e u t t e

R u m

S c h r e m s

S c h w a n e n s t a d t

S c h ä r d in g

S e e b o d e n

S ie g h a r t s k ir c h e n

S ie r n in g

S t . G e o r g e n im A t t e r g a u

S t . J o h a n n im P o n g a u

S t r a ß w a lc h e n

T a m s w e g

T im e lk a m

T r a h ü t t e n

T r a is m a u e r

T r o f a ia c h

U n t e r h a u s

V e ld e n a m W ö r t h e r s e e

V o ls

V o r c h d o r f

W a id h o f e n a n d e r T h a y a

W a t t e n s

W e iz

W ie n e r N e u d o r fW ilh e lm s b u r g

W o lf u r t

W o lk e r s d o r f

Y b b s a n d e r D o n a u

Z e ll a m S e e

Z e lt w e gZ ir l

Z is t e r s d o r f

Burgenland

Kärnten

Niederösterreich

Oberösterreich

Salzburg

Steiermark

TirolVorarlberg

Wien

Areas at higher risk in Austria

Red: commune bordersRed with blue lines: Districts with poultry density of > 750/km²Yellow: Poultry slaughterhouses

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Member States may allow:a) Provided birds are fed and watered indoors:

– exercise and training flightsb) Based on risk assessment:

– pigeon races on their territory, taking into account the epidemiological situation and the location of defined higher risk areas

– cross border races with mutual assurance between MS that races do not start, cross or end in defined high risk areas of their territories

However, no pigeon racing should take place in or through the areas under restriction established in accordance with the protection measures in relation to H5N1 in poultry and wild birds and if practically possible all birds, including pigeons should be kept indoors in such areas.

Statement of the Standing Committee on the Food Chain and

Animal Health - 8/3/2006

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• Establishment of 3 km control area and 10 km monitoring area – Refrain from establishment of areas, if concluded

on basis of risk assessment and geographical and ecological factors that no risk for disease spread

– Size and shape of areas may be adapted according to the situation e.g. along the borders of rivers, lakes, the coast line

• Biosecurity and surveillance measures in poultry farms must be strengthened – detect introduction from wild birds

HPAI H5N1 detection in wild birds -

Dec.2006/563/EC

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• Ban on hunting

• Prohibition of the assembly of poultry or other captive birds at fairs, markets, shows or other gatherings in the control and the monitoring area;

• Restrictions on movements of live poultry, hatching eggs, fresh poultry meat, by-products

HPAI H5N1 detection in wild birds (cont.)

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• Area A includes 3km protection & a 10km surveillance zone (higher risk)

• Area B (lower risk) – buffer zone around

• Movements of live poultry, hatching eggs, fresh poultry meat restricted

• No poultry or other captive birds are gathered at gatherings within area B such as fairs, markets or shows.

• Provides for transparency to trading partners

• Facilitates regionalisation by limiting restrictions to the defined area (province, region..)

Regionalisation HPAI H5N1 outbreak in poultry

Dec.2006/415/EC

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Area A

10 km

x km3 km

Regionalisation

Area BBuffer zone

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• Ban of importation of live poultry, table eggs, fresh

poultry meat from affected third countries

• Ban on captive bird imports

– As of 1 July 2007 imports possible through revised

quarantine procedures

• Worldwide ban on untreated feathers

• Import requirements for pet birds accompanying

their owner (max.5)

• Tightened border controls and close co-operation

with custom services

Import rules

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• Provides for flexibility

• Is based on risk assessment

• Follows in absence of sufficient knowledge a

precautionary approach

• Takes into account science and practical

experiences

• Consults with stakeholders

• Envisages measures proportionate to the risk

• Respects subsidiarity

• Is subject to review

New EU legislation

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• The introduction and the spread of avian influenza

H5N1 Asian strain to the EU is a major challenge for the

veterinary and public health authorities

• Many lessons have been learnt

• Vast experience has been gained in dealing with

positive findings in wild birds and outbreaks in poultry

• Legislation and Member States’ implementation

through their contingency plans have significantly

reduced the impact of disease

Conclusions

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Conclusions (cont.)

• Surveillance activity, awareness and preparedness are

high

• At present it is still difficult to foresee the evolution of

the disease and many open questions remain

– Have wild birds become a true reservoir?

– If yes, which species?

– What is the prevalence of infection?

• Sustainability of measures?

– Confinement

– Pre-emptive culling

– Restricted use of vaccination

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Thank you for your attention!

For further information:

http://ec.europa.eu/food/animal/diseases/

controlmeasures/avian/index_en.htm

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Any further questions on legislation?????