On 15 December 2004, the Official Journal published Commission Decision 2004/851/EC extending for the second time the EU's restrictions in relation to avian influenza. The restrictions were already imposed by Commission Decision 2004/122/EC, published in the Official Journal of 7 February 2004, on poultry products from several Asian economies, namely China including Hong Kong, Cambodia, Indonesia, Japan, Laos, Pakistan, South Korea, Thailand and Vietnam (Malaysia was later included, by a Decision of 20 August 2004). The original restrictions have already been extended once, on 29 July 2004, by Commission Decision 2004/572/EC.
Unfortunately for Hong Kong's sellers of foodstuffs, feather-related products and other poultry products being exported to the EU, the Commission has stated that "given the disease situation in most countries of the region [...] it is necessary to further prolong the protection measures in place.
"The protection measures, which are being maintained under the latest Commission Decision, suspend the importation of a number of products from the mentioned Asian countries. As regards the Chinese mainland, importation into the EU of the following is entirely banned:
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fresh poultry meat,
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meat preparations and meat products consisting of, or containing poultry meat,
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raw pet food and unprocessed feed material containing any parts of poultry, and
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eggs for human consumption and non-treated game trophies from any birds.
As regards the Chinese mainland and Hong Kong, as well as the other mentioned countries, importation into the EU of the following bird products and birds is entirely banned:
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unprocessed feathers and parts of feathers, and
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live birds other than poultry, including birds accompanying their owners (i.e., pet birds); "birds" in this context means animals of the avian species.
As regards the importation of processed feathers or parts of feathers, consignments must be accompanied by a commercial document, which states that the processed feathers or parts thereof have been treated with a steam current or by some other method ensuring that no pathogens are transmitted.
The latest Decision provides that the extension of the protection measures is to last until 31 March 2005.
