The month of August has not been an auspicious one for EU poultry sellers. Fears of avian influenza have gained momentum, with outbreaks confirmed in Russia and Kazakhstan. On 19 August 2005, the Official Journal published Commission Decision 2005/619/EC, amending for the sixth time Decision 2004/122/EC. The latter Decision had initially set in place the stringent protection measures with which Hong Kong poultry farmers/exporters will be only too familiar.
The sixth amendment maintains the strict protection measures put in place as a result of avian influenza in several Asian countries, but now additionally adds Russia and Kazakhstan to the list of countries. The text points out that the virus detected in Russia is of the H5N1 strain, while in Kazakhstan it is probably the same (given the proximity with the outbreak in Russia). This strain is the same as that confirmed in the Asian countries already subject to the Commission's protection measures.
The Commission adds in a press report of 25 August 2005 that the ongoing outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza in Asia has led to the extermination of 125 million birds, economic losses estimated at € 8-12 million, and the death of an estimated 50 people. The report's prognosis for the future is not good: it states that there are fears that this particular virus strain may eventually lead to a human flu pandemic.
The countries which are thus subject to the protection measures are the following: China including Hong Kong, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Pakistan, Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia, North Korea (since 21 May 2005), Russia and Kazakhstan. Japan and South Korea have already been removed from the list.
The protection measures which are being maintained suspend the importation of a number of products from the listed 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 listed 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.
In addition to the above, Member States have already suspended the importation from Malaysia of raw pet food and unprocessed feed material containing any parts of poultry, and eggs for human consumption and non-treated game trophies from any birds.
All of the above measures were intended to be temporary. Indeed, the last prolongation, published on 10 March 2005, stated that the measures should remain in force until 30 September 2005. However, given Member States' rising fears, and geographic spreading of the prevalent avian influenza strain, the foreseen termination of the protection measures appears increasingly unlikely.
