EU- legislation related to pigeon races, shows, and fairs to prevent the spread of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI)

Dr. Maria Pittman European Commission – Directorate General for Health and Consumer Protection Veterinary conference of the Fédération Colombophile Internationale (FCI) on avian influenza and Racing Pigeons Oostende, 27 January 2007

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Topics

• HPAI in wild birds/poultry • Control measures • Surveillance in wild birds/poultry • Biosecurity • Measures in case of wild bird findings • Regionalisation • Import rules • Conclusions

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Animal Disease Notification system - ADNS

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

120 100 80 60 40 20 0

0 9 116 75 83 61 80 60 7875 38 2528 12 3 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 Fe br.

(200 cas.) March (362 cas.) Apri l (162 cas.) May (18 cas.) June (0 case s) Jul y (1case ) Aug (1 case ) Week s\Months Se pt (0 cae s) O ct (0 case s) Nov (0case s) De c (0case s)

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469

ADNS

cont.

748 HPAI cases in wild birds notified by MS to ADNS in 2006 121 96 33 29 Swans (62,7%) Ducks (16,2%) Geese (4,4%) Birds of Prey (3,9%) Others (12,8%)

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Outbreaks in poultry 2006-07

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 5

Pigeons

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 6

Control measures of Council Directive 2005/94/EC - Definitions

"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 7

Control measures

(cont.)

• 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) 8

Control measures

(cont.)

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 9

Control measures

(cont.)

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 10

Control measures

(cont.)

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 11

Control measures - derogations

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 12

Additional control measures

• 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 13

Further measures

• 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 14

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

• 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.

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Areas at higher risk in Austria

Red: commune borders Red with blue lines: Districts with poultry density of > 750/km² Yellow: Poultry slaughterhouses Hör br anz Lochau Höchst Ha rd Bre g e n z Laut er ach Wolf ur t Do rn b i rn G ot zis Ra n k we i l Fe l d k i rc h Fr ast anz Vorarlberg Nenzing Bl u d e n z Landeck Reut t e I m st Te l fs Zir l

Innsbruck

Wat t ens Rum Ha l l i n Ti ro l Tirol Vols Jenbach Sc h wa z G m und Schr em s Waidhof en an der Thaya Hor n Laa an der Thaya Poysdor f Zist er sdor f Ho l l a b ru n n Zwe ttl Ku fs te i n Hopf gar t en Kit zbuhel M it t er sill Sa a l fe l d e n a m Ste i n e rn e n M e e r Bi s c h o fs h o fe n Schär ding Fr eist adt Bra u n a u a m In n

Salzburg

G r ödig Ha l l e i n Kuchl St r aßwalchen G allneukir chen Enger wit zdor f

Linz

L e o n d i n g Pasching Ri e d i m In n k re i s Tra u n An s fe l d e n Ast en M ar kt St . Flor ian En n s M a rc h tre n k

Wels

Oberösterreich Puchheim Achleit en Ste y r Sier ning Fr ankenbur g am Hausr uck Schwanenst adt Kr em sm ünst er Chr ist kindl Haag Per g Am s te tte n Wa i d h o fe n a n d e r Yb b s St . G eor gen im At t er gau At t nang- Puchheim Tim elkam Vö c k l a b ru c k Lenzing Vor chdor f Laakir chen Gm u n d e n Alt m unst er Ybbs an der Donau M ondsee Ebensee Ba d Is c h l Bad G oiser n Bad Aussee L i e z e n Abt enau Ird n i n g M elk Ka p fe n b e rg Bru c k a n d e r M u r Tr of aiach L e o b e n Steiermark Fr ohnleit en Kindber g Langenlois Kre m s Tr aism auer Her zogenbur g Niederösterreich

Sankt Pölten

Wilhelm sbur g M ü rz z u s c h l a g Kr ieglach Neulengbach Tu l l n Sto c k e ra u Ko rn e u b u rg Wolker sdor f Kl o s te rn e u b u rg G er asdor f Langenzer sdor f Deut sch Wagr am G änser ndor f Sieghar t skir chen G loggnit z Pr eßbaum G r oß- Enzer sdor f

Wien

Wien Pe rc h to l d s d o rf Sc h we c h a t M ö d l i n g Achau Him ber g Wiener Neudor f G unt r am sdor f Ber ndor f Ba d Vö s l a u Kot t ingbr unn Ebr eichsdor f Ne u n k i rc h e n Te rn i tz Har t ber g Wi e n e r Ne u s ta d t Pinkaf eld O ber war t M at t er sbur g Ei s e n s ta d t Br uck an der Leit ha Burgenland Hainbur g an der Donau Apet lon Zell am See St . Johann im Pongau Salzburg Kn i tte l fe l d Fohnsdor f Zelt weg J u d e n b u rg Weiz G r at kor n

Graz

Bad Hof gast ein G leisdor f Für st enf eld Kö fl a c h Vo i ts b e rg Tam sweg Badgast ein Bad St . Leonhar d Fr iesach Unt er haus Tr ahüt t en Deut schlandsber g L i e n z Seeboden Sp i tta l a n d e r Dra u Kaning Radent hein Sa n k t Ve i t a n d e r Gl a n Pat er nion Ar noldst ein

Villach

Velden am Wör t her see

Klagenfurt

Ebent hal Fer lach Fer lach Vö l k e rm a rk t Eber ndor f Eisenkappel Wo l fs b e rg Sa n k t An d rä Leibnit z 16

Statement of the Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health - 8/3/2006

Member States may allow: a) Provided birds are fed and watered indoors: – exercise and training flights b) 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.

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HPAI H5N1 detection in wild birds - Dec.2006/563/EC

• 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 18

HPAI H5N1 detection in wild birds

(cont.)

• 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 19

Regionalisation HPAI H5N1 outbreak in poultry Dec.2006/415/EC

• 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..) 20

Area B Buffer zone

Regionalisation

Area A 10 km

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Import rules

• 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 22

New EU legislation

• 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 23

Conclusions

• 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 24

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 25

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?????

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