Imports - OVS Note 08/04
Outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza in Israel
Purpose
1. To advise you of an outbreak of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) in Israel and protection measures proposed by the EU.
Background
2. On 3 January the Israeli authorities advised of an outbreak of HPAI in backyard birds in Bimyamina. The European Commission will shortly implement safeguard measures:
- banning imports from Israel of live birds and hatching eggs from the whole country; and
- restricting bird products on a regionalisation basis.
3. In the meantime, this is to advise you that the Israeli authorities should not be certifying exports from Israel of live poultry, ratites and farmed and wild feathered game and hatching eggs of these species.
4. Imports from Israel of the following products may be permitted from certain areas of Israel. Should consignments of these products be presented at the BIP, they should be held and further advice sought:
(a) fresh meat of poultry, ratites, farmed and wild feathered game;
(b) minced meat, meat preparations, mechanically separated meat and meat products consisting of or containing meat of those species referred to in sub-paragraph (b) (“the relevant species”);
(c) raw pet food and unprocessed feed material containing any parts of the relevant species,
(d) eggs for human consumption from the relevant species, and unpasteurised egg products produced from those eggs;
(e) non treated game trophies from birds
(f) unprocessed manure and manure products from any birds
4. Meat products derived from the above species that have undergone at least one of the specific treatments referred to under points B, C or D in Part IV of Annex II to Decision 2005/432/EC can be imported.
5. We will issue the import declaration when the decision has been published.
Action for BIPs
6. Detain consignments of bird products from Israel and seek further advice.
Contact point for enquiries
AHIT Chelmsford 01245 358383 (option 4)
Fax: 01245 351162
E-mail: AHITChelmsford@animalhealth.gsi.gov.uk
Page published:
15 January, 2008