Current legislation regarding the control of avian influenza in poultry

Options for the control of avian influenza during outbreaks include stamping out and vaccination. Find information below on legislation in different countries and articles on methods used for control.

 

Highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) is an OIE List A disease .  List A diseases are rapidly spreading diseases of major economic or public health consequence.  

The accepted control measure for HPAI is a “stamping out” policy.

For more information see the OIE website
Avian influenza: methods for the disease control

Control of AI in the European Union (EU) 

October 2005 
New EU avian influenza measures - 
See press release  on the EU website

The following is taken from the Questions and Anwsers section on the same site.

Why is the Commission proposing new measures for avian influenza?

The proposed Directive on measures for the control of avian influenza aims to update EU measures based on lessons learned from recent epidemics and new scientific knowledge on how the disease spreads and risks to human health. Current EU legislation on avian influenza control is laid down in Council Directive 92/40/EEC. This Directive only establishes control measures against the so-called “highly pathogenic” avian influenza viruses, those causing major disease outbreaks in poultry and that may also occasionally infect humans. However, there is now evidence that these highly pathogenic viruses actually originate from the so-called “low-pathogenic” avian influenza viruses as a result of virus mutation. In order to prevent major avian influenza outbreaks, the new legislation would also establish compulsory surveillance and control measures against the low pathogenic avian influenza viruses that can be transmitted to domestic poultry from wild birds such as ducks and geese. The low pathogenic viruses cannot be eradicated from wild birds, but the infection of domestic poultry can be effectively controlled and virus mutation into the highly pathogenic forms can be prevented. The aim of the new legislation is to ensure that the most appropriate surveillance and prevention measures against avian flu are in place and that the health risks, economic costs and the negative impact on society in the event of an outbreak are minimised. The previous Directive will be repealed when the new Directive is adopted.

EU legislation to control avian influenza is laid down in Council Directive 92/40/EEC.

• All suspected AI cases must be investigated.
• On confirmation of HPAI appropriate measures must be taken.
• Infected poultry must be culled and disposed of safely.
• If necessary poultry on in contact farms or farms near the infected farm may also be culled. 
• Feed, equipment and litter must be destroyed or treated to inactivate the virus.
• Movement restrictions on affected farms and farms within a 10km radius.
•  Vaccination may be used to supplement control measures.  

In accordance with Community legislation, all Member States have AI contingency plans to ensure appropriate measures in cases of outbreaks. The decision to use vaccination as a control measure may be taken by the Member State.  

See Avian Influenza on the EUROPA website.

Avian Influenza vaccination in Italy

Since December 2002 (Commission Decision 2002/975/EC) poultry in a defined geographical area of Italy have been vaccinated with an AI H7 strain vaccine. However, the continued threat of re-introduction of low pathogenic strains of avian influenza (AI) to domestic poultry in the Po valley has prompted Italian authorities to broaden their AI vaccination strategy to include an additional strain, H5. 

The decision to vaccinate with a bivalent AI vaccine (H5 + H7) has been approved by the European Union’s Standing Committee on Food Chain and Animal Health (Commission Decision 2004/666/EC). According to the decision fresh meat derived from vaccinated turkeys and chickens may be dispatched to other EU Member States provided certain conditions have been fulfilled. Conditions include the placing of sentinel birds, serological monitoring to confirm negative AI status and clinical inspection of flocks by an official veterinarian within 48 hours before loading for slaughter.