The European Commission has adopted new rules for harmonised risk mitigation and reinforced biosecurity measures to prevent outbreaks of avian influenza. It particularly aims to prevent the virus being introduced to poultry from wild birds.
This decision was based on EFSA’s recent scientific opinion and Member States’ experiences with past epidemics. It will enhance Member States’ capacities to deal with crisis situations, while giving the required flexibility on a modern risk-based approach.
Past epidemics of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in the EU have shown the central role of wild migratory birds for virus introduction into poultry holdings and the importance of farmers’ biosecurity measures at farm level.
According to the new rules, Member States will be able to prohibit certain activities in ‘high risk areas’. They will have to initially identify those areas based on the assessment of risk factors for virus introduction and spread. This includes the location of farms close to areas where wild migratory birds gather, open air keeping of poultry with a high density of poultry farms and other factors.
In any high risk areas, Member States will be required to prohibit the keeping of ducks and geese together with other poultry species, the keeping of poultry in open-air, the gathering of poultry and captive birds at markets and fairs and certain specific hunting practises.
However, following a thorough risk assessment, Member States may adapt these measures to the changing disease situation and the local poultry production systems.