L 11422 Official Journal of the European Union 21.4.2004 COMMISSION DECISION of 6 April 2004 concerning protection measures in relation to highly pathogenic avian influenza in Canada (notified under document number C(2004) 1311) (Text with EEA relevance) (2004/364[EC) THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES, Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, Having regard to Council Directive 91/496/EEC of 15 July 1991 laying down the principles governing the organisation of veterinary checks on animals entering the Community from third countries and amending Directives 89/662/EEC, 90/425/ EEC and 90/675/EEC (!), and in particular Article 18(6) and (7) thereof, Having regard to Council Directive 97/78/EC of 18 December 1997 laying down the principles governing the organisation of veterinary checks on products entering the Community from third countries (%), and in particular Article 22(1) and (6) thereof, Whereas: (1) Avian influenza is a highly contagious viral disease in poultry and birds, which can quickly take epizootic proportions liable to present a serious threat to animal and public health and to reduce sharply the profitability of poultry farming. (2)  There is a risk that the disease agent might be intro- duced via international trade in live poultry and poultry products. (3)  On 9 March 2004 Canada confirmed a first outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza in a poultry flock in the province of British Columbia (Fraser Valley). (4)  The detected avian influenza virus strain is of subtype H7N3 and therefore different from the strain currently causing the epidemic in Asia. Current knowledge suggests that the risk for public health in relation to this subtype is inferior to the risk of the strain circulating in Asia, which is an H5N1 virus subtype. (5  However, in view of the animal health risk of disease introduction into the Community, imports of live (") OJ L 268, 24.9.1991, p. 56. Directive as last amended by Directive 96/43[EC (O] L 162, 1.7.1996, p. 1). () OJL 24, 31.1.1998, p. 9. poultry, ratites, farmed and wild feathered game birds and hatching eggs of these species and of fresh meat of poultry, ratites, wild and farmed feathered game, meat preparations and meat products consisting of, or containing meat of those species, obtained from birds slaughtered after 17 February 2004, and imports of eggs for human consumption, have been suspended from Canada as of 11 March 2004 pursuant to Commission Decision 2004/242[EC (). (6)  Commission Decision 94/984EC of 20 December 1994 laying down animal health conditions and veterinary certificates for the importation of fresh poultrymeat from certain third countries (*), Commission Decision 96/482[EC of 12 July 1996 laying down animal health conditions and veterinary certificates for the importation of poultry and hatching eggs other than ratites and eggs thereof from third countries including animal health measures to be applied after such importation (), Commission Decision 2000/585/EC drawing up a list from which Member States authorise imports of rabbit meat and certain wild and farmed game meat and laying down the animal and public health and the veterinary certification conditions for such imports (°), Commission Decision 2000/609/EC of 29 September 2000 laying down animal and public health conditions and veter- inary certification for imports of farmed ratite meat (') and Commission Decision 2001/751/EC of 16 October 2001 laying down animal health conditions and veter- inary certification for imports of live ratites and hatching eggs thereof from third countries including animal health measures to be applied after such importation, amending Commission Decision 95/233/EC drawing up a list of third countries from which the Member States authorise imports of live poultry and hatching eggs and amending Commission Decision 96/659/EC on protec- tive measures in relation to Crimean Congo haemor- rhagic fever (%), respectively, require that the veterinary authorities of Canada, before dispatching live poultry and hatching eggs, live ratites and hatching eggs and fresh meat of poultry, ratites, farmed and wild feathered game certify that Canada is free from avian influenza. The veterinary authorities of Canada had therefore to suspend all certification following that outbreak. () OJ L 74, 12.3.2004, p. 21. () OJ L 378, 31.12.1994, p. 11. Decision as last amended by Decision 2004/118/EC (O] L 36, 7.2.2004, p. 34). () OJ L 196, 7.8.1996, p. 13. Decision as last amended by Decision 2004/118/EC. () OJ L 251, 6.10.2000, p. 1. Decision as last amended by Decision 2004/245/EC (O] L 77, 13.3.2004, p. 62). () OJ L 258, 12.10.2000, p. 49. Decision as last amended by Decision 2004/118/EC () OJ L 281, 25. 10.2001, p. 24. Decision as last amended by Decision 2004/118/EC