18.3.2004 Official Journal of the European Union L 80/31 COMMISSION DECISION of 17 March 2004 concerning protection measures in relation to highly pathogenic avian influenza in the United States of America (notified under document number C(2004) 835) (Text with EEA relevance) (2004/256[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 (Y, 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 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 23 February 2004 the United States of America has confirmed one outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza in a poultry flock in the State of Texas (Gonzales County), which has been detected as positive during surveillance carried out on 17 February 2004. (4)  This detected avian influenza virus strain is of subtype H5N2 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. (") OJ L 268, 24.9.1991, p. 56. Directive as amended by Directive 96/ 43[EC (O] L 162, 1.7.1996, p. 1). () OJL 24, 31.1.1998, p. 9. (5 However, in view of the animal health risk of disease introduction into the Community, imports of live 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 27 January 2004, and imports of eggs for human consumption, have been suspended from the United States of America as of 25 February 2004 by Commission Decision 2004/187EC (°). (6)  In accordance with Commission Decision 2000/666/ EC (% importation of birds other than poultry is authorised from all member countries of the OIE (World Organisation for Animal Health) subject to animal health guarantees provided by the country of origin, and to strict post-import quarantine measures implemented in the Member States. (7)  However, the importation of birds other than poultry, including pet birds accompanying their owners has also been suspended from the United States of America by Decision 2004/187EC as an additional measure in order to exclude any possible risk for disease occurrence in quarantine stations under the authority of the Member States. (8)  Commission Decision 97/222[EC (), lays down the list of third countries from which Member States may authorise the importation of meat products, and estab- lishes treatment regimes in order to prevent the risk of disease transmission via such products. The treatment that must be applied to the product depends on the health status of the country of origin, in relation to the species the meat is obtained from; in order to avoid an unnecessary burden on trade, imports of poultry meat products originating in the United States of America treated to a temperature of at least 70 ° Celsius throughout the product should continue to be authorised. () OJ L 57, 25.2.2004, p. 35. (*) OJ L 278, 31.10.2000, p. 26. Decision as last amended by Decision 2002/279(EC (O] L 99, 16.4.2002, p. 17). () OJ L 98, 4.4.1997, p. 39. Decision as last amended by Decision 2003/826/EC (O] L 311, 27.11.2003, p. 29).