Date: 2018-04-30Category: Not ApplicableState: Union GovernmentCountry: Europe
Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2018/662 of 27 April 2018 designating the European Union reference laboratory for avian influenza and Newcastle disease and amending Annex VII to Council Directive 2005/94/EC (notified under document C(2018) 2459) (Text with EEA relevance. )
Issued by European Commission
· Directorate-General for Health and Food Safety
Executive Summary:
This Commission Implementing Decision designates the Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale delle Venezie (IZSVe), Legnaro, Italy, as the European Union reference laboratory for both avian influenza and Newcastle disease, effective from 1 January 2019. This decision follows the United Kingdom's withdrawal notification and the need to re-designate these reference laboratories. It also amends Annex VII to Directive 2005/94/EC, replacing the previous reference laboratory designation.
Key Points / Main Content:
Designation:
* The Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale delle Venezie (IZSVe), Legnaro, Italy, is designated as the European Union reference laboratory for avian influenza and Newcastle disease.
Amendment to Directive 2005/94/EC:
* Point 1 of Annex VII to Directive 2005/94/EC is replaced to reflect the new designation of IZSVe as the European Union reference laboratory for avian influenza.
Effective Date:
* This decision is effective from 1 January 2019.
Addressees:
* This decision is addressed to the Member States.
Impact Analysis:
Member States:
Impact: Need to recognize and interact with the newly designated European Union reference laboratory (IZSVe) for avian influenza and Newcastle disease from 1 January 2019.
Action Required: Update relevant national procedures and communication channels to reflect the change in the reference laboratory.
Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale delle Venezie (IZSVe):
Impact: Assumes the responsibilities and duties of the European Union reference laboratory for avian influenza and Newcastle disease.
Action Required: Prepare to fulfill the functions and duties of the European Union reference laboratory for avian influenza and Newcastle disease, beginning 1 January 2019.
Previous EU Reference Laboratories (likely based in the United Kingdom):
Impact: Will discontinue their functions and duties as the European Union reference laboratories for avian influenza and Newcastle disease.
Action Required: Discontinue their duties as EU reference laboratories on the 1st of January 2019.
Key Entities Referenced
European Union: A political and economic union of member states located primarily in Europe.
Commission Implementing Decision EU 2018/662: A decision by the European Commission designating the European Union reference laboratory for avian influenza and Newcastle disease.
Council Directive 2005/94/EC: Council Directive on Community measures for the control of avian influenza.
Council Directive 92/66/EEC: Council Directive introducing Community measures for the control of Newcastle disease.
avian influenza: A highly contagious viral disease affecting birds.
Newcastle disease: A contagious bird disease affecting many domestic and wild avian species; it is transmissible to humans.
Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale delle Venezie IZSVe, Legnaro, Italy: The designated European Union reference laboratory for avian influenza and Newcastle disease, located in Legnaro, Italy.
Vytenis Andriukaitis: Member of the European Commission.
L 110/134 EN Official Journal of the European Union 30.4.2018
COMMISSION IMPLEMENTING DECISION (EU) 2018/662
of 27 April 2018
designating the European Union reference laboratory for avian influenza and Newcastle disease
and amending Annex VII to Council Directive 2005/94/EC
(notified under document C(2018) 2459)
(Text with EEA relevance)
THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION,
Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,
Having regard to Council Directive 92/66/EEC of 14 July 1992 introducing Community measures for the control of
Newcastle disease (1), and in particular Article 15(1) thereof,
Having regard to Council Directive 2005/94/EC of 20 December 2005 on Community measures for the control of avian
influenza and repealing Directive 92/40/EEC (2), and in particular Article 63(2) thereof,
Whereas:
(1) Directive 92/66/EEC (*) lays down the minimum control measures to be applied in the event of an outbreak of
Newcastle disease in poultry, racing pigeons and other birds kept in captivity. Article 15 of that Directive
provides for the designation of a European Union reference laboratory for Newcastle disease in order to carry out
the functions and duties provided for in that Article.
(2) Directive 2005/94/EC lays down certain preventive measures relating to the surveillance and the early detection
of avian influenza and the minimum control measures to be applied in the event of an outbreak of avian
influenza in poultry or other captive birds. Article 51(1) of that Directive provides that the laboratory named in
Annex VII(1) thereto is to be the European Union reference laboratory for avian influenza and it is to carry out
the functions and duties listed in Annex VII(2) thereto.
(3) As a consequence of the United Kingdom's notification in accordance with Article 50 of the Treaty on European
Union, the European Union reference laboratories for avian influenza and Newcastle disease, currently designated
in accordance with Directives 92/66/EEC and 2005/94/EC will have to discontinue their functions and duties as
the European Union reference laboratories for those two diseases.
(4) Taking into account the very similar disease expression, diagnostic techniques and required expertise and
equipment of avian influenza and Newcastle disease, it is appropriate to designate one European Union reference
laboratory for both diseases.
(5) In order to avoid any disruption of the activities of the European Union reference laboratory for avian influenza
and Newcastle disease, and to allow the newly designated laboratory sufficient time to become fully operational
in its new functions and duties, it is appropriate that the measures provided for in this Decision apply as from
1 January 2019.
(6) The Commission, in close collaboration with the Member States, has carried out a call for the selection and
designation of the European Union reference laboratory for avian influenza and Newcastle disease, taking into
account the criteria of the technical and scientific competence of the laboratory and the expertise of its staff.
(7) Following the completion of the selection procedure, the successful laboratory, the Istituto Zooprofilattico
Sperimentale delle Venezie (IZSVe), Legnaro, Italy, should be designated as the European Union reference
laboratory for avian influenza and Newcastle disease for an undetermined period starting on 1 January 2019.
(8) The measures provided for in this Implementing Decision are in accordance with the opinion of the Standing
Committee on Plants, Animals, Food and Feed,
(1) OJ L 260, 5.9.1992, p. 1.
(2) OJ L 10, 14.1.2006, p. 16.
(*) Council Directive 92/66/EEC is currently in the process of being aligned with the TFEU and Regulation (EU) 2017/625 of the European
Parliament and of the Council (OJ L 95, 7.4.2017, p. 1) on official controls.30.4.2018 EN Official Journal of the European Union L 110/135
HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:
Article 1
Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale delle Venezie (IZSVe), Legnaro, Italy, is hereby designated as the European Union
reference laboratory for avian influenza and Newcastle disease.
Article 2
In Annex VII to Directive 2005/94/EC, point 1 is replaced by the following:
‘1. The European Union reference laboratory for avian influenza is:
Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale delle Venezie (IZSVe), Legnaro, Italy.’
Article 3
This Decision shall apply from 1 January 2019.
Article 4
This Decision is addressed to the Member States.
Done at Brussels, 27 April 2018.
For the Commission
Vytenis ANDRIUKAITIS
Member of the Commission