Are the statutory safeguards against bird flu (H5N8) fit for purpose?

16.2.2017

Question for written answer E-001092-17
to the Commission
Rule 130
Arne Gericke (ECR)

The H5N8 virus has been circulating for months now in some EU Member States, as well as in many German regions. In many places strict emergency measures and regulations have been introduced to contain the epidemic. Some of these are long term and will cause heavy losses for the farmers and breeding centres affected.

1. The current legal requirements date back to 2006/2007 when they were drawn up to tackle the H5N1 virus which can be transmitted to humans. In the Commission’s view, are these appropriate to the current situation or does it think it would be sensible to have measures that are more flexible and more specifically regional?

2. Is there any proof that banning the sale of eggs from poultry farms (without their own packing facilities) in a protection zone is necessary or useful, or could more flexible rules at the discretion of the regional authorities — in particular if they are to be applied for some time — be considered here?

3. Does the Commission think — despite numerous expert reports to the contrary — that rules on an immediate and complete cull of affected stock, even when only one bird has been infected, are still sensible?