Press Release: Avian Influenza: Vaccination of certain poultry in France and Netherlands approved

The Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health on 22 February 2006 backed European Commission proposals to allow France and the Netherlands to carry out targeted preventive vaccination campaigns on poultry, as a precautionary measure against highly pathogenic avian influenza. The vaccination programmes were authorised only for specific birds in specified regions, and were to be subject to rigorous surveillance and control requirements. The Commission proposals to authorise the vaccination plans also laid out conditions and limits for the trade of the vaccinated birds and their products.

European Commission: DG Health and Consumer Protection: Food Safety: Animal Health and Welfare: Committees: Scientific Committees: Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health (SCFCAH) http://ec.europa.eu/comm/food/committees/regulatory/scfcah/animal_health/index_en.htm

European Commission: Memo: MEMO/06/92, Questions and Answers: Vaccinating poultry and other birds against Avian Influenza, 21.2.06 http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=MEMO/06/92&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en

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