27.2.2008 Official Journal of the European Union L 52/21 (Acts adopted under the EC Treaty/Euratom Treaty whose publication is not obligatory) DECISIONS COMMISSION COMMISSION DECISION of 22 February 2008 concerning certain protection measures in relation to highly pathogenic avian influenza in Israel and derogating Decision 2006/696/EC (notified under document number C(2008) 679) (Text with EEA relevance) (2008/161EC) 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(1) and (5) 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 an infectious viral disease in poultry and other birds, causing mortality and disturbances 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. There is a risk that the disease agent might be introduced into the Community via international trade in live poultry and certain other birds and products thereof. (") OJ L 268, 24.9.1991, p. 56. Directive as last amended by Directive 2006/104/EC (O] L 363, 20.12.2006, p. 352). () OJ L 24, 30.1.1998, p. 9. Directive as last amended by Directive 2006/104/EC. (2)  Israel has notified the Commission of an outbreak in poultry of highly pathogenic avian influenza caused by influenza A virus of subtype H5N1. Israel has taken the necessary measures and has informed the Commission thereof. (3)  Commission Decision 2006/696/EC of 28 August 2006 laying down a list of third countries from which poultry, hatching eggs, day-old chicks, meat of poultry, ratites and wild game birds, eggs and egg products and specified pathogen-free eggs may be imported into and transit through the Community and the applicable veterinary certification  conditions, and amending Decisions 93/342/EEC, 2000/585/EC and 2003/812[EC (%) lays down the veterinary certification conditions for imports into and transit through the Community of those products. Taking into account the information provided by Israel and the level of control of disease applied, it is appropriate to provide for measures that may be applied regarding parts of that third country depending on the epidemiological situation and to derogate temporarily from the requirements as laid down in Decision 2006/696/EC. (4)  In view of the threat to animal health arising from the risk of the introduction of avian influenza into the Community, it is appropriate to suspend imports of live poultry, ratites, farmed and wild feathered game, and hatching eggs of those species from the affected part of Israel. (®) OJ L 295, 25.10.2006, p. 1. Decision as last amended by Regulation (EC) No 1237/2007 (O] L 280, 24.10.2007, p. 5).