L 96/10 Official Journal of the European Union 5.4.2006 COMMISSION DECISION of 3 April 2006 concerning certain protection measures in relation to highly pathogenic avian influenza in Israel and repealing Decision 2006/227[EC (notified under document number C(2006) 1245) (Text with EEA relevance) (2006/266/EC) THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES, (2)  Israel has notified the Commission of outbreaks in 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 (1), and in particular Article 18 (1), (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), (5) 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 sharply reduce the profitability of poultry farming. There is a risk that the disease agent might be introduced into Member States 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 the 2003 Act of Accession. L 24, 31.1.1 , p. 9. Directive as last amende Regulation 2) OJ L 24,3 998, p. 9 1 ded by Regul EC) No 4 of the European Parliament and of the Counci C 882/2004 of th p 1 d of the C 1 (O] L 165, 30.4.2004, p. 1, as corrected by O] L 191, 28.5.2004, p. 1). poultry of highly pathogenic avian influenza caused by influenza A virus of subtype H5NI. (3)  Commission Decision 2006/227[EC of 17 March 2006 concerning certain interim protection measures in relation to a suspicion of highly pathogenic avian influenza in Israel () was adopted following that notifi- cation by Israel. (4)  In view of the animal health risk of the introduction of the disease into the Community, it is appropriate to suspend imports of live poultry, ratites and farmed and wild feathered game and hatching eggs of those species from Israel. (5)  As Member States are authorised to import game trophies and eggs for human consumption, imports into the Community of these products should also be suspended because of the animal health risk involved. (6) It is also appropriate to suspend the importation into the Community from Israel of fresh meat of poultry, ratites and farmed and wild feathered game and the importation of minced meat, mechanically separated meat, meat preparations and meat products consisting of or containing meat of those species, as well as certain other products of birds. (7) It is appropriate to provide for measures that may be applied regarding parts of Israel depending on the epide- miological situation. () O] L 81, 18.3.2006, p. 43.