2.8.2006 Official Journal of the European Union L 212/19 COMMISSION DECISION of 28 July 2006 concerning certain temporary protection measures in relation to highly pathogenic avian influenza in Croatia (notified under document number C(2006) 3352) (Text with EEA relevance) (2006/533/EC) THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES, influenza in  Croatia and repealing Decision 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), (3) 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), (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 spread through international trade in live poultry and other birds or their products. (2)  Following the outbreaks of avian influenza, caused by a highly pathogenic H5N1 virus strain, in south-eastern Asia starting in December 2003, the Commission adopted several protection measures in relation to avian influenza. Those measures included, in particular, Commission Decision 2005/758/EC of 27 October 2005 concerning certain protection measures in relation to a suspicion of highly pathogenic avian (") OJ L 268, 24.9.1991, p. 56. Directive as last amended by the 2003 Act of Accession. L 24, 30.1.1 , p. 9. Directive as last amende Regulation 2 O 0.1.1998, p. 9 1 ded by Regul EC) No 2004 of the European Parliament and of the Counci C 882/2004 of th p ] d of the C 1 (OJ L 165, 30.4.2004, p. 1, corrected by O] L 191, 28.5.2004, p. 1). 2005/749[EC (). That Decision provides that Member States are to suspend imports from certain parts of Croatia of live poultry, ratites, farmed and wild feathered game and certain other live birds, including pet birds and hatching eggs of those species, as well as certain products of birds. Decision 2005/758/EC is to apply until 31 July 2006. (3)  Croatia has notified the Commission that the competent authorities of that country are now applying protection measures that are equivalent to those applied by the competent authorities of the Member States, as provided in Commission Decision 2006/115/EC of 17 February 2006 concerning certain protection measures in relation to highly pathogenic avian influenza in wild birds in the Community and repealing Decisions 2006/86/EC, 2006/90/EC, 2006/91[EC, 2006/94[EC, 2006/104/EC and 2006/105/EC (4. (4 Croatia has furthermore notified the Commission that it will immediately notify the Commission of any future changes to the animal health status of Croatia, including specifically any further outbreaks of avian influenza that may occur in wild birds. The Commission will immediately inform the Member States and forward any information received from the Croatian authorities to them. (5)  In the light of those protection measures being applied by the competent authorities of Croatia and the under- taking by Croatia to immediately notify the Commission of any future changes to its animal health status in relation to avian influenza, the protection measures applicable in  Community legislation concerning outbreaks of influenza in that country should be amended to allow imports from those parts of Croatia for which the competent authority of Croatia has not established equivalent protection measures as laid down in Decision 2006/115/EC, following confirmation of avian influenza, caused by a highly pathogenic H5N1 virus strain in a wild bird. () OJ L 285, 28.10.2005, p. 50. Decision as last amended by Decision 2006/405/EC (O] L 158, 10.6.2006, p. 14). () O] L 48, 18.2.2006, p. 28. Decision as amended by Decision 2006/277/EC (O] L 103, 12.4.2006, p. 29).