L 89/52 Official Journal of the European Union 28.3.2006 COMMISSION DECISION of 27 March 2006 concerning certain protection measures regarding imports from Bulgaria in relation to highly pathogenic avian influenza in that third country (notified under document number C(2006) 890) (Text with EEA relevance) (2006/247EC) 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 (1), and in particular Article 18 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 (3), and in particular Article 22 thereof, Whereas: (1)  Avian influenza is an infectious viral disease in poultry and other birds, causing mortality and disturbance which can quickly take on epizootic proportions liable to present a serious threat to animal and public health and to reduce the profitability of poultry farming sharply. There is a risk that the disease agent might be introduced into the Community via international trade in live poultry and poultry products. (2)  Bulgaria has notified to the Commission the isolation of an influenza A virus of subtype H5N1 Asian strain collected from a clinical case in wild birds. (") OJ L 268, 24.9.1991, p. 56. Directive as last amended by the 2003 Act of Accession. 2) OJ L 24, 30.1.1998, p. 9. Directive as last amended by Regulation p y Reg EC) No 882/2004 of the European Parliament and of the Council p (OJ L 165, 30.4.2004, p. 1); corrected version (O] L 191, 28.5.2004, p. 1). (3)  Bulgaria is included in the list in Part I of Annex I to Commission Decision 96/482[EC of 12 July 1996 laying down animal health conditions and veterinary certificates for the importation of poultry and hatching eggs other than ratites and eggs thereof from third countries including animal health measures to be applied after such importation (). That list sets out the third countries or parts of third countries which are authorised to use the model certificates A to D as laid down in the Annex to that Decision. Imports of live poultry, hatching eggs and day old chicks from the third countries or parts thereof on the list in Part I of Annex I to that Decision are authorised into the Community. (4)  Bulgaria is included in the list in Annexes I and II to Commission Decision 2000/585/EC of 7 September 2000, drawing up a list of third countries from which the Member States authorise imports of rabbit meat and certain wild and farmed game meat, and laying down the animal and public health and the veterinary certification conditions for such imports (*). Therefore, imports into the Community of meat from wild feathered game from Bulgaria is permitted. (5)  In the light of the current epidemiological situation in Bulgaria, it is appropriate to suspend imports of live poultry, ratities and farmed and wild feathered game and hatching eggs of those species coming from the whole territory of Bulgaria. (6)  In addition to that suspension, it is also appropriate to suspend imports of fresh meat of wild feathered game and imports of minced meat, meat preparations and meat products consisting of or containing meat of those species, as well as certain other products of birds coming from Bulgaria. () OJ L 196, 7.8.1996, p. 13. Decision as last amended by Decision 2004/118EC (O] L 36, 7.2.2004, p. 34). (* OJ L 251, 6.10.2000, p. 1. Decision as last amended by Decision 2004/413[EC (O] L 151, 30.4.2004, p. 57).