L 213/38 Official Journal of the European Communities 9.8.2002 COMMISSION COMMISSION DECISION of 5 August 2002 on the implementation of surveys for avian influenza in poultry and wild birds in the Member States (notified under document number C(2002) 2982) (2002/649/EC) THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES, Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, Having regard to Council Decision 90/424/EEC of 26 June 1990 on expenditure in the veterinary field (), as last amended by Decision 2001/572[EC (), and in particular Article 20 thereof, Whereas: Under Council Directive 92/40/EEC of 19 May 1992 introducing Community measures for the control of avian influenza (°) regular monitoring of poultry flocks and wild birds in order to assess the possible presence of disease in these populations is not foreseen. 1 Experience has shown that certain strains of the avian influenza virus, which are currently not covered by the control measures of the Directive, have the ability to mutate to highly pathogenic strains after having circu- lated in the poultry population for some time. This situation is liable to cause high mortality in poultry and severe economic losses to the poultry industry, which could be decreased by implementing a screening system in the Member States to allow an earlier detection and control of such precursor strains. The Scientific Committee on Animal Health and Animal Welfare has issued an opinion on the definition of avian influenza and the use of vaccination against avian influ- enza. In this report it was recommended to change the definition for avian influenza in order to include more avian influenza strains for which eradication measures are appropriate. Furthermore, surveys should be carried out to determine the prevalence of such strains in different poultry populations. This should allow an esti- mate of the costs for the modified disease control measures. In November 2001 the Commission organised a sympo- sium on the preparedness for influenza pandemics in OJ L 224, 18.8.1990, p. 19. OJ L 203, 28.7.2001, p. 16. OJL 167, 22.6.1992, p. 1. humans. It was stressed that surveys in various animal populations should be carried out to better assess the zoonotic impact of such infections. Both, the zoonotic aspect and the animal health implica- tions underline the need of surveys for influenza in animal populations. In the light of these surveys further developments of the Community’s policy on influenza might be decided. The Community Reference Laboratory for avian influ- enza in Weybridge has drawn up guidelines for surveys, which shall be the basis for the programmes to be imple- mented in the Member States. Member States should submit their programmes for approval by the Commission so that a financial assis- tance by the Community may be granted. (10)  The measures provided for in this Decision are in accor- dance with the opinion of the Standing Committee of the Food Chain and Animal Health, HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION: Article 1 Member States shall submit for approval to the Commission by 15 October 2002 plans for the implementation of surveys for avian influenza in poultry and wild birds in accordance with the guidelines as laid down in the Annex. Article 2 The Community’s financial contribution towards the measures referred to in Article 1 shall be at the rate of 50 % of the costs incurred in Member States for sampling and analysing of samples up to a maximum of EUR 500 000 for all Member States in total.