L 195/86 Official Journal of the European Communities 24.7.2002 COMMISSION DECISION of 23 July 2002 concerning protection measures relating to avian influenza in Chile (notified under document number C(2002) 2832) (Text with EEA relevance) (2002/607EC) THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES, Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, 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 (5) thereof, 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 (3), as last amended by Directive 96/43/ EC (°), and in particular Article 18(1), (5) and (6) thereof, Whereas: (1) Chile has confirmed two outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza on 2 July 2002 in poultry flocks in region V of Chile. (2)  According to the provisions of Directives 97/78/EC and 91/496EEC measures shall be taken if, in the territory of a third country, a disease referred to in Council Directive 82/894/EEC of 21 December 1982 on the notification of animal diseases within the Community (¥), as last amended by Commission Decision 2000/556/EC (°), or other diseases or any other phenomenon or circum- stance liable to present a serious threat to animal or public health manifests itself or spreads. (3)  Directive 82/894[EEC lists certain contagious animal diseases, such as avian influenza, which present a risk to the Community herd, notably by their spread as a result of trade and imports. (4)  Chile has immediately informed the Commission about the outbreaks and the disease control measures taken. (5) Chilean veterinary services have stopped certifying as of 21 June 2002 for exports of live poultry and hatching 1 () OJ L 24, 31.1.1998, p. 9. () OJ L 268, 24.9.1991, p. 56. () OJL162,1.7.1996, p. 1. () OJL 378, 31.12.1982, p. 58. () OJ L 235,19.9.2000, p. 27. 5 ®) eggs, live ratites and hatching eggs and fresh meat of poultry, ratites, wild and farmed feathered game, poultry meat preparations and poultrymeat products destined for the European Union in accordance with EU require- ments. However, one Member State has taken safeguard measures by banning all imports of live poultry, poultry- meat and poultrymeat products from Chile into its national territory including consignments on their way from Chile certified before 21 June 2002. These consignments of fresh poultrymeat on their way from Chile to Europe can be accepted for importation as the Chilean authorities have given sufficient guarantees regarding the risk of disease introduction through these goods. To harmonise the measures taken by Member States and for reasons of clarity and transparency, it is appropriate to temporarily suspend, in line with the action taken by Chile, the exportation of live poultry and hatching eggs, live ratites and hatching eggs and fresh meat of poultry, ratites, wild and farmed feathered game, poultrymeat preparations and poultrymeat products meat prepara- tions consisting of or containing meat of the before mentioned species from Chile to the European Union. Commission Decision 97/222[EC (°), as last amended by Decision 2002/184[EC (), lays down the list of third countries from which Member States may authorise the importation of meat products and establishes treatment regimes in order to lower the risk of disease transmission via such products. The treatment that has to be applied to the product depends on the health status of the country of origin in relation to the species the meat is obtained from; therefore it is necessary to restrict imports of poultry meat products originating in Chile to those treated to a temperature of at least 70 °C. 98, 4.4.1997, p. 39. 61, 2.3, 32002, p. 61. ’