24.3.2007 Official Journal of the European Union L 84[7 COMMISSION REGULATION (EC) No 318/2007 of 23 March 2007 laying down animal health conditions for imports of certain birds into the Community and the quarantine conditions thereof (Text with EEA relevance) 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 the second subparagraph of Article 10(3) and the first subparagraph of Article 10(4) thereof, Having regard to Council Directive 92/65/EEC of 13 July 1992 laying down animal health requirements governing trade and imports into the Community of animals, semen, ova and embryos not subject to animal health requirements laid down in specific Community rules referred to in Annex A(l) to Directive 90/425/EEC (?) and in particular Article 17(2)(b) and Article 17(3) and the first and fourth indents of Article 18(1), Whereas: (1)  Commission Decision 2000/666/EC of 16 October 2000 laying down the animal health requirements and the veterinary certification for the import of birds, other than poultry and the conditions for quarantine (3) lays down the animal health requirements relating to imports of certain birds, other than poultry, as specified in that Decision, and the quarantine requirements for such birds. (2)  Following the outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza of the Asian lineage in South-East Asia in 2004, the Commission adopted several Decisions banning amongst other commodities the import of birds, other than poultry, from affected third countries. (3)  Following the spread of avian influenza of the Asian lineage to Europe by migratory birds and the case of (") OJ L 268, 24.9.1991, p. 56. Directive as last amended by Directive 2006/104/EC (O] L 363, 20.12.2006, p. 352). () OJ L 268, 14.9.1992, p. 54. Directive as last amended by Directive 2004/68[EC (OJ L 139, 30.4.2004, p. 321) corrected by (OJ L 226, 25.6.2006, p. 128). () OJ L 278, 31.10.2000, p. 26. Decision as last amended by Decision 2002/279(EC (O] L 99, 16.4.2002, p. 17). avian influenza of the Asian lineage detected in a quar- antine facility in the United Kingdom, Commission Decision 2005/760/EC of 27 October 2005 concerning certain protection measures in relation to highly pathogenic avian influenza in certain third countries for the import of captive birds () was adopted. That Decision suspends imports of birds, other than poultry, from all third countries because of the risks posed by affected wild birds. (4 In order to draw up an inventory of the risks posed by the import of captive birds, the Commission on 13 April 2005 requested the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) to provide a scientific opinion on the risks posed by imports of birds caught in the wild and captive bred birds from third countries. (5)  Following that request, the EFSA Panel on animal health and welfare adopted, during their meeting of 26 and 27 October 2006, a Scientific Opinion on the Animal health and welfare risks associated with the import of wild birds, other than poultry, into the Community. That Scientific Opinion identifies possible tools and options which can reduce any identified animal health risk related to imports of birds other than poultry. (6)  Taking account of the conclusions and recommendations laid down in the EFSA Scientific Opinion, the requirements laid down in Decision 2000/666/EC should be revised. (7) The EFSA Scientific Opinion identifies, in particular, the fact that data relating to imports of such birds is sparse. Further data collection on these imports should therefore be considered. (8)  One of the recommendations of the EFSA Scientific Opinion relates to controls carried out in the third countries exporting birds, other than poultry, to the Community. Improvements at the point of export should have most impact in reducing the probability that infected birds are presented for entry into the Community. For that reason, import conditions should be laid down in this Regulation in such a way that only imports from third countries authorised for imports into the Community of such birds are allowed. () OJ L 285, 28.10.2005, p. 60. Decision as last amended by Decision 2007/183[EC (see page 44 of this Official Journal).