12.6.2003 Official Journal of the European Union L 144/15 COMMISSION DECISION of 11 June 2003 laying down additional measures to be carried out before lifting restrictions applied in accordance with Council Directive 92/40/EEC in relation to avian influenza (notified under document number C(2003) 1817) (Only the German, French and Dutch texts are authentic) (Text with EEA relevance) (2003/428/EC) THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES, Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, Having regard to Council Directive 90/425[/EEC of 26 June 1990 concerning veterinary and zootechnical checks applicable in intra-Community trade in certain live animals and products with a view to the completion of the internal market (*), as last amended by Directive 2002/33/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council (), and in particular Article 10 thereof, Having regard to Council Directive 89/662/EEC of 11 December 1989 concerning veterinary checks in intra-Commu- nity trade with a view to the completion of the internal market (), as last amended by Regulation (EC) No 806/ 2003 (%), and in particular Article 9 thereof, Whereas: (1) Council Directive 92[40/EEC (°), as last amended by Regulation (EC) No 806/2003, introduced Community measures for the control of avian influenza. (2)  Since 28 February 2003 the Netherlands declared several outbreaks of avian influenza. Since 16 April 2003 outbreaks have also been notified by Belgium. On 13 May 2003 the veterinary authorities of Germany have confirmed avian influenza in a poultry flock in the Land of North Rhine-Westphalia. (3)  The Commission, in order to reinforce the measures taken by the affected Member States in the framework of Directive 92[40/EEC has adopted several Decisions, including Decisions 2003/289/EC (°), as amended by Decision 2003/388/EC () for Belgium, 2003/290/EC (%), as amended by Decision 2003/387/EC (°) for the Nether- lands and 2003/358/EC (*%), as amended by Decision 2003/386/EC (")) for Germany concerning certain protection measures with regard to avian influenza in the respective Member State. ) OJ L 224, 18.8.1990, p. 29. ) OJ L 315,19.11.2002, p. 14. ) OJ L 395, 30.12.1989, p. 13. ) OJ L 122,16.5.2003, p. 1. ) OJL 167, 22.6.1992, p. 1. ) OJ L 105, 26.4.2003, p. 24. ) OJ L 133,29.5.2003, p. 92. ) OJ L 105, 26.4.2003, p. 28. ) OJ L 133, 29.5.2003, p. 91. 1% OJ L 123,17.5.2003, p. 55. OJ L 133, 29.5.2003, p. 89. (4) The establishment of protection and surveillance zones around confirmed outbreaks in accordance with Article 9 of Directive 92/40/EEC is an essential element of disease control. However the Directive does not provide for the measures necessary to be carried out before the restrictions applied in the zones may be lifted. In the last weeks the disease situation has improved in all three affected countries, so that restrictions for surveillance zones could be lifted in the near future. The large scale of the epidemic however, requires that the established protection and surveillance zones be lifted with the maximum caution. Before the zones are lifted it is appropriate to ensure a safe removal of manure and other substances from those infected holdings, where it has not been possible to ensure an appropriate treatment of this material. Until the measures in the surveillance zones are lifted certain measures for the transport of one day-old chicks, meat from slaughter poultry and table eggs should be maintained. During this epidemic a large number of poultry holdings and other establishments have been depopulated due to infection with avian influenza or for preventive reasons. In view of the severe extent of the disease and before large scale restocking should take place, sentinel birds should be introduced into the holdings and other estab- lishments where avian influenza occurred, in order to demonstrate the absence of any avian influenza virus in the environment. The measures provided for in this Decision are in accor- dance with the opinion of the Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health,