4.10.2007 Official Journal of the European Union L 258/31 COMMISSION DECISION of 24 September 2007 on emergency vaccination of poultry in Italy against low pathogenic avian influenza (notified under document number C(2007) 4393) (Only the Italian text is authentic) (2007/638EC) THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES, Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, Having regard to Council Directive 2005/94/EC  of 20 December 2005 on Community measures for the control of avian influenza and repealing Directive 92[40/EEC (!), and in particular, Article 54(2) thereof; Whereas: (1)  Directive 2005/94/EC sets out the minimum control measures to be applied in the event of an outbreak of avian influenza in poultry or other captive birds. (20 Under Commission Decision 2005/926/EC  of 21 December 2005 on introducing supplementary measures to control infections with low pathogenic avian influenza in Italy and repealing Decision 2004/666EC (%) Italy carried out vaccination against low pathogenic avian influenza until the end of 2006. (3)  Since May 2007 outbreaks of low pathogenic avian influenza have occurred in parts of Northern Italy and measures in accordance with Directive 2005/94/EC have been taken to control the spread of the virus. (4 In July and August 2007 an increase of low pathogenic avian influenza outbreaks in particular of the subtype H7 has been observed and further outbreaks of that disease continue to be detected. A small number of outbreaks caused by the low pathogenic avian influenza subtype H5 have been reported. () OJ L 10, 14.1.2006, p. 16. () O] L 337, 22.12.2005, p. 60. (5)  In its scientific opinions on the use of vaccination to control avian influenza issued by the European Food Safety Authority in 2005 (}) and 2007 (4) the Animal Health and Welfare Panel stated that emergency and preventive vaccination against avian influenza is a valuable tool to complement the control measures for that disease. (6)  The outbreaks of low pathogenic avian influenza in Italy concern a densely populated poultry area and the epide- miogical situation is still evolving. (7)  The Italian authorities have carried out a risk assessment and identified a particular risk for further spread of the virus in the areas concerned. Italy has, therefore, by letter dated 7 September 2007, submitted an emergency vacci- nation plan to the Commission for its approval. (8)  The Commission has examined that plan together with Italy and is satisfied that it conforms with the relevant Community provisions. In the light of the development of the epidemiological situation in Italy, it is appropriate to approve the emergency vaccination plan submitted by Italy to supplement the control measures taken by that Member State and to introduce certain restrictions on movements of poultry, hatching eggs of poultry and day-old chicks and certain poultry products. (99  According to the vaccination plan, Italy intends to vaccinate certain poultry categories following the Differ- entiating Infected from Vaccinated Animal (DIVA) strategy using both monovalent vaccines directed against avian influenza virus of subtype H7 and bivalent vaccines against H7 and H5 subtypes. (%) The EFSA Journal (2005) 266, 1-21; Animal health and welfare aspects of Avian Influenza. (%) The EFSA Journal (2007) 489, Scientific Opinion on ‘Vaccination against avian influenza of H5 and H7 subtypes in domestic poultry and captive birds’.