15.10.2002 Official Journal of the European Communities L277/21 COMMISSION COMMISSION DECISION of 14 October 2002 amending Decision 2002/607/EC concerning protection measures relating to avian influenza in Chile (notified under document number C(2002) 3724) (Text with EEA relevance) (2002/796/EC) 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(6) 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(7) thereof, Whereas: Due to outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza in Region V of Chile and in order to harmonise the Member States' acceptance of ‘floating consignments’ on their way to Europe, Commission Decision 2002/ 607/EC concerning protection measures relating to avian influenza in Chile () was adopted on 23 July 2002. 1) The importation of live poultry and hatching eggs thereof, live ratites and hatching eggs thereof and fresh meat of poultry, ratites, wild and farmed feathered game and poultrymeat products and meat preparations consisting of or containing meat of the aforementioned species was temporarily suspended until 1 January 2003. Since the first two outbreaks, which were confirmed on 2 July 2002, no further outbreaks have occurred. 24, 31.1.1998, p. 9. 268, 24.9.1991, p. 56. 162, 1.7.1996, p. 1. 195, 24.7.2002, p. 86. (4) 0) ) 0] 0] According to Article 22(1) of Council Directive 90/ 539/EEC (°) and Article 10(1) of Council Directive 91/ 494/EEC (%) the Community can only import live poultry and fresh poultrymeat from countries which are free from avian influenza and Newcastle disease. Following an outbreak of one of the abovementioned diseases a third country can regain its disease-free status six months later provided that stamping out with no emergency vaccination has been applied. However, if the veterinary authorities of the third country concerned can guarantee that the disease prob- lems were confined to a circumscript area, with borders which can be well controlled as regards movements of animals and animal products and that other additional measures like a serological screening have been performed, the country may be regionalised so that the restrictions on exportation can be limited to a defined area around the disease affected area. The Chilean veterinary services have carried out a nationwide serological survey in August 2002 to detect possible further spread of the disease, which has given favourable results. No further outbreaks have been detected since the first notification and the serological survey is very favourable, therefore it appears that the disease has been successfully eradicated. It is therefore appropriate to provide for a temporary regionalisation of Chile by authorising exports of poultry and poultry products from Chile to the Euro- pean Union from those areas which had not been affected by the disease. L 303, 31.10.1990, p. 6. L 268, 24.9.1991, p. 35.