22.02.2013

The Commission distributed  document  SANCO/7011/2013  containing  the Commission's request to Israel for detailed information about the current Newcastle disease situation in that country and the control measures taken since outbreaks  are  re-occurring  since  the  middle of December 2012. In reply, the Israeli  authorities  list several measures that are or should be put in place to improve the control of the disease in the near future including an envisaged ban of restocking of poultry on farms that do not comply with the hygiene requirements. The EU commission has expressed their concern about the change in the combating strategy in Israel. If the situation in Israel is not improved significantly in the near future, the European Commission will present a proposal to the Standing Committee in April to transfer the currently granted special conditions towards Israel. On this case the import of poultry products from Israel would not be longer possible.