FCI: Removing AI restrictions in EU

April 28, 2006

Gordon Chalmers has provided the following information by email. It starts with the fax on racing pigeons which the EU Standing Committee on the Food Chain sent out to all Chief Veterinary Offices in the member states.

April 28, 2006

This is page 2, note the message on pigeons which went out all over the EU

April 28, 2006

This was the FCI's response (Covering letter), first of three documents:-

Brussels, 28 March 2006

To : Mr. Marcos Kyprianou,

Member of the European Commission,

Rue de la Loi 200,

B-1040 Brussels

Subject: Risk Assessment for racing pigeons

Dear Mr. Kyprianou,

As European Commission of the International Federation of Racing Pigeon Fanciers (FCI), we want to make with our knowledge on racing pigeons an active contribution to your efforts to control the spread of the Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza sub-type H5N1 virus. Our knowledge on the one side consists of knowledge of the behaviour of racing pigeons and on the other side of knowledge of the susceptibility of our racing pigeons for the HPAI sub-type H5N1 virus, acquired by scientific literature and contacts with experts in this area. Although HPAI is a problem to an important degree of the commercial poultry sector, we do wish to assume our social responsibility.

We want to do this by making a careful risk analysis, and in so far as effective, propose appropriate

measures that support the virus control policy. In that we base ourselves on Council Directive 2005/94/EC of 20 December 2005 on Community measures for the control of avian influenza. Although is our task to defend the interests of the racing pigeon sport, these interests do not prevail at the moment in our risk analysis and proposed measures. We are objective and as a result thereof our proposals are effective. The measures contained in the attached “International Protocol For Racing Pigeons in case of HPAI-H5N” are endorsed by all the 56 national member federations of the International Federation of Racing Pigeon Fanciers (FCI).

Veterinary experts with specialist knowledge of racing pigeon behaviour and originating from different parts of the world and several Member States of the EU (Belgium, Germany, France, Hungary, Portugal and the Netherlands) have been actively involved in establishing the present risk analysis.

We also attach to the “International Protocol For Racing Pigeons in case of HPAI-H5N” an appendix with basic facts regarding the racing pigeon sport that are of essential relevance in the assessment.

.

We trust that you will pay due attention to this International Protocol and remain at the disposal of you and your services to for further information.

Yours sincerely,

Horst Menzel President; Ton Ebben Secretary; Luc Joris Treasurer.

Copies sent to:

Mr. R. Madelin - European Commission- Director General - DG Health and Consumer Protection

Mr. J. Husu Kallio - European Commission - Deputy Director General - DG Health and Consumer Protection

Mr. B. Van Goethem - European Commission - Director - DG Health and Consumer Protection - Directorate D

Mr. A. Laddomada - European Commission - Deputy Head of Unit - DG Health and Consumer Protection - Directorate D.1

Mr. W.A. Valder - European Commission - Legislative veterinary officer - DG Health and Consumer Protection - Directorate D.1

April 28, 2006

FCI proposal :-

INTERNATIONAL PROTOCOL FOR RACING PIGEONS IN CASE OF HPAI - H5N1

1. Measures to be applied at imminent threat of high pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) - sub-type H5N1

Given that wild and migratory birds might play a role in the transmission of the avian influenza virus, bio security measures are taken to protect poultry against infected wild birds. Containment and bringing poultry under cover during the migration season are important measures which can be taken.

Also preventive vaccination of poultry belongs to the possible measures.

In accordance with Article 2 paragraph 6 of the EU-directive 2005/94/EC on Avian Influenza, racing pigeons belong to the category "other captive bird".

Racing pigeons are housed in special lofts. They are exercised in average twice a day around the loft for one hour under the supervision of the fancier. During exercises, racing pigeons do not come in contact with other birds. In winter, exercises around the loft are often limited to one time in the week and maximum one exercise per day. After exercising, racing pigeons enter their loft. Feeding is done inside the loft where their water supply also is.

A small percentage between 1 to 2% of the fanciers let their racing pigeons freely enter and leave the lofts during the entire day – a so-called “open loft system”. Racing pigeons which are kept this way, can enter and leave all the time the loft after exercising, feeding and watering and can come into contact with the soil. Although that the possibility that they will be in contact with excrements of infected wild is very small to negligible, this risk can be avoided by the prohibition of the “open lofts” when a threat of HPAI exists. Keeping racing pigeons in open lofts has however no negative animal welfare implications.

Measure:

Keeping racing pigeons in “open loft system” is prohibited.

2. Measures to be applied in case of infection of wild birds with HPAI - sub-type H5N1

In cases where highly pathogenic avian influenza subtype H5N1 is isolated in wild birds in the territory of a country, a protection zone and surveillance zone with a radius of respectively of 3 and 10 kilometres will be established on basis of the EU decision 2006/115/EC around the area where H5N1 is confirmed in wild birds.

For racing pigeons the following measures will apply in these zones :

Measures:

No killing of racing pigeons in both zones;

The national racing pigeon federation provide the competent authorities with an inventory on the number of racing pigeon lofts in the protection zone and surveillances zone;

In the protection zone, racing pigeons which are kept on commercial poultry holdings are contained in their premises;

Keeping racing pigeons in “open loft system” is prohibited.

3. Measures to be applied on holdings where outbreaks of HPAI –subtype H5N1 are suspected

In the case of a suspected outbreak, the competent authority shall immediately set in motion an investigation to confirm or exclude the presence of HPAI.

For racing pigeons the following measures will apply:

Measures:

No killing of racing pigeons;

Inventory of the number of racing pigeons present on the suspected holding;

Containment of racing pigeons in their premises until the presence of the suspected outbreak has been ruled out.

4. Measures to be applied when outbreaks of HPAI –subtype H5N1 are confirmed

In case of an outbreak of HPAI, all poultry on the holding are killed without delay under official supervision. For racing pigeons, the derogations stipulated in article 11 para 2 and article 13 para1 of EU-directive 2005/94/EC are applied.

For racing pigeons the following measures will apply:

Measures to be applied on holdings where outbreaks are confirmed

No killing of racing pigeons;

Containment of racing pigeons in their premises. Strict hygiene measures shall be applied on the premises and the premises shall be cleansed and disinfected with the disinfectants authorised by the competent authority ;

During the time that the measures apply on the holding, any movement of racing pigeons from and into the holding is forbidden.

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Measures to be applied in the protection zone

No killing of racing pigeons;

The national racing pigeon federation provide the competent authorities with an inventory on the number of racing pigeon lofts in the protection zone;

Racing pigeons which are kept on commercial poultry holdings are contained in their premises;

Keeping racing pigeons in “open loft system” is prohibited;

In accordance with article 33 para 4 of EU-directive 2005/94/EC, racing pigeons can, based on an additional risk-assessment, be moved outside of the protection zone for participation to fairs, markets, shows and races under the following conditions:

Strict hygiene measures have to be applied at the premises were racing pigeons are gathered;

Racing pigeons which are kept on commercial poultry holdings are contained in their premises and can not participate in events;

Authorisation for participation to races will not be provided earlier than after 10 days of establishment of the protection zone.

Measures to be applied in the surveillance zone

No killing of racing pigeons;

The national racing pigeon federation provide the competent authorities with an inventory on the number of racing pigeon lofts in the protection zone;

Keeping racing pigeons in “open loft system” is prohibited;

In accordance with article 33 para 4 of EU-directive 2005/94/EC, racing pigeons can, based on an additional risk-assessment, be moved to, inside and outside of the surveillance for participation to fairs, markets, shows and races under the following conditions:

Strict hygiene measures have to be applied at the premises were racing pigeons are gathered

5. Restrictive measures on races

On basis of the behaviour of racing pigeons, the following recommendations are made:

Threat of HPAI-subtype H5N1 : no restrictions on races;

Infection of wild birds with HPAI - sub-type H5N1 :no releases for races in the protection and surveillance zone and within a radius of 10 km around the surveillance zone;

Suspected outbreaks of HPAI-subtype H5N1 : no releases for races in the protection and surveillance zone and within a radius of 10 km around the surveillance zone;

Confirmed outbreaks of HPAI-subtype H5N1 : no releases for races in the protection and surveillance zone and within a radius of 10 km around the surveillance zone;

During the period of risk of spread of HPAI-H5N1: prohibition of races where the risk exist that racing pigeons spend the night in the protection zones and the surveillance zones.

6. International protocol

The measures and recommendations outlined in this protocol do not necessarily have to be integrated in the national contingency plans. It is more recommendable that the national contingency plans refer to this protocol for racing pigeons.

Brussels, 23 March 2006

April 28, 2006

FCI response to EU, last of three documents:-

BASIC FACTS ABOUT RACING PIGEONS

Housing and Care

Racing pigeons (Columba livia) are kept in lofts. Fancy pigeons are kept in the more well-known dovecotes, but this type of housing is not fit for racing pigeons.

Young racing pigeons of three weeks and up are weaned and kept in separate lofts. Racing pigeons have a strong territorial instinct. It is not only the loft to which the pigeon feels attracted, but even more to its own spot inside the loft. This own spot in most cases consists of a box in which also the youngsters are raised or a simple shelf. The own spot is defended against other racing pigeons. As soon as a racing pigeon comes home from a training toss or race, the racing pigeon will quickly go to his own spot. Racing pigeons are always fed and given fresh water inside the loft. Food is offered in food trays and water in special drinking devices for racing pigeons. Food supplements are administered in separate cups or via the water. Once a week pigeons are offered a bath, and in most cases a substance is added to the bath water by which any mites and similar parasites are killed.

Lofts are cleaned daily and are disinfected periodically. All racing pigeons are vaccinated annually against the paramyxo virus ( New Castle disease).

When racing pigeons are released for a training toss, they have not been fed yet. When they return to the loft, food and water is waiting for them. Beside the territorial instinct, the opportunity to eat and drink after a training toss is an extra stimulus for the racing pigeon to return to and enter the loft swiftly.

Racing pigeons daily fly one to two training tosses of approximately 45 minutes each. During the daily exercise, they fly in circles high above the loft. They remain within sight of the loft. Once young pigeons have mastered flying, they fly further away from the loft than the older pigeons, sometimes up to several kilometres. When young pigeons have completed their first race, they will in training tosses have adopted the same behaviour as the older pigeons.

Races

Races with racing pigeons are flown for distances that vary from in average 100 up to 1200 kilometres. For over 200 years a selection has taken place to breed fast racing pigeons for the shorter distances and marathon racing pigeons for the longer distances. When racing pigeons are released, they will fly a circle above the liberation site and then head for their lofts. Depending on the wind, they can reach speeds of up to 60 kilometres per hour in case of headwind and 120 kilometres per hour in case of tail wind. These speeds are measured in a straight line. In reality racing pigeons are also drifted off by the wind or fly along with a random group in another direction. Thus racing pigeons must correct their course regularly. In reality the speeds therefore are higher.

Sometimes racing pigeons go astray. This occurs more frequently with young racing pigeons than with older pigeons, who are more experienced. Stray pigeons mostly join a group of pigeons of an other loft when the pigeons of this loft are exercised and enter in this loft.. Via the unique individual ring number of each racing pigeon and modern techniques such as the Internet with retrieval programs and voice response systems, the owner of the stray racing pigeon can be retrieved and will be repatriated to its home loft.

Transport of Racing Pigeons

For the transport of racing pigeons specially equipped transporters/containers are used that are exclusively suited and used for transporting racing pigeons. The racing pigeons are placed in crates/ baskets, mostly made of aluminium or reed, and the floor of the basket is fitted with a rough moisture-absorbing layer. Most racing pigeon transporters/containers are equipped with modern ventilation systems. The racing pigeons are fed and watered on route. Specially trained convoyors accompany the racing pigeons all times during transport to the race point. Before the racing pigeons are basket, the fancier checks whether the racing pigeons are healthy and in a good condition as he will not want to jeopardise the health of any other racing pigeons. It is absolutely useless to let pigeons race that are not in an excellent condition. These pigeons will return home, but will not win a prize, which after all is the essential issue in races.

The fancier also has to provide his vaccination form to certify that the racing pigeons he is racing are vaccinated against PMV. A copy of this is held by the club.

Of course it is possible that a racing pigeon gets sick during transport. These racing pigeons are not released, they are separated from the others and they are taken back home by the convoyers.

Pigeon Fanciers in the World and the EU

The racing pigeon sport has its roots in Europe.

There are many people who are involved in the racing pigeon sport in the world.

More than 600.000 racing pigeon fanciers are registered as member of the national federations of the FCI, of which more 280.000 in the EU. In many cases, the racing pigeon sport is also a family sport in which the partner of the member and his children take part and enjoy.

With that the pigeon fanciers represent a substantial group of citizens of the world and the European Union.

April 28, 2006

And lastly, the FCI emailed the Chief Veterinary Officers of all EU Member countries as under:-

Subject: Avian Influenza H5N1 and racing pigeons - lifting of ban on pigeon races in the entire EI

From: "Stef Swinnen" <stef.swinnen@myonline.be>

Date: Wed, April 26, 2006 3:45 pm

To: "Austria Dr. Johann Damoser" <johann.damoser@bmgf.gv.at> (more)

Cc: Wolf-Arno.VALDER@cec.eu.int (more)

Bcc: Leo.vanderWaart@intervet.com (more)

Priority: High

Read receipt: requested

Dear CVO

On 9 March, the Standing committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health of the EU agreed a statement and recommendations regarding the susceptibility of racing pigeons to avian influenza (H5N1). Based on past and current experience on H5N1, the Standing Committee stipulates that racing pigeons are relatively resistant to the H5N1 virus.

We want to draw your attention to the fact that at present, no racing pigeon of the Columba Livia specie has been found infected by H5N1 in parts of the world experiencing H5N1 outbreaks and no scientific evidence exists that indicates that racing pigeons might contribute to the spread of the virus.

Despite these recommendations of the SCFCAH, we notice that the Member States of the EU make different risk assessments for racing pigeons and take different protection measures. These different measures are hampering the racing sport enormously and mainly the racing season which should have started varying from Member State already between the middle of December 2005 and the middle of March 2006.

In the view of establishing an uniform risk assessment for racing pigeons, the International Federation of Racing Pigeon Fanciers (Fédération Colombophile Internationale -FCI ) elaborated recently an “International Protocol For Racing Pigeons in case of HPAI-H5N”, which has been sent to he European Council of Ministers and the European Commission.

The FCI is the international pigeon fancier’s organisation, representing 623.300 members of 57 countries. The individual pigeon fanciers are represented in the FCI by their national organisations.

In attachment you find the letter send to the EU-Commission, the International Protocol and basic facts on the racing pigeon sport.

We would invite you to incorporate this risk assessment in your national contingency plans.

Furthermore we insists that the ban on pigeons races should be lifted by the SCFAH in all Member States by at latest the 1st of May 2006 in order that normal pigeon races from different Member States can resume.

Dr. J.M.A Tereso H. Menzel

President FCI President Veterinary Committee FCI