EU extends surveillance measures against bird flu 
 
The European Union (EU) on Wednesday extended requirements for the on-going surveillance of wild birds and poultry for avian influenza until the end of this year.

    The decision was backed by a committee of member states' experts, named the Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health (SCFCAH) in EU's jargon.

    The EU executive European Commission will provide up to 2 million euros (about 2.4 million U.S. dollars) in co-funding for laboratory tests carried out on poultry and wild birds for avian influenza.

    EU member states must submit their national surveillance programs to the Commission for approval by February 7, after which the allocation of funds will be agreed.

    The Commission already provided nearly 1 million euros (about 1.2 million dollars) towards the costs of surveillance programs from July 2005 to the end of January 2006.

    This next phase of funding will cover the period from the start of February to the end of December this year.

    Under EU's surveillance program, around 25,000 wild birds have been tested for avian influenza and all samples have tested negative for the highly pathogenic avian influenza virus.