Investigation into measures to combat the bird flu crisis in Italy - ITALY - The European Commission yesterday decided to launch an investigation into the measures taken to deal with the bird flu crisis in Italy. At this stage, the aid provided for the scheme seems difficult to justify in the light of State aid rules.

The Commission has decided to launch an investigation into the aid provided for under Article 5 of Decree-Law No 202/05, which makes provision for the purchase by the State of 17 000 tonnes of poultry meat and other poultry products intended for human consumption, suspension of the payment of tax, social security contributions and payments for operators in the poultry sector and the grant of aid for loans for the conversion and restructuring of poultry undertakings affected by the crisis in the poultry sector.

From the information in its possession, the Commission cannot at the moment determine whether the proposed aid is in conformity with Community State aid provisions.

Once they receive the official notification of this decision, the Italian authorities have one month to transmit their comments and to provide all necessary details.

The decision will be published in the Official Journal of the European Union. Other stakeholders have one month from the date of publication to send in their comments. These will be forwarded to the Italian authorities which will have an opportunity to express an opinion.

When it has received the details required from the Italian authorities, any comments from interested stakeholders and any opinion Italy may wish to express on these comments, the Commission will adopt a decision on the compatibility of the scheme with the common market.

The PoultrySite News Desk