Assessment of listing and categorisation of animal diseases within the framework of the Animal Health Law (Regulation (EU) No 2016/429): avian mycoplasmosis (Mycoplasma gallisepticum, M. meleagridis)

Abstract

Avian mycoplasmosis (Mycoplasma gallisepticum, Mycoplasma meleagridis) has been assessed according to the criteria of the Animal Health Law (AHL), in particular criteria of Article 7 on disease profile and impacts, Article 5 on the eligibility of avian mycoplasmosis to be listed, Article 9 for the categorisation of avian mycoplasmosis according to disease prevention and control rules as in Annex IV and Article 8 on the list of animal species related to avian mycoplasmosis. The assessment has been performed following a methodology composed of information collection and compilation, expert judgement on each criterion at individual and, if no consensus was reached before, also at collective level. The output is composed of the categorical answer, and for the questions where no consensus was reached, the different supporting views are reported. Details on the methodology used for this assessment are explained in a separate opinion. According to the assessment performed, avian mycoplasmosis can be considered eligible to be listed for Union intervention as laid down in Article 5 (3) of the AHL. The disease would comply with the criteria as in Sections 4 and 5 of Annex IV of the AHL, for the application of the disease prevention and control rules referred to in points (d) and (e) of Article 9(1). The assessment here performed on compliance with the criteria as in Section 3 of Annex IV referred to in point (c) of Article 9(1) is inconclusive. The animal species to be listed for avian mycoplasmosis according to Article 8(3) criteria are mainly domestic and wild birds of the order Galliformes, and also Passeriformes for M. gallisepticum.