Presidential Decree No. 656 implementing Directive No. 92/40/CEE on the establishment of common rules against avian flu.

The Decree establishes the obligation to notify to the competent authority any case (even if only suspected) of avian flu. Article 4 states the tests to be carried out by the veterinarian for the diagnosis of the disease, and the quarantine measures to be taken in case the outbreak is officially detected (destruction of the animals, disinfection of breeding farms, epidemiological surveys, repopulation of the farms, etc.). Further provisions concern the establishment of a protection area with a minimum radius of 3 Km within a surveillance zone with a minimum radius of 10 Km. The following precautionary measures shall be taken within the protection area: (a) census of the farms; (b) periodical tests and analyses; (c) isolation of the animals; (d) disinfection of the farms; (e) controls of personnel and vehicles destined to the transport of animals, carcasses and eggs; (f) restrictions on the transport of animals and animal waste; (g) prohibitions regarding fairs, markets and animal shows.