draft commission regulation approving a control programme for salmonella for israel in accordance with regulation ec no 2160 2003 of the european parliament and of the council and amending annex i to regulation ec no 798 2008 as regards the salmonella control status in turkeys of certain third countries document sanco 5541 2009 rev.1 . the purpose of the current draft regulation is to amend regulation ec no 798 2008 taking into account the requirements in regulation ec no 2160 2003 as regards equivalent guarantees for salmonella. in particular the import of live turkeys and hatching eggs should be prohibited unless an equivalent control programme has been submitted by the third country and approved by the commission. additionally import of live laying hens and broilers as day-old chicks is reauthorized from israel since their control programmes was considered equivalent. article 10 of regulation ec no 2160 2003 of the european parliament and of the council on the control of salmonella and other specified food-borne agents lays down conditions for third countries with regard to the control of salmonella. admission to or retention on the list of third countries from which ec member states are authorised to import the relevant animals and hatching eggs is subject to the submission and approval by the commission of a salmonella control programme in the third country equivalent to the control programme in the member states. salmonella control programmes are applicable in flocks of turkeys in all ec member states from 1 january 2010 on. therefore equivalent guarantees must be provided by third countries from then on. commission regulation ec no 798 2008 laying down a list of third countries territories zones or compartments from which poultry and poultry products may be imported into and transit through the community and the veterinary certification requirements covers imports into and transit through the european communities of in particular breeding and productive poultry eggs and day-old chicks and sets out a list of third countries from which ec member states are authorized to import the relevant animals and eggs