Technical Abstract: Avian influenza (AI) is a viral disease of poultry and has impacted international trade in poultry and poultry products. During 1999-2000, highly pathogenic (HP) AI (H7N1) occurred in Italy. This H7N1 HPAI virus was eradicated in April 2000, but an H7N1 MPAI virus re-emerged in poultry of northern Italy during August 2000. Other outbreaks of MPAI have been ongoing in Central America (H5N2), U.S. Live-Poultry Markets (H7N2); and Asia (H9N2). An H5N1 HPAI virus has been detected sporadically in geese in Hong Kong wholesale market and recently was isolated in chickens from 10 markets in association with high mortality. Control of individual outbreaks has varied by country and incident. The HPAI (H7N1) in Italy was eliminated by a depopulation program, but control of the current MPAI outbreak is being attempted by use of an inactivated vaccine (H7N3), and a controlled marketing program. Non-vaccinated sentinel birds are being used in surveillance. Because of events in Italy, the European Union is considerin redefinition of avian influenza for regulatory action to include all H5 and H7 avian influenza viruses.