CHAPTER VIIU.K.CLEANSING, DISINFECTION AND RE-POPULATION
Article 48U.K.Cleansing, disinfection and procedures for eliminating avian influenza virus
Member States shall ensure that:
the cleansing, disinfection and treatment of holdings and any materials or substances therein which are contaminated or likely to be contaminated with avian influenza viruses are carried out under official supervision in accordance with:
the instructions of the official veterinarian; and
the principles and procedures for cleansing, disinfecting and treatment set out in Annex VI;
any land or pastures used by poultry or other captive birds on a holding where avian influenza has been confirmed are not used by poultry or other captive birds until the competent authority is satisfied that any avian influenza virus present has been eliminated or inactivated;
the cleansing, disinfection and treatment of slaughterhouses, vehicles, trailers or any other means of transport, border inspection posts and any materials or substances therein which are contaminated or likely to be contaminated with avian influenza viruses are carried out under official supervision in accordance with the instructions of the official veterinarian;
any equipment, materials or substances therein which are contaminated or likely to be contaminated with avian influenza viruses and which cannot be effectively cleansed and disinfected or treated are destroyed;
the disinfectants to be used and their concentrations are authorised by the competent authority.
Article 49U.K.Re-population of holdings
1.Member States shall ensure that paragraphs 2 to 6 of this Article are complied with, following the application of the measures provided for in Articles 11 and 39.
2.The re-population of commercial poultry holdings shall not take place for a period of 21 days following the date of completion of the final cleansing and disinfection as provided for in Article 48.
3.The following measures shall be performed during a period of 21 days following the date of the re-population of the commercial poultry holdings:
(a)the poultry undergo at least one clinical examination carried out by the official veterinarian. That clinical examination, or if more than one is carried out, the final clinical examination, is undertaken as near as possible to the end of the 21 day period referred to above;
(b)laboratory tests are carried out in accordance with the diagnostic manual;
(c)poultry that die during the re-population phase are tested in accordance with the diagnostic manual;
(d)any person entering or leaving the commercial poultry holding complies with appropriate biosecurity measures aimed at preventing the spread of avian influenza;
(e)during the re-population phase no poultry leaves the commercial poultry holding without the authorisation of the competent authority;
(f)the owner keeps a record on the production data, including morbidity and mortality data, which must be updated regularly;
(g)any significant change in production data, as referred to in point (f), and other abnormalities are immediately reported to the competent authority.
4.Based on a risk assessment, the competent authority may order that the procedures provided for in paragraph 3 be applied to holdings other than commercial poultry holdings or other species on a commercial poultry holding.
5.The re-repopulation of poultry in contact holdings shall take place in accordance with the instructions of the competent authority based on a risk assessment.