Council Directive of 26 June 1964 on animal health problems affecting intra-Community trade in bovine animals and swine (64/432/EEC)

[F1 [F2 I. Officially tuberculosis-free bovine herd U.K.

For the purposes of this section ‘ bovine animals ’ means all bovine animals with the exception of animals taking part in cultural or sporting events.

1. A bovine herd is officially tuberculosis-free if: U.K.

(a)

all the animals are free from clinical signs of tuberculosis;

(b)

all the bovine animals over six weeks old have reacted negatively to at least two official intradermal tuberculin tests carried out in accordance with Annex B, the first six months after the elimination of any infection from the herd and the second six months later or, where the herd has been assembled solely from animals that originate in officially tuberculosis-free herds, the first test shall be carried out at least 60 days after assembly and the second shall not be required;

(c)

following the completion of the first test referred to in (b), no bovine animal over six weeks old has been introduced into the herd unless it has reacted negatively to an intradermal tuberculin test performed and assessed according to Annex B and carried out either in the 30 days prior to, or the 30 days after the date of its introduction into the herd; in the latter case the animal(s) must be isolated physically from the other animals of the herd in a way to avoid any direct or indirect contact with the other animals until proven negative.

However, the competent authority may not require this test to be carried out for movements of animals on its own territory if the animal is from an officially tuberculosis-free herd, except in a Member State where, on 1 January 1998 and until the status of officially tuberculosis-free region is obtained, the competent authority required such tests to be carried out for animals moving between herds participating in a network system as referred to in Article 14.

2. A bovine herd will retain officially tuberculosis-free status if: U.K.

(a)

the conditions detailed in 1(a) and (c) continue to apply;

(b)

all animals entering the holding come from herds of officially tuberculosis-free status;

(c)

all animals on the holding, with the exception of calves under six weeks old which were born in the holding, are subjected to routine tuberculin testing in accordance with Annex B at yearly intervals.

However, the competent authority of a Member State may, for the Member State or part of the Member State where all the bovine herds are subject to an official programme to combat tuberculosis, alter the frequency of the routine tests as follows:

• if the average — determined at 31 December of each year — of the annual percentages of bovine herds confirmed as infected with tuberculosis is not more than 1 % of all herds within the defined area during the two most recent annual supervisory periods, the interval between routine herd tests may be increased to two years and male animals for fattening within an isolated epidemiological unit may be exempted from tuberculin testing provided that they come from officially tuberculosis-free herds and that the competent authority guarantees that the males for fattening will not be used for breeding and will go direct for slaughter,

• if the average — determined at 31 December of each year — of the annual percentages of bovine herds confirmed as infected with tuberculosis is not more than 0,2 % of all herds within the defined area during the two most recent biennial supervisory periods, the interval between routine tests may be increased to three years and/or the age at which animals have to undergo these tests may be increased to 24 months,

• if the average — determined at 31 December of each year — of the annual percentages of bovine herds confirmed as infected with tuberculosis is not more than 0,1 % of all herds within the defined area during the two most recent supervisory triennial periods, the interval between routine tests may be increased to four years, or, providing the following conditions are met, the competent authority may dispense with tuberculin testing of the herds:

  (1)

  before the introduction into the herd all the bovine animals are subjected to an intradermal tuberculin test with negative results;

  [F3 or]

  (2)

  all bovine animals slaughtered are examined for lesions of tuberculosis and any such lesions are submitted to a histopathological and bacteriological examination for evidence of tuberculosis.

The competent authority may also, in respect of the Member State or a part thereof, increase the frequency of tuberculin testing if the level of the disease has increased.

Textual Amendments

F3 Inserted by Directive 2000/20/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 16 May 2000 amending Council Directive 64/432/EEC on animal health problems affecting intra-Community trade in bovine animals and swine.

3A. The officially tuberculosis-free status of a herd is to be suspended if: U.K.

(a)

the conditions detailed in paragraph 2 are no longer fulfilled;

or

(b)

one or more animals are deemed to have given a positive reaction to a tuberculin test, or a case of tuberculosis is suspected at post-mortem examination.

When an animal is considered to be a positive reactor it will be removed from the herd and slaughtered. Appropriate post-mortem, laboratory and epidemiological examinations shall be carried out on the positive reactor or the carcase of the suspect animal. The status of the herd will remain suspended until such time as all laboratory examinations have been completed. If the presence of tuberculosis is not confirmed, the suspension of the officially tuberculosis-free status may be lifted following a test of all animals over six weeks of age with negative results at least 42 days after the removal of the reactor animal(s);

or

(c)

the herd contains animals of unresolved status as described in Annex B. In this case, the status of the herd is to remain suspended until the animals' status has been clarified. Such animals must be isolated from the other animals of the herd until their status has been clarified, either by a further test after 42 days or by post-mortem and laboratory examination;

(d)

however, by way of derogation from the requirements of paragraph (c), in a Member State where the competent authority carries out routine herd testing using the comparative tuberculin test described in Annex B, and in the case of a herd where no confirmed reactor animals have been disclosed for at least three years, the competent authority may decide not to restrict the movement of other animals in the herd, provided that the status of any inconclusive reactors is resolved by a further test after 42 days and that no animals from the holding are allowed to enter into intra-Community trade until the status of any inconclusive reactors has been resolved. If at this further test any animal either gives a positive reaction or continues to give an inconclusive reaction, then the conditions of paragraph (b) apply. If the presence of disease is subsequently confirmed, all animals leaving the holding since the time of the last clear herd test must be traced and tested.

3B. The officially tuberculosis-free status of the herd is to be withdrawn if the presence of tuberculosis is confirmed by the isolation of M. bovis on laboratory examination. U.K.

The competent authority may withdraw status if:

(a)

the conditions detailed in point 2 are no longer fulfilled, or

(b)

classical lesions of tuberculosis are seen at post-mortem examination, or

(c)

an epidemiological enquiry establishes the likelihood of infection,

(d)

or for any other reasons considered necessary for the purpose of controlling bovine tuberculosis.

Tracing and checking is to be undertaken by the competent authority of any herd considered to be epidemiologically related. The officially tuberculosis-free status of a herd is to remain withdrawn until cleansing and disinfection of the premises and utensils has been completed and all animals over six weeks of age have reacted negatively to at least two consecutive tuberculin tests, the first no less than 60 days and the second no less than four months and no more than 12 months after the removal of the last positive reactor.

4. On the basis of information supplied in accordance with Article 8, a Member State or part of a Member State may be declared officially tuberculosis-free according to the procedure laid down in Article 17 if it meets the following conditions: U.K.

(a)

the percentage of bovine herds confirmed as infected with tuberculosis has not exceeded 0,1 % per year of all herds for six consecutive years and at least 99,9 % of herds have achieved officially tuberculosis-free status each year for six consecutive years, the calculation of this latter percentage to take place on 31 December each calendar year;

(b)

[F4 each bovine animal is identified in accordance with Community legislation, and]

(c)

all bovine animals slaughtered are subjected to an official post-mortem examination;

(d)

the procedures for suspension and withdrawal of officially tuberculosis-free status are complied with.

Textual Amendments

F4 Substituted by Directive 2000/20/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 16 May 2000 amending Council Directive 64/432/EEC on animal health problems affecting intra-Community trade in bovine animals and swine.

5. The Member State or part of a Member State will retain officially tuberculosis-free status if the conditions 4(a) to (d) continue to be met. However, if there is evidence of a significant change in the situation as regards tuberculosis in a Member State or part of a Member State which has been recognised as officially tuberculosis-free, the Commission may, in accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 17, take a Decision suspending or revoking the status until the requirements of the Decision have been fulfilled.] ] U.K.

Textual Amendments

F1 Substituted by Council Directive 97/12/EC of 17 March 1997 amending and updating Directive 64/432/EEC on health problems affecting intra-Community trade in bovine animals and swine.

F2 Substituted by Council Directive 98/46/EC of 24 June 1998 amending Annexes A, D (Chapter I) and F to Directive 64/432/EEC on health problems affecting intra-Community trade in bovine animals and swine.