Council Directive 2003/85/ECShow full title

ANNEX III U.K. SURVEY

1. Clinical examination U.K.

1.1. Holdings must undergo clinical examinations of all animals of susceptible species for signs or symptoms of foot-and-mouth disease. U.K.

1.2. Special emphasis must be laid on animals which may have been exposed to foot-and-mouth disease virus with a high probability, notably transport from holdings at risk or close contact to persons or equipment that had close contact to holdings at risk. U.K.

1.3. The clinical examination must take into account the transmission of foot-and-mouth disease, including the incubation period referred to in Article 2(h) and the way in which animals of susceptible species are kept. U.K.

1.4. Relevant records kept on the holding must be examined in detail with particular regard to data required for animal health purposes by Community legislation and, where available, on morbidity, mortality and abortion, clinical observations, changes in productivity and feed intake, purchase or sale of animals, visits of persons likely to be contaminated and other anamnestically important information. U.K.

2. Procedures for sampling U.K.

2.1. General provisions U.K.

2.1.1. Serological sampling shall be carried out: U.K.

2.1.1.1. according to the recommendations of the epidemiological team established within the expert group referred to in Article 78, and U.K.

2.1.1.2. in support of tracing and the provision of evidence, taking also into account the definition in Annex I, for the absence of previous infection. U.K.

2.1.2. Where sampling is carried out in the framework of disease surveillance after an outbreak, actions shall not commence before at least 21 days have elapsed since the elimination of susceptible animals on the infected holding(s) and the carrying out of preliminary cleansing and disinfection, unless otherwise provided for in this Annex. U.K.

2.1.3. Sampling of animals of susceptible species shall be carried out in accordance with the provisions of this Annex in each case where sheep and goats or other susceptible animals not displaying clear clinical signs are involved in the outbreak, and in particular where such animals have been isolated from bovine and porcine animals. U.K.

2.2. Sampling on holdings U.K.

In holdings where the presence of foot-and-mouth disease is suspected but in the absence of clinical signs, sheep and goats, and on recommendation of the epidemiological team other susceptible species, should be examined pursuant to a sampling protocol suitable to detect 5 % prevalence with at least 95 % level of confidence.

2.3. Sampling in protection zones U.K.

In order to seek the repeal in accordance with Article 36 of the measures provided for in Articles 21 to 35, all holdings within the perimeters of the protection zone where sheep and goats have not been in direct and close contact with bovine animals during a period of at least 21 days prior to taking the samples shall be examined pursuant to a sampling protocol suitable to detect 5 % prevalence of disease with at least 95 % level of confidence.

However, the competent authorities may decide where epidemiological circumstances allow and in particular in application of the measures provided for in Article 36(1)(b), that samples are taken not earlier than 14 days after the elimination of susceptible animals on the infected holding(s) and the carrying out of preliminary cleansing and disinfection, under the condition that the sampling is carried out in accordance with point 2.3 using statistical parameters suitable to detect 2 % prevalence of disease within the herd with at least 95 % level of confidence.

2.4. Sampling in surveillance zones U.K.

In order to seek the repeal in accordance with Article 44 of the measures provided for in Articles 37 to 43, holdings within the perimeters of the surveillance zone where the presence of foot-and-mouth disease in the absence of clinical signs must be suspected, notably where sheep and goats are kept, shall be examined. For the purpose of this survey the model of a multistage sampling shall be sufficient, provided that samples are taken:

2.4.1. from holdings in all administrative units within the perimeter of the zone where sheep and goats have not been in direct and close contact with bovine animals during a period of at least 30 days prior to taking the samples, and U.K.

2.4.2. from as many holdings referred to above as necessary to detect with at least 95 % level of confidence at least 1 infected holding if the estimated prevalence of the disease was 2 % equally distributed throughout the zone, and U.K.

2.4.3. from as many sheep and goats per holding as necessary to detect 5 % prevalence of disease within the herd with at least 95 % level of confidence, and from all sheep and goats if there are less than 15 sheep and goats on the holding. U.K.

2.5. Sampling for monitoring U.K.

2.5.1. For monitoring the areas outside the zones established in accordance with the provisions of Article 21, and in particular to substantiate the absence of infection in the sheep and goat population which is not in close and direct contact with non-vaccinated bovine or porcine animals, a sampling protocol recommended for monitoring purposes by the OIE or a sampling protocol as provided for in paragraph 2.4 shall be applied with the difference compared to paragraph 2.4.2 that the estimated herd prevalence shall be set at 1 %. U.K.

3. The number of samples calculated in accordance with requirements in paragraphs 2.2, 2.3 and 2.4.3 shall be increased in order to take into account the established diagnostic sensitivity of the test employed. U.K.