Council Directive 2003/85/ECShow full title

PART B U.K. Plans for the eradication of foot-and-mouth disease in wild animals

1. Without prejudice to the measures laid down in Part A, Member States shall submit to the Commission within 90 days from the confirmation of the primary case of foot-and-mouth disease in wild animals a written plan of the measures taken to eradicate the disease in the area defined as infected and of the measures applied on the holdings in that area. U.K.

2. The Commission shall examine the plan in order to determine whether it permits the desired objective to be attained. The plan, if necessary with amendments, shall be approved in accordance with the procedure referred to in Article 89(3). The plan may subsequently be amended or supplemented to take account of developments in the situation. U.K.

If these amendments concern the redefinition of the infected area, Member States shall ensure that the Commission and the other Member States are informed of these amendments without delay.

If the amendments concern other provisions of the plan, Member States shall submit the amended plan to the Commission for examination and possible approval in accordance with the procedure referred to in Article 89(3).

3. After the measures provided for in the plan mentioned in paragraph 1 have been approved, they shall replace the initial measures laid down in Part A, on a date which shall be decided upon when approval is given. U.K.

4. The plan mentioned in paragraph 1 shall contain information on: U.K.

(a)

the results of the epidemiological investigations and controls carried out in accordance with Part A and the geographical distribution of the disease;

(b)

a defined infected area within the territory of the Member State concerned.

When defining the infected area, the competent authority shall take into account:

(i)

the results of the epidemiological investigations carried out and the geographical distribution of the disease,

(ii)

the wild animal population in the area,

(iii)

the existence of major natural or artificial obstacles to movements of wild animals;

(c)

the organisation of close cooperation between wildlife biologists, hunters, hunting organisations, the wildlife protection services and veterinary services (animal health and public health);

(d)

the information campaign to be enforced to increase hunters' awareness of the measures they have to adopt in the framework of the eradication plan;

(e)

specific efforts made to determine the number and location of groups of wild animals with limited contacts to other groups of wild animals in and around the infected area;

(f)

the approximate number of groups of wild animals referred to in paragraph (e) and their size in and around the infected area;

(g)

specific efforts made to determine the extent of the infection in wild animals, by investigation of wild animals shot by hunters or found dead, and by laboratory testing, including age-stratified epidemiological investigations;

(h)

the measures adopted to reduce spread of disease due to movements of wild animals and/or contact between groups of wild animals; these measures may include a prohibition of hunting;

(i)

the measures adopted to reduce the population of wild animals and in particular young animals of susceptible species in the wild animal population;

(j)

the requirements to be complied with by hunters in order to avoid any spread of the disease;

(k)

the method of removal of wild animals found dead or shot, which shall be based on:

(i)

processing under official supervision, or

(ii)

inspection by an official veterinarian and laboratory tests as provided for in Annex XIII. Carcasses of all wild animals found positive as regards foot-and-mouth disease shall be processed under official supervision. Where such testing proves negative as regards foot-and-mouth disease, Member States shall apply the measures laid down in Article 11(2) of Directive 92/45/EEC. Parts not intended for human consumption shall be processed under official supervision;

(l)

the epidemiological enquiry which is carried out on each wild animal of a susceptible species, whether shot or found dead. This enquiry must include the completion of a questionnaire which supplies information about:

(i)

the geographical area where the animal was found dead or shot,

(ii)

the date on which the animal was found dead or shot,

(iii)

the person who found or shot the animal,

(iv)

the age and sex of the animal,

(v)

if shot: symptoms before shooting,

(vi)

if found dead: the state of the carcass,

(vii)

laboratory findings;

(m)

surveillance programmes and prevention measures applicable to the holdings keeping animals of susceptible species situated in the defined infected area, and if necessary, in its surroundings, including the transport and movement of animals of susceptible species within, from and to the area; these measures shall at least include the ban of moving animals of susceptible species, their semen, embryos or ova from the infected area for the purposes of intra-Community trade;

(n)

other criteria to be applied for lifting the measures taken to eradicate the disease in the defined area and the measures applied to holdings in the area;

(o)

the authority charged with supervising and coordinating the departments responsible for implementing the plan;

(p)

the system established in order that the expert group appointed in accordance with point 1(b) in Part A can review on a regular basis the results of the eradication plan;

(q)

the disease monitoring measures that shall be enforced after a period of at least 12 months has elapsed from the last confirmed case of foot-and-mouth disease in wild animals in the defined infected area; these monitoring measures shall stay in place for at least 12 months and shall at least include the measures already enforced in accordance with points (g), (k) and (l).

5. A report concerning the epidemiological situation in the defined area and the results of the eradication plan shall be transmitted to the Commission and to the other Member States every 6 months. U.K.

6. More detailed rules relating to the establishment of plans for the eradication of foot-and-mouth disease in wild animals may be adopted in accordance with the procedure referred to in Article 89(3). U.K.