Council Directive 2003/85/ECShow full title

Article 78 U.K. Expert Group

1. Member States shall create a permanently operational expert group, which is composed of epidemiologists, veterinary scientists and virologists in a balanced way, to maintain expertise in order to assist the competent authority in ensuring preparedness against an outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease.

By way of derogation from the first subparagraph, Member States with a limited number of animals of susceptible species may arrange a formalised agreement with other Member States on mutual assistance in regard of the expert group. These arrangements shall be detailed in the contingency plans referred to in Article 72.

2. In case of a suspicion of an outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease the expert group shall at least:

(a) evaluate the clinical picture and the epidemiological situation;

(b) give advice regarding the sampling and analyses needed for diagnosing the foot-and-mouth disease together with the additional actions and measures to be taken.

3. In case of an outbreak of foot-and-mouth the expert group shall at least:

(a) conduct at least in the index case and if necessary on the spot, an evaluation of the clinical picture and an analysis of the epidemiological inquiry in order to collect the necessary data for determining:

(i)

the origin of the infection;

(ii)

the date of introduction of the infectious agent;

(iii)

the possible spread of the disease;

(b) report to the Chief Veterinary Officer and the national disease control centre;

(c) give advice on screening, sampling, test procedures, control and the other measures to be applied and on the strategy to be implemented, including advice on bio-security measures on holdings or on premises referred to in Article 16, and in relation to emergency vaccination;

(d) follow up and guide the epidemiological inquiry;

(e) supplement the epidemiological data with geographical, meteorological and other necessary information;

(f) analyse the epidemiological data and perform risk assessments at regular intervals;

(g) assist in ensuring that the processing of animal carcasses and animal waste is done with a minimum of detrimental effect on the environment.