Commission experts may make on-the-spot checks in cooperation with the competent authority, in so far as it is necessary to ensure uniform application of this Directive in accordance with Commission Decision 98/139/EC of 4 February 1998 laying down certain detailed rules concerning on-the-spot checks carried out in the veterinary field by Commission experts in the Member States(1) and Article 45 of Regulation (EC) No 882/2004 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 29 April 2004 on official controls performed to ensure the verification of compliance with feed and food law, animal health and animal welfare rules(2).
Member States shall lay down the rules on penalties applicable to infringements of national provisions adopted pursuant to this Directive and shall take all measures necessary to ensure that they are implemented. The penalties provided for shall be effective, proportionate and dissuasive. Member States shall notify the Commission of those provisions by the date specified in the first subparagraph of Article 67(1) and shall notify it without delay of any subsequent amendment affecting them.
1.Member States shall draw up a contingency plan in accordance with Annex X specifying the national measures to be implemented in the event of an outbreak and submit that plan to the Commission for approval.
2.The contingency plan shall allow access to facilities, equipment, personnel and all other appropriate materials necessary for the rapid and efficient eradication of the outbreak. It shall give an indication of the number and location of all commercial poultry holdings. The contingency plan should give an indication of the maximum number of poultry, by species, that could be present on these commercial holdings. Member States should also estimate the amount of vaccine that would be needed in the event of emergency vaccination.
3.Provisions shall be in place for close cooperation between the competent authorities responsible for the different sectors, particularly those in charge of animal health, public health, environmental matters and health and safety of workers, in particular to ensure proper risk communication to farmers, workers in the poultry sector and the public.
4.The Commission shall examine the contingency plans in order to determine whether they permit the desired objective to be attained and shall suggest to the Member State concerned any amendments required, in particular to ensure that they are compatible with those of the other Member States.
The contingency plans shall be approved in accordance with the procedure referred to in Article 64(2). Any subsequent amendments to that plan shall be adopted in accordance with the same procedure.
5.Member State shall update the contingency plan at least every five years and submit it to the Commission for approval in accordance with the procedure referred to in Article 64(2).
6.In addition to the measures provided for paragraphs 1 to 4, further rules to ensure a rapid and efficient eradication of avian influenza, including provisions on disease control centres, expert groups and real-time alert exercises, may be adopted in accordance with the procedure referred to in Article 64(2).
OJ L 165, 30.4.2004, p. 1. Corrected version in OJ L 191, 28.5.2004, p. 1.