[F1ANNEX III U.K. Conditions for exemption from the exit ban (referred to in Articles 7(2)(a) and 8(1)(a))

[F2A. Animals U.K.

The animals must have been protected against attacks by the vector Culicoides during transportation to the place of destination.

In addition, at least one of the conditions set out in points 1 to 7 must be complied with.

1. The animals were kept until dispatch during the seasonally vector-free period defined in accordance with Annex V, in a bluetongue seasonally-free zone for at least 60 days prior to the date of movement and were subjected to an agent identification test according to the Manual of Diagnostic Tests and Vaccines for Terrestrial Animals of the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) (OIE Terrestrial Manual), with negative results, carried out not earlier than seven days before the date of movement. U.K.

However, that agent identification test shall not be necessary for Member States or regions of a Member State where sufficient epidemiological data, obtained following the implementation of a monitoring programme for a period of not less than three years, substantiate the determination of the seasonally vector-free period defined in accordance with Annex V.

The Member States making use of that possibility shall inform the Commission and the other Member States in the framework of the Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health.

Where animals referred to in this point are intended for intra-Community trade, the following additional wording shall be added to the corresponding health certificates laid down in Directives 64/432/EEC, 91/68/EEC and 92/65/EEC:

Animal(s) were kept until dispatch in a bluetongue seasonally-free zone during the seasonally vector-free period that started on … ( insert date ) since birth or for at least 60 days and, if appropriate ( indicate as appropriate ), were then subjected to an agent identification test according to the OIE Terrestrial Manual on samples taken within seven days prior to dispatch, with negative results, in conformity with Annex III.A(1) to Regulation (EC) No 1266/2007.

2. The animals have been kept, until dispatch, protected against attacks by vectors for a period of at least 60 days prior to the date of dispatch. U.K.

Where animals referred to in this point are intended for intra-Community trade, the following additional wording shall be added to the corresponding health certificates laid down in Directives 64/432/EEC, 91/68/EEC and 92/65/EEC:

Animal(s) in conformity with Annex III.A(2) to Regulation (EC) No 1266/2007.

3. The animals have been kept, until dispatch, in a bluetongue seasonally-free zone during the seasonally vector-free period, defined in accordance with Annex V, or have been protected against attacks by vectors for a period of at least 28 days and were subjected during that period to a serological test according to the OIE Terrestrial Manual to detect antibodies to the bluetongue virus group, with negative results, carried out at least 28 days following the date of the commencement of the period of protection against attacks by vectors or the seasonally vector-free period. U.K.

Where animals referred to in this point are intended for intra-Community trade, the following additional wording shall be added to the corresponding health certificates laid down in Directives 64/432/EEC, 91/68/EEC and 92/65/EEC:

Animal(s) in conformity with Annex III.A(3) to Regulation (EC) No 1266/2007.

4. The animals have been kept until dispatch in a bluetongue seasonally-free zone during the seasonally vector-free period, defined in accordance with Annex V, or have been protected against attacks by vectors for a period of at least 14 days and were subjected during that period to an agent identification test according to the OIE Terrestrial Manual, with negative results, carried out at least 14 days following the date of commencement of the period of protection against attacks by vectors or the seasonally vector-free period. U.K.

Where animals referred to in this point are intended for intra-Community trade, the following additional wording shall be added to the corresponding health certificates laid down in Directives 64/432/EEC, 91/68/EEC and 92/65/EEC:

Animal(s) in conformity with Annex III.A(4) to Regulation (EC) No 1266/2007.

5. The animals originate from a herd vaccinated according to a vaccination programme adopted by the competent authority and the animals have been vaccinated against the serotype(s) present or likely to be present in an epidemiologically relevant geographical area of origin, the animals are still within the immunity period of time guaranteed in the specifications of the vaccine approved in the vaccination programme and the animals meet at least one of the following requirements: U.K.

(a)

they have been vaccinated more than 60 days before the date of movement;

(b)

they have been vaccinated with an inactivated vaccine before at least the number of days necessary for the onset of the immunity protection set in the specifications of the vaccine approved in the vaccination programme and were subjected to an agent identification test according to the OIE Terrestrial Manual, with negative results, carried out at least 14 days after the onset of the immunity protection set in the specifications of the vaccine approved in the vaccination programme;

(c)

they were previously vaccinated and they have been re-vaccinated with an inactivated vaccine within the immunity period of time guaranteed in the specifications of the vaccine approved in the vaccination programme;

(d)

they were kept during the seasonally vector-free period, defined in accordance with Annex V, in a bluetongue seasonally-free zone, since birth or for a period of at least 60 days before the date of vaccination and have been vaccinated with an inactivated vaccine before at least the number of days necessary for the onset of the immunity protection set in the specifications of the vaccine approved in the vaccination programme.

Where animals referred to in this point are intended for intra-Community trade, the following additional wording shall be added to the corresponding health certificates laid down in Directives 64/432/EEC, 91/68/EEC and 92/65/EEC:

Animal(s) vaccinated against bluetongue serotype/s … ( insert serotype/s ) with … ( insert name of the vaccine ) with a inactivated/modified live vaccine (indicate, as appropriate) in conformity with Annex III.A(5) to Regulation (EC) No 1266/2007.

6. The animals have never been vaccinated against bluetongue and were always kept in an epidemiologically relevant geographical area of origin where not more than one serotype was or is present or likely to be present and: U.K.

(a)

they were subjected to two serological tests according to the OIE Terrestrial Manual to detect antibodies against the bluetongue virus serotype, with positive results; the first test must be carried out on samples taken between 60 and 360 days before the date of movement and the second test being carried out on samples taken not earlier than seven days before the date of the movement; or

(b)

they were subjected to a serological test according to the OIE Terrestrial Manual to detect antibodies against the bluetongue virus serotype, with positive results; the test must be carried out at least 30 days before the date of the movement and the animals were subjected to an agent identification test according to the OIE Terrestrial Manual, with negative results, carried out not earlier than seven days before the date of the movement.

Where animals referred to in this point are intended for intra-Community trade, the following additional wording shall be added to the corresponding health certificates laid down in Directives 64/432/EEC, 91/68/EEC and 92/65/EEC:

Animal(s) subjected to a serological test according to the OIE Terrestrial Manual to detect antibodies against the bluetongue virus serotype … ( indicate serotype ) in conformity with Annex III.A(6) to Regulation (EC) No 1266/2007.

7. The animals have never been vaccinated against the bluetongue virus and were subjected with positive results to two adequate serological tests according to the OIE Terrestrial Manual able to detect specific antibodies against all the bluetongue virus serotypes present or likely to be present, in the epidemiologically relevant geographical area of origin, and: U.K.

(a)

the first test must have been carried out on samples that were taken between 60 and 360 days before the date of movement and the second test must have been carried out on samples that were taken not earlier than seven days before the date of movement; or

(b)

the specific serotype serological test must have been carried out at least 30 days before the date of the movement and the animals were subjected to an agent identification test according to the OIE Terrestrial Manual, with negative results, carried out not earlier than seven days before the date of movement.

Where animals referred to in this point are intended for intra-Community trade, the following additional wording shall be added to the corresponding health certificates laid down in Directives 64/432/EEC, 91/68/EEC and 92/65/EEC:

Animal(s) subjected to a specific serological test according to the OIE Terrestrial Manual to detect antibodies against all the bluetongue virus serotypes … ( indicate serotypes ) present or likely to be present in conformity with Annex III.A(7) to Regulation (EC) No 1266/2007.

For pregnant animals, at least one of the conditions set out in points 5, 6 and 7 must be complied with before insemination or mating, or the condition set out in point 3 must be complied with, the test being carried out not earlier than seven days before the date of movement.

Where animals are intended for intra-Community trade, one of the following additional wordings shall be added, as appropriate, to the corresponding health certificates laid down in Directives 64/432/EEC, 91/68/EEC and 92/65/EEC:

B. Semen of animals U.K.

Semen must have been obtained from donor animals which comply with at least one of the following conditions:

(a)

they have been kept outside a restricted zone for a period of at least 60 days before commencement of, and during, collection of the semen;

(b)

they have been protected against attacks by vectors for a period of at least 60 days before commencement of, and during, collection of the semen;

(c)

they were kept during the seasonally vector-free period in a bluetongue seasonally-free zone, defined in accordance with Annex V, for a period of at least 60 days before commencement of, and during, collection of the semen and were subjected to an agent identification test according to the OIE Terrestrial Manual, with negative results, carried out not earlier than seven days before the date of commencement of collection of the semen.

However, that agent identification test shall not be necessary in Member States or regions of a Member State where sufficient epidemiological data, obtained following the implementation of a monitoring programme during a period of not less than three years, substantiate the determination of the seasonally vector-free period, as defined in Annex V.

The Member States making use of that possibility shall inform the Commission and the Member States in the framework of the Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health;

(d)

[F3they have been subjected to a serological test according to the OIE Terrestrial Manual to detect antibodies to the bluetongue virus group, with negative results, at least every 60 days during the collection period and between 21 and 60 days following the final collection of the semen to be consigned;

(e)

they have been subjected, with negative results, to an agent identification test according to the OIE Terrestrial Manual carried out on blood samples collected:

(i)

at commencement and final collection of the semen to be consigned; and

(ii)

during the period of semen collection:

  • at least every seven days, in the case of a virus isolation test, or

  • at least every 28 days, in the case of a polymerase chain reaction test.]

Where the semen referred to in this Section is intended for intra-Community trade or export to a third country, the following additional wording shall be added to the corresponding health certificates laid down in Council Directive 88/407/EEC (1) and Commission Decision 95/388/EC (2) , or referred to in Decision 93/444/EEC:

Semen obtained from donor animals which comply with … ( point (a), (b), (c), (d) or (e), indicate as appropriate ) of Annex III.B to Regulation (EC) No 1266/2007 .

C. Ova and embryos of animals U.K.

1. In vivo derived embryos and ova of bovine animals must have been obtained from donor animals which do not show any clinical signs of bluetongue on the day of collection. U.K.

2. Embryos and ova of animals other than bovine animals and in vitro produced bovine embryos must have been obtained from donor animals which comply with at least one of the following conditions: U.K.

(a)

they have been kept outside a restricted zone for at least 60 days before commencement of, and during, collection of the embryos/ova;

(b)

they have been protected against attacks by vectors for at least 60 days before commencement of, and during, collection of the embryos/ova;

(c)

they have been subjected to a serological test according to the OIE Terrestrial Manual to detect antibodies to the bluetongue virus group, between 21 and 60 days following collection of the embryos/ova, with negative results;

(d)

they have been subjected to an agent identification test according to the OIE Terrestrial Manual on a blood sample taken on the day of collection of the embryos/ova, with negative results.

3. Where the ova and embryos referred to in points 1 and 2 are intended for intra-Community trade or export to a third country, the following additional wording shall be added to the corresponding health certificates laid down in Council Directive 89/556/EEC (3) and Decision 95/388/EC, or referred to in Decision 93/444/EEC: U.K.

Embryos/ova obtained from donor animals which comply with … (point 1; point 2(a), point 2(b), point 2(c) or point 2(d), indicate as appropriate) of Annex III.C to Regulation (EC) No 1266/2007 .

Point 2(a) of Annex B to Directive 89/556/EEC shall not apply to ova and embryos collected from donor animals kept in holdings subject to veterinary prohibition or quarantine measures pertaining to bluetongue.]