Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2020/687Show full title

CHAPTER IV Disease control measures in wild animals of listed species

Article 62 Measures in the event of suspicion of a category A disease in wild animals of listed species

1. In the event of suspicion of a category A disease in wild animals of listed species in accordance with Article 9(1), (3), and (4) of Delegated Regulation (EU) 2020/689, the competent authority shall immediately conduct an investigation to confirm or rule out the presence of the suspected listed disease.

2. In the course of the investigation referred to in paragraph 1 the competent authority shall at least organise post-mortem examinations and the collection of samples for laboratory examination of wild animals of listed species shot dead or found dead to confirm or rule out the presence of the category A disease.

3. As regards the bodies of dead wild animals in which the relevant category A disease is suspected, whether the wild animals were killed or found dead, the competent authority shall ensure that:

(a) the entire bodies of the dead wild animals or parts thereof are disposed of or processed in accordance with Regulation (EC) No 1069/2009; and

(b) where feasible, any material or substance likely to be contaminated by contact with the bodies of dead wild animals or animal by-products obtained therefrom undergoes cleaning and disinfection or is disposed of following the instructions and under the supervision of official veterinarians.

Article 63 Measures in the event of an outbreak of a category A disease in wild animals of listed species

1. In the event of an official confirmation of an outbreak of a category A disease in wild animals of listed species in accordance with Article 9(2), (3) and (4) of Delegated Regulation (EU) 2020/689, the competent authority may determine an infected zone in order to prevent the further spread of the disease based on:

(a) the disease profile;

(b) the estimated population of wild animals of listed species;

(c) the risk factors contributing to the spread of the relevant category A disease, in particular, the risk of the introduction of a category A disease into establishments keeping animals of listed species;

(d) sampling results; and

(e) other relevant factors.

2. As regards the bodies of wild animals in which the relevant category A disease has been confirmed, whether the wild animals were killed or found dead, the competent authority shall ensure that:

(a) their entire bodies of the dead wild animals or parts thereof are disposed of or processed in accordance with Regulation (EC) No 1069/2009; and

(b) where feasible, any material or substance likely to be contaminated by contact with the bodies of dead wild animals or animal by-products therefrom undergoes cleaning and disinfection or is disposed of following the instructions and under the supervision of official veterinarians.

3. The competent authority may adapt the boundaries of the initial infected zone:

(a) in order to control the further spread of the relevant category A disease; and

(b) in the case of confirmation of further outbreaks of the category A disease in wild animals.

4. The competent authority shall immediately inform operators, clinical veterinarians, hunters, other relevant competent authorities and any other natural or legal person concerned about the outbreak of the disease and the control measures adopted.

Article 64 Measures to be applied in the infected zone

1. In the infected zone determined in accordance with Article 63, the competent authority shall organise post-mortem examinations of wild animals of listed species shot dead or found dead, including when necessary sampling for laboratory examination.

2. In the infected zone the competent authority shall at least:

(a) implement risk mitigation and reinforced biosecurity measures in order to prevent the spread of the category A disease from the affected animals and infected zone to unaffected animals or to humans;

(b) prohibit movements of wild animals of listed species and products of animal origin thereof as provided for to in Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2020/688(1); and

(c) ensure that all bodies of dead wild animals of listed species, whether the animals were killed or found dead, or parts thereof, are disposed of or processed in accordance with in Regulation (EC) No 1069/2009.

Article 65 Additional measures to apply in the infected zone

In order to avoid the spreading of the category A disease, in the infected zone the competent authority may:

(a)

regulate movements of kept animals of listed species;

(b)

regulate hunting activities and other outdoors activities;

(c)

restrict the feeding of wild animals of listed species; and

(d)

develop and implement an eradication plan for the category A disease in wild animals of listed species if the epidemiological situation so requires.

Article 66 Operational expert group

In the event of an officially confirmed outbreak of a category A disease in wild animals of listed species and in the case that the competent authority determines an infected zone in accordance with Article 63, the competent authority shall establish an operational expert group as referred to in Article 43 of Regulation (EU) 2016/429 to assist the competent authority in:

(a)

assessing the epidemiological situation and its evolution;

(b)

defining the infected zone;

(c)

establishing the appropriate measures to be applied in the infected zone in accordance with this Chapter and their duration; and

(d)

developing an eradication plan, when relevant.

Article 67 Duration of measures in the infected zone

The competent authority shall maintain the measures applied in the infected zone in accordance with this Chapter until the epidemiological information indicates that the relevant wild population no longer poses a risk of introduction of a category A disease into establishments keeping animals of listed species and the operational group recommends lifting of the measures.

(1)

Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2020/688 of 17 December 2019 supplementing Regulation (EU) 2016/429 of the European Parliament and of the Council, as regards animal health requirements for movements within the Union of terrestrial animals and hatching eggs (see page 140 of this Official Journal).