Council Directive of 13 December 1977 establishing the Community criteria for national plans for the accelerated eradication of brucellosis, tuberculosis and enzootic leukosis in cattle (78/52/EEC)

CHAPTER IV Specific provisions relating to enzootic bovine leukosis

Article 21

Pending the entry into force of Community rules, and without prejudice to Article 4, third subparagraph of Directive 77/391 /EEC, national provisions on the detection of leukosis and on the classification of herds with regard to leukosis shall apply.

Article 22

Member States shall ensure that, under a plan for the eradication of leukosis,

(a)

the presence and suspected presence of leukosis, and in particular tumours of the lymphatic system and other organs of cattle, are compulsorily and immediately notifiable to the competent authority;

(b)

therapeutic treatment or anti-leukosis vaccination of any kind is prohibited.

Article 23

Notwithstanding any measures adopted pursuant to national provisions in the event of leukosis being suspected, Member States shall, when the presence of leukosis is officially confirmed in a herd, take appropriate measures to prevent any spread of the disease and shall ensure in particular that:

• any movement of animals from this herd is prohibited, unless authorized by the competent authorities for the purpose of slaughter without delay,

• the herd in question is isolated so that the cattle cannot come into contact with cattle not belonging to this herd,

• milk from infected cows may only be fed to animals after suitable heat treatment or delivered to a dairy to undergo such treatment; feeding animals with milk which has not undergone heat treatment may be authorized for herds where all animals are to be slaughtered pursuant to Article 24, point 1,

• carcases, half-carcases, quarters, pieces and offal from infected animals intended for use as feed for animals are prepared in such a way as to avoid contamination,

• official regulations for the control of establishments such as carcase disposal plants ensure that there is no danger of the material produced spreading leukosis,

• the farmer notifies the official veterinarian of the death or emergency slaughter of any cattle from his farm.

Article 24

Member States shall ensure that, within the framework of the eradication plan,

1.

where such plan provides for the slaughter of all cattle belonging to a herd in which leukosis has been officially established, these animals are slaughtered within a period to be set by the competent authorites;

2.

where such plan provides for the slaughter of only those cattle in which leukosis has been officially established and possibly those considered by the competent authorities to be infected, such slaughter takes place within a period of 30 days after their owner or the person in charge has been officially notified of the result of the examinations and of his obligation, under the eradication plan, to slaughter the cattle concerned within this period.

Article 25

Member States shall ensure that, in the event of slaughter pursuant to Article 24, point 2,

• no cattle may leave the herd concerned unless authorization has been given by the competent authorities for the purpose of slaughter without delay,

• leukosis tests are carried out on the herd concerned to confirm that the disease has been eliminated,

• only animals from herds considered by the competent authorities as not infected with leukosis may be used to re-stock the herd.

Article 26

Member States shall ensure that:

1.

after the slaughter of the cattle referred to in Article 24 and prior to restocking, sheds and other herd quarters, and all containers, equipment and other articles used for the animals are cleaned and disinfected under official supervision, in accordance with the instructions given by the official veterinarian;

2.

all means of transport, containers and equipment are cleaned and disinfected after the transport of animals or of materials from such animals or of materials or substances which have been in contact with such animals. Loading areas for such animals are cleaned and disinfected after use;

3.

the disinfectant to be used and its concentrations are officially authorized by the competent authority of the Member State concerned.

Article 27

Member States shall ensure that cattle from a herd classified as not suspect do not come into contact with cattle from herds which are not so classified.