Council Directive 2006/88/ECShow full title

ANNEX VII CRITERIA AND REQUIREMENTS FOR CONTINGENCY PLANS

Member States shall ensure that contingency plans meet at least the following requirements:

1.

Provision must be made to ensure the legal powers needed to implement contingency plans and put into effect a rapid and successful eradication campaign;

2.

Provision must be made to ensure access to emergency funds, budgetary means and financial resources in order to cover all aspects of the fight against exotic diseases listed in Part II of Annex IV;

3.

A chain of command must be established to guarantee a rapid and effective decision-making process for dealing with exotic diseases listed in Annex IV or emerging diseases. A central decision-making unit must be in charge of the overall direction of control strategies;

4.

Detailed plans must be available for Member States to be prepared for the immediate establishment of local disease control centres in the event of an outbreak of exotic diseases listed in Part II of Annex IV or emerging diseases and to implement disease control and environment protection measures at a local level;

5.

Member States must ensure cooperation between the competent authorities and competent environmental authorities and bodies in order to ensure that actions on veterinary and environmental safety issues are properly coordinated;

6.

Provision must be made for adequate resources to ensure a rapid and effective campaign, including personnel, equipment and laboratory capacity;

7.

An up-to-date operations manual must be available, with a detailed, comprehensive and practical description of all the actions, procedures, instructions and control measures to be employed in handling exotic diseases listed in Part II of Annex IV or emerging diseases;

8.

Detailed plans must be available for emergency vaccination, where appropriate;

9.

Staff must be regularly involved in training in clinical signs, epidemiological enquiry and control of epizootic diseases, in real-time alert exercises, and in training in communication skills to provide ongoing disease awareness campaigns for authorities, farmers and veterinarians;

10.

Contingency plans must be prepared that take into account the resources needed to control a large number of outbreaks occurring within a short period of time;

11.

Without prejudice to the veterinary requirements laid down in Regulation (EC) No 1774/2002, contingency plans must be prepared to ensure that, in the event of an outbreak of diseases, any mass disposal of aquatic animal carcases and aquatic animal waste is done without endangering animal and human health, using processes or methods which prevent damage to the environment and in particular:

(i)

with minimum risk to soil, air, surface and groundwater, and to plants and animals;

(ii)

with minimum nuisance caused by noise or odours;

(iii)

with minimum adverse effects on the nature or places of special interest;

12.

Such plans must include the identification of appropriate sites and undertakings for the treatment or disposal of animal carcasses and animal waste in the event of an outbreak in accordance with Regulation (EC) No 1774/2002.