1.Notwithstanding Article 18(1)(a), when classical swine fever has been confirmed in feral pigs and the epidemiological data available suggest that it threatens to spread, emergency vaccination of feral pigs may be introduced in accordance with the procedures and provisions laid down in paragraphs 2 and 3.
2.Where a Member State intends to introduce vaccination, it shall submit to the Commission an emergency vaccination plan, which shall include information on:
(a)the disease situation which has led to the request for emergency vaccination;
(b)the extent of the geographical area in which emergency vaccination is to be carried out. In any case, this area shall be part of the infected area defined in accordance with Article 16(3)(b);
(c)the type of vaccine to be used and the procedure of vaccination;
(d)the special efforts to be carried out to vaccinate the young;
(e)the expected duration of the vaccination campaign;
(f)the approximate number of feral pigs to be vaccinated;
(g)the measures adopted to avoid a high turn-over of the feral pig population;
(h)the measures adopted to avoid any spread of vaccine virus to pigs kept in holdings, if applicable;
(i)the expected results of the vaccination campaign and the parameters that will be considered to verify its effectiveness;
(j)the authority charged with supervising and coordinating the departments responsible for implementing the plan;
(k)the system established in order that the expert group appointed in accordance with Article 15(2)(a) can review on regular basis the results of the vaccination campaign;
(l)other matters appropriate to the emergency.
The Commission shall immediately examine the plan in collaboration with the Member State concerned, in particular to ensure its consistency with the measures applied in accordance with the eradication plan provided for in Article 16(1).
If the vaccination area is close to the territory of another Member State where measures to eradicate classical swine fever from feral pigs are also in place, consistency between the vaccination plan and the measures applied in such other Member State shall also be ensured.
In accordance with the procedure referred to in Article 27(2), the emergency vaccination plan may be approved or amendments and additions may be requested before approval is given.
In accordance with the procedure above, the emergency vaccination plan may subsequently be amended or supplemented to take account of developments in the situation.
3.A report concerning the results of the vaccination campaign shall be transmitted by the Member State concerned to the Commission and the other Member States every 6 months, together with the report referred to in Article 16(4).