Plans for the eradication of African swine fever from a feral pig population
Article 16
1
Without prejudice to the measures laid down in Article 15, Member States shall submit to the Commission within 90 days of the confirmation of a primary case of African swine fever in feral pigs a written plan of the measures taken to eradicate the disease in the area defined as infected, and of the measures applied on the holdings in that area.
The Commission shall examine the plan in order to determine whether it permits the desired objective to be attained. The plan, if necessary with amendments, shall be approved in accordance with the procedure referred to in Article 24(2).
The plan may subsequently be amended or supplemented to take account of developments in the situation.
If these amendments concern the re-definition of the infected area, Member States shall ensure that the Commission and the other Member States are informed of these amendments without delay.
If the amendments concern other provisions of the plan, Member States shall submit the amended plan to the Commission for examination and eventual approval in accordance with the procedure referred to in Article 24(2).
2
After the measures provided for in the plan mentioned in paragraph 1 have been approved, they shall replace the initial measures laid down in Article 15, on a date which shall be decided upon when approval is given.
3
The plan mentioned in paragraph 1 shall contain information on:
a
the results of the epidemiological investigations and controls carried out in accordance with Article 15 and the geographical distribution of the disease;
b
the definition of the infected area within the territory of the Member State concerned. When defining the infected area, the competent authority shall take into account:
- the results of the epidemiological investigations carried out and the geographical distribution of the disease,
- the feral pig population in the area,
- the existence of major natural or artificial obstacles to movements of feral pigs;
c
the organisation of close cooperation between biologists, hunters, hunting organisations, the wildlife services and veterinary authorities (animal health and public health);
d
the information campaign to be enforced to increase hunters' awareness of the measures they have to adopt in the framework of the eradication plan;
e
specific efforts made to determine the extent of the infection in the feral pig population, by investigating feral pigs shot by hunters or found dead, and by laboratory testing, including age-stratified epidemiological investigations;
f
the requirements to be complied with by hunters in order to avoid any spread of the disease;
g
the method of removal of feral pigs found dead or shot, which shall be based on:
- processing under official supervision, or
- inspection by an official veterinarian and laboratory tests as provided for in the diagnostic manual. Carcases of all animals found positive shall be processed under official supervision. Where such testing proves negative as regards African swine fever, Member States shall apply the measures laid down in Article 11(2) of Directive 92/45/EEC. Parts not intended for human consumption shall be processed under official supervision;
h
the epidemiological inquiry which is carried out on each feral pig, whether shot or found dead. This inquiry must include the completion of a questionnaire which supplies information about:
- the geographical area where the animal was found dead or shot,
- the date on which the animal was found dead or shot,
- the person who found or shot the animal,
- the age and sex of the pig,
- if shot: symptoms before shooting,
- if found dead: the state of the carcase,
- laboratory findings;
i
surveillance programmes and prevention measures applicable to the holdings situated in the defined infected area, and, if necessary, in its surroundings, including the transport and movement of animals within, from and to the area; these measures shall at least include the ban on moving pigs, their semen, embryos or ova from the infected area for intra-Community trade and may include a temporary ban on pig production and on the establishment of new holdings;
j
other criteria to be applied for lifting the measures taken;
k
the authority with responsibility for supervising and coordinating the departments responsible for implementing the plan;
l
the information system established in order that the expert group appointed in accordance with Article 15(2)(a) can review on a regular basis the results of the eradication plan;
m
the disease monitoring measures which shall be enforced at the earliest 12 months after diagnosis of the last case of African swine fever in feral pigs in the defined infected area; these monitoring measures shall stay in place for at least 12 additional months and shall at least include the provisions already enforced in accordance with points (e), (g) and (h).
4
A report concerning the epidemiological situation in the defined area and the results of the eradication plan shall be transmitted to the Commission and to the other Member States in the Committee referred to in Article 23 every six months.
More detailed rules relating to the information to be provided by the Member States on this matter may be adopted in accordance with the procedure referred to in Article 23(2).