Council Directive 2003/85/ECShow full title

Article 50 U.K. Decision on introducing emergency vaccination

1. It may be decided to introduce emergency vaccination where at least one of the following conditions applies:

(a) outbreaks of foot-and-mouth disease have been confirmed and threaten to become widespread in the Member State where such outbreaks have been confirmed;

(b) other Member States are at risk due to the geographical situation of or the prevailing meteorological conditions in relation to reported outbreaks of foot-and-mouth disease in a Member State;

(c) other Member States are at risk due to epidemiologically relevant contacts between holdings on their territories and holdings keeping animals of susceptible species in a Member State where there are outbreaks of foot-and-mouth disease;

(d) Member States are at risk due to the geographical situation or the prevailing meteorological conditions in a neighbouring third country where there are outbreaks of foot-and-mouth disease.

2. When deciding on the introduction of emergency vaccination, consideration shall be given to the measures provided for in Article 15 and to the criteria listed in Annex X.

3. The decision to introduce emergency vaccination shall be adopted in accordance with the procedure referred to in Article 89(3).

4. The decision referred to in paragraph 3 to introduce emergency vaccination on its own territory may be requested:

(a) either by the Member State referred to in paragraph 1(a), or

(b) by a Member State referred to in paragraph 1(b), (c) or (d).

5. By way of derogation from paragraph 3, the decision to introduce emergency vaccination may be taken by the Member State concerned and implemented in accordance with this Directive, after a written notification to the Commission which shall include the specifications provided for in Article 51.

6. If a Member State introduces emergency vaccination in accordance with paragraph 5, that decision shall be immediately reviewed in the Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health and Community measures shall be adopted in accordance with the procedure referred to in Article 89(3).

7. By way of derogation from paragraph 4, a decision to introduce emergency vaccination in a Member State referred to in paragraph (1)(a) may be adopted in concertation with the affected Member State in accordance with the procedure referred to in Article 89(3) on the Commission's own initiative, if the condition in paragraph (1)(a) and paragraph (1)(b) apply.