CHAPTER II

CONTROL OF OUTBREAKS OF FOOT-AND-MOUTH DISEASE
SECTION 3

MEASURES IN CASE OF CONFIRMATION

Measures in case of confirmation of an outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease
Article 10
1
As soon as an outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease is confirmed, Member States shall ensure that, in addition to the measures provided for in Articles 4 to 6 the following measures are also applied without delay on the holding:
a
All animals of susceptible species shall be killed on-the-spot.
In exceptional circumstances the animals of susceptible species may be killed at the nearest suitable place for that purpose under official supervision and in such a way as to avoid the risk of spreading foot-and-mouth disease virus during transport and killing. The Member State concerned shall notify the Commission about the existence of such exceptional circumstances, and the action taken.
b
The official veterinarian shall ensure that before or during the killing of the animals of susceptible species all appropriate samples needed for the epidemiological inquiry referred to in Article 13 have been taken in accordance with point 2.1.1.1 of Annex III, and in sufficient numbers.
The competent authority may decide that Article 4(2) shall not apply in cases of appearance of a secondary source which is epidemiologically linked with a primary source for which samples have already been taken in accordance to that Article, provided that appropriate and sufficient numbers of samples needed for the epidemiological inquiry referred to in Article 13 have been taken.
c
The carcasses of animals of susceptible species which have died on the holding and the carcasses of animals which have been killed in accordance with point (a) shall be processed without undue delay under official supervision in such a way that there is no risk of spreading foot-and-mouth disease virus. Where particular circumstances require the carcasses to be buried or burned, on site or off site, such operations shall be carried out in conformity with the instructions prepared in advance in the framework of the contingency plans referred to in Article 72.
d
All products and substances referred to in Article 4(3)(c) shall be isolated until contamination can be ruled out, or treated in accordance with the instructions of the official veterinarian in such a way as to ensure the destruction of any foot-and-mouth disease virus, or processed.
2
After the killing and processing of the animals of susceptible species and the completion of the measures provided for in paragraph 1(d), Member States shall ensure that:
a
the buildings used for housing animals of susceptible species, their surroundings and the vehicles used for their transportation, as well as all other buildings and equipment likely to be contaminated shall be cleaned and disinfected in accordance with Article 11;
b
in addition, where there is a reasonable suspicion that the living area for humans or the office area of the holding are contaminated with the foot-and-mouth disease virus, these areas shall also be disinfected by appropriate means;
c
restocking of animals is carried out in accordance with Annex V.

Cleansing and disinfection
Article 11
1
Member States shall ensure that cleansing and disinfection operations, as integral parts of the measures provided for in this Directive, are adequately documented and are carried out under official supervision and in accordance with the instructions given by the official veterinarian, using disinfectants and working concentrations of such disinfectants officially authorised and registered for placing on the market by the competent authority as veterinary hygiene biocidal products in accordance with Directive 98/8/EC, in order to ensure destruction of the foot-and-mouth disease virus.
2
Member States shall ensure that cleansing and disinfection operations, which shall include appropriate pest control, are carried out in a way to reduce as much as possible any adverse environmental impact that may arise from such operations.
3
Member States shall endeavour to ensure that any disinfectants used, in addition to being able to disinfect effectively, also have the lowest possible adverse impacts on the environment and public health in accordance with best available technology.
4
Member States shall ensure that cleansing and disinfection operations are carried out in accordance with Annex IV.

Tracing and treatment of products and substances derived from or having been in contact with animals of an outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease
Article 12
Member States shall ensure that the products and substances referred to in Article 4(3)(c) of animals of susceptible species collected from a holding where an outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease has been confirmed and semen, ova and embryos collected from animals of susceptible species present on that holding, during the period between the probable introduction of the disease to the holding and the implementation of official measures, shall be traced and processed or, in the case of substances other than semen, ova and embryos, be treated under official supervision and in such a way as to ensure destruction of foot-and-mouth disease virus and to avoid any risk of it spreading further.

Epidemiological inquiry
Article 13
1
Member States shall ensure that epidemiological inquiries in relation to outbreaks of foot-and-mouth disease are carried out by specifically trained veterinarians on the basis of questionnaires, prepared within the framework of the contingency plans provided for in Article 72, to ensure standardised, speedy and targeted inquiries. Such inquiries shall deal at least with:
a
the length of time during which the foot-and-mouth disease may have been present on a holding before being suspected or notified;
b
the possible origin of the foot-and-mouth disease virus on a holding and the identification of other holdings where there are animals suspected of being infected or animals suspected of being contaminated from the same source;
c
the possible extent to which animals of susceptible species other than bovine and porcine animals may have been infected or contaminated;
d
the movement of animals, persons, vehicles and the substances referred to in Article 4(3)(c) likely to have carried the foot-and-mouth disease virus to or from the holdings in question.
2
Member States shall inform and regularly update the Commission and the other Member States about the epidemiology and spread of the foot-and-mouth disease virus.

Additional measures in case of confirmation of outbreaks of foot-and-mouth disease
Article 14
1
The competent authority may order that, besides the animals of susceptible species, animals of species not susceptible to foot-and-mouth disease on the holding where an outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease has been confirmed shall also be killed and processed of in such a way as to avoid any risk of spreading the foot-and-mouth disease virus.
However, the first subparagraph shall not apply to animals of species not susceptible to foot-and-mouth disease which may be isolated, effectively cleansed and disinfected, and provided that they are individually identified, in the case of equidae in accordance with Community legislation, so as to allow the control of their movement.
2
The competent authority may apply the measures provided for in Article 10(1)(a) on epidemiologically-linked production units or adjoining holdings, where epidemiological information or other evidence give reason to suspect a possible contamination of those holdings. The intention to make use of those provisions shall be notified to the Commission, where possible, prior to implementation. In this event, the measures regarding taking of samples and clinical examinations of animals shall be carried out at least as set out in point 2.1.1.1 of Annex III.
3
The competent authority shall, immediately upon confirmation of the first outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease prepare all arrangements necessary for emergency vaccination in an area of at least the size of the surveillance zone established in accordance with Article 21.
4
The competent authority may apply the measures provided for in Articles 7 and 8.