CHAPTER II

CONTROL OF OUTBREAKS OF FOOT-AND-MOUTH DISEASE
SECTION 4

MEASURES TO BE APPLIED IN SPECIAL CASES

Measures to be applied in case of an outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease in the vicinity or within certain specific premises keeping on a temporary or regular basis animals of susceptible species
Article 15
1
Where an outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease threatens to infect animals of susceptible species in a laboratory, zoo, wildlife park, and fenced area or in bodies, institutes or centres approved in accordance with Article 13(2) of Directive 92/65/EEC and where animals are kept for scientific purposes or purposes related to conservation of species or farm animal genetic resources, the Member State concerned shall ensure that all appropriate bio-security measures are taken to protect such animals from infection. Those measures may include restricting access to public institutions or making such access subject to special conditions.
2
Where an outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease is confirmed in one of the premises referred to in paragraph 1, the Member State concerned may decide to derogate from Article 10(1)(a), provided that basic Community interests, and in particular the animal health status of other Member States, are not endangered and that all necessary measures are in place to prevent any risk of spreading foot-and-mouth disease virus.
3
The decision referred to in paragraph 2 shall immediately be notified to the Commission. In the case of farm animal genetic resources, this notification shall include a reference to the list of premises established in accordance with Article 77(2)(f), by which the competent authority has identified these premises in advance as breeding nucleus of animals of susceptible species indispensable for the survival of a breed.

Measures to be applied in slaughterhouses, border inspection posts and means of transportation
Article 16
1
Where a case of foot-and-mouth disease is confirmed in a slaughterhouse, a border inspection post established in accordance with Directive 91/496/EEC or in a means of transport, the competent authority shall ensure that the following measures are carried out in relation to the affected premises or means of transport:
a
all animals of susceptible species in such premises or means of transport shall be killed without delay;
b
the carcasses of the animals referred to in paragraph (a) shall be processed under official supervision in such a way as to avoid the risk of foot-and-mouth disease virus spreading;
c
other animal waste, including offal, of infected or suspected of being infected and contaminated animals shall be processed under official supervision in such a way as to avoid the risk of foot-and-mouth disease virus spreading;
d
dung, manure and slurry shall be subject to disinfection and shall only be removed for treatment in accordance with point 5 of Section II in Part A of Chapter III of Annex VIII to Regulation (EC) No 1774/2002;
e
cleansing and disinfection of buildings and equipment, including vehicles or means of transport, shall take place under the supervision of the official veterinarian in accordance with Article 11 and with the instructions laid down by the competent authority;
f
an epidemiological inquiry shall be carried out in accordance with Article 13.
2
Member States shall ensure that the measures provided for in Article 19 are applied in contact holdings.
3
Member States shall ensure that no animals are reintroduced for slaughter, inspection or transport in the premises or means of transport referred to in paragraph 1 until at least 24 hours after completion of the cleansing and disinfection operations referred to in paragraph 1(e).
4
Where required by the epidemiological situation, in particular where contamination of animals of susceptible species in holdings adjacent to the premises ore means of transport referred to in paragraph 1 must be suspected, Member States shall ensure that by way of derogation from Article 2(b), second sentence, an outbreak is declared on the premises or means of transport referred to in paragraph 1, and the measures provided for in Articles 10 and 21 are applied.

Review of measures
Article 17
The Commission shall review the situation regarding the special cases referred to in Article 15 in the Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health at the earliest possible opportunity. The necessary measures to prevent the spread of the foot-and-mouth disease virus, in particular in relation to regionalisation in accordance with Article 45, and to emergency vaccination in accordance with Article 52, shall be adopted in accordance with the procedure referred to in Article 89(3).