CHAPTER IX

VACCINATION
SECTION 3

Preventive vaccination

Preventive vaccination in poultry or other captive birds
Article 56
1
Member States may introduce preventive vaccination in poultry or other captive birds as a long term measure in accordance with this Section where they deem that on the basis of a risk assessment certain areas of their territory, type of poultry husbandry or certain categories of poultry or other captive birds or the poultry or other captive birds compartments are exposed to the risk of avian influenza.
2
Where a Member State intends to introduce preventive vaccination, as provided for in paragraph 1, it shall submit a preventive vaccination plan to the Commission for its approval.
That plan shall be in accordance with a DIVA strategy and contain at least the following information:
a
a clear description of the reasons for the preventive vaccination, including the disease history;
b
the area, type of poultry husbandry or certain categories of poultry or other captive birds or the poultry or other captive birds compartments in which the preventive vaccination is to be carried out and the number of holdings in that area and the number and type of holdings to be vaccinated if different;
c
the species and categories of poultry or other captive birds or, if appropriate, the poultry or other captive birds compartment to be vaccinated;
d
the approximate number of poultry or other captive birds to be vaccinated;
e
a summary of the vaccine characteristics;
f
the envisaged duration of the preventive vaccination campaign;
g
the specific provisions on the movements of vaccinated poultry or other captive birds which shall be without prejudice to the measures provided for in Sections 3, 4 and 5 of Chapter IV and Section 3 of Chapter V;
h
the record keeping and registration of the vaccinated poultry or other captive birds;
i
the laboratory tests to be carried out in accordance with the Diagnostic Manual in the holdings where preventive vaccination is to be carried out at the same time as surveillance and testing in an appropriate number of other holdings located in the vaccination area or the poultry or other captive birds compartments in order to monitor the epidemiological situation, the effectiveness of the preventive vaccination campaign and the control of movements of vaccinated poultry or other captive birds.
3
Detailed rules for preventive vaccination may be established in accordance with the procedure referred to in Article 64(2).