S.L. 437.105 Art. 4Holdingssuspected of infection by African horse sickness. S.L. 504.37

(1) Where a holding contains one or more equidae suspected of being infected with African horse sickness, the competent authority shall ensure that the official veterinarian sets out immediately official means of investigation to confirm or rule out the presence of the said sickness.

(2) From the moment when the suspected infection is notified, the official veterinarian shall:

(a) have the suspect holding(s) placed under official surveillance;

(b) initiate:

(i) an official census of the species of equidae, stating in the case of each species the number of equidae already dead, infected or liable to be infected, and the updating of that census to take account of equidae born or dying during the period of suspicion; the information in the census shall be produced on request and may be checked at each inspection;

(ii) a census of places likely to facilitate the survival of the vector or its accommodation and the use of appropriate means of eradicating insects in such places;

(iii) an epizootiological inquiry in accordance with rule 6;

(c) regularly visit the holding(s), whereby he shall:

(i) examine each equidae kept there;

(ii) carry out a detailed clinical examination or an autopsy on the suspect or dead animals and take the samples necessary for laboratory examinations;

(d) ensure that:

(i) all equidae on the holding(s) are kept in their living quarters or in other places protected against the vector;

(ii) all movement of equidae to or from the holding(s) is prohibited;

(iii) appropriate means of eradicating insects are employed around and in the buildings housing the equidae;

(iv) the carcasses of equidae which have died on the holding are destroyed, disposed of, or burnt in accordance with the provisions of Council Regulation EC 1069/2009 laying down Health Rules as regards Animal Byproducts and Derived Products not Intended for Human Consumption and Repealing Regulation EC 1774/2002 (Animal by-products Regulation), which provisions shall be read without prejudice to the Waste Regulations.

(3) Pending the introduction of the official measures referred to in sub-rule (2), the owner or keeper of any animals suspected of having the disease shall take all the necessary precautionary actions to ensure compliance with sub-rule (2)(d).

(4) The competent authority may apply any of the measures provided for in sub-rule (2) to other holdings should their location, their geographical situation or contacts with the holding where the disease is suspected give reason to suspect possible contamination.

(5) Without prejudice to the provisions set out in sub-rule (2), specific provisions for nature reserves in which equidae live in freedom may be prescribed in accordance with the procedure provided in the definition "Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health" in rule 2(2).

(6) The measures covered by this rule shall be officially discontinued only when the competent authority no longer suspects the presence of African horse sickness.