S.L. 437.105 Art. 7Additional measures and control structures taken by the competent authority.

(1) The competent authority shall ensure that, in addition to the measures referred to in rule 5, it establishes a protection zone and a surveillance zone. The establishment of the zones shall take account of the geographical, administrative, ecological and epizootiological factors in relation to African horse sickness and of the control structures.

(2) The protection zone shall consist of a part of the territory of Malta with a radius of at least 100 km around the entire infected holding and the surveillance zone shall consist of a part of the territory of Malta extending at least 50 km beyond the protection zone, in which no systematic vaccination has been carried out in the last twelve months.

(3) Where such zones are situated in other Member States, the competent authority shall collaborate with such other Member States in order to define the zones referred to in sub-rule (2). However, if necessary, the protection zone and the surveillance zone shall be defined in accordance with the procedure provided in the definition "Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health" in rule 2(2). At the request of the competent authority, which request shall be duly substantiated, a decision may be taken in accordance with the procedure provided in the definition "Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health" in rule 2(2), with a view to amend the demarcation of the zones defined in sub-rule (2), taking into account:

(a) their geographical situation and ecological factors;

(b) the meteorological conditions;

(c) the presence and distribution of the vector;

(d) the results of the epizootiological studies carried out in accordance with rule 6;

(e) the results of the laboratory examinations;

(f) the application of the control measures, in particular the insect eradication measures.