S.L. 437.50 Art. 48Decision on introducing emergency vaccination.

(1) The competent authority may decide to introduce emergency vaccination where at least one of the following conditions applies:

(a) outbreaks of foot-and-mouth disease have been confirmed and threaten to become widespread in Malta where such outbreaks have been confirmed;

(b) other Member States are at risk due to the geographical situation of or the prevailing meteorological conditions in relation to reported outbreaks of foot-and-mouth disease in Malta;

(c) other Member States are at risk due to epidemiologically relevant contacts between holdings on their territories and holdings keeping animals of susceptible species in Malta where there are outbreaks of foot-and-mouth disease;

(d) the territory of Malta is at risk due to the geographical situation or the prevailing meteorological conditions in a neighbouring third country where there are outbreaks of foot-and-mouth disease.

(2) When deciding on the introduction of emergency vaccination, consideration shall be given to the measures provided for in rule 15 and to the criteria listed in Schedule X.

(3) The decision to introduce emergency vaccination shall be adopted in accordance with European Community legislation.

(4) The decision referred to in sub-rule (3) to introduce emergency vaccination on its own territory may be requested:

(a) either by the competent authority referred to in sub-rule (1)(a), or

(b) by a Member State referred to in sub-rule (1)(b), (c) or (d).

(5) By way of derogation from sub-rule (3), the decision to introduce emergency vaccination may be taken by the competent authority and implemented in accordance with these rules, after a written notification to the European Commission which shall include the specifications provided for in rule 49.

(6) If the competent authority introduces emergency vaccination in accordance with sub-rule (5), that decision shall be immediately reviewed in the Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health and European Community measures shall be adopted in accordance with the procedure referred to in rule 78(2).

(7) By way of derogation from sub-rule (4), a decision to introduce emergency vaccination in Malta referred to in sub-rule (1)(a) may be adopted in concertation with the affected Member State in accordance with European Community legislation on the European Commission’s own initiative, if the condition in sub-rule (1)(a) and sub-rule (1)(b) apply.