S.L. 437.50 Art. 60Modifications of measures to recover the foot- and-mouth disease and infection-free status.

(1) By way of derogation from rule 58 it may be decided in accordance with the procedure referred to in rule 78(2), to withdraw the restrictions applied in accordance with these rules after the requirements provided for in rules 34 and 42 have been met and the clinical and serological survey has been completed and confirmed the absence of foot-and-mouth disease virus infection.

(2) By way of derogation from rule 59 it may be decided in accordance with the procedure referred to in rule 78(2), to withdraw the restrictions applied in accordance with these rules after the clinical and serological survey provided for in rule 54 and the measures provided for in rule 55 have been completed and confirmed the absence of foot-and-mouth disease virus infection.

(3) Without prejudice to sub-rules (1) and (2) it may be decided in accordance with the procedure referred to in rule 78(2) that no animals of a susceptible species shall be removed from the territory or region of Malta where the outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease has occurred to another Member State until the foot-and-mouth disease and infection free status is recovered in accordance with the conditions of the Animal Health Code of the OIE, unless such animals:

(a) have not been vaccinated and are consigned directly to a slaughter house for immediate slaughter; or

(b) have been isolated for at least thirty days immediately prior to loading and have undergone a serological test for the detection of antibody against foot-and-mouth disease virus structural proteins, carried out with negative results on samples taken during the ten days prior to loading.

(4) Without prejudice to sub-rule (2) it may be decided, in accordance with the procedure referred to in rule 78(2), that until the foot-and-mouth disease and infection free status is recovered in accordance with the conditions of the Animal Health Code of the OIE the radius of the surveillance area around the vaccination zone referred to in rule 50(2) shall be reduced after the completion with satisfactory results of the measures provided for in rule 55.