L.S. 437.60 Regoli dwar il-kondizzjonijiet tas-Saħħa ta’ l-Annimali li jirregolaw il-Moviment u l-Importazzjoni ta’ l-Ekwini minn Pajjiżi Terzi

(1)The title of these rules is the Animal Health Conditions governing the Movement and Import from Third Countries of Equidae Rules. Title, sope and applicability.

(2)The scope of these rules is to implement the rules found under European Union Council Directive 90/426/EEC of the 26th June 1990 on animal health conditions governing the movement and import from third countries of equidae.

(3)These rules lay down animal health conditions for the movement between Malta and Member States and import from third countries of live equidae. 2.

(1)Unless stated otherwise in these rules the definitions in the Act shall continue to apply. Definitions. Substituted by: L.N. 260 of 2010.

(2)For the purpose of these rules and unless the context otherwise requires: "the Act” means the Veterinary Services Act; "assembly centre" means collection centres and markets, at which under the supervision of the official veterinarian, equidae originating from different holdings are grouped together to form consignments of animals for national movement; "the Commission" means the European Commission; "the Community" means the European Community as established under the Treaty establishing the European Community; "the competent authority" m eans the Veterinary Services Authority in Malta as established by the Act; "compulsorily notifiable diseases" means the diseases listed in Schedule A; "equidae" means wild or domesticated animals of the equine (including zebras) or asinine species or the offspring of crossings of those species; "equidae for breeding and production" means equidae other than equidae for slaughter and registered equidae; "equidae for slaughter" means equidae intended to be transported either directly or after transit through a market or an approved marshalling centre to the slaughterhouse for slaughter; Cap.

1. 2 [ S.L.437.60 ANIMAL HEALTH CONDITIONS GOVERNING THE MOVEMENT AND IMPORT FROM THIRD COUNTRIES OF EQUIDAE "holding" means an agricultural or training establishment, a stable or, generally speaking, any premises or facilities in which equidae are habitually kept or bred, for whatever use; " M em b e r St at e " m e an s a st a t e w h i ch i s a m em b e r o f t he European Union; "Member State of dispatch" means such Member State from where equidae are transported or transmitted or are intended to be transported or transmitted through an approved market or assembly centre to the place of destination; " M e m b e r St a t e o r t h i r d c o u n t r y f r e e f r o m A f r i c a n h o r se sickness" means any Member State or third country in which there has been no clinical, serological (in unvaccinated equidae) or epidemiological evidence of African horse sickness on the territory concerned in the previous two years and in which there have been no vaccinations against the disease during the previous twelve months; "official veterinarian" means the veterinarian designated by the competent authority of Malta or by the competent authority of a Member State or of a third country; "place of arrival or destination" means such Member State to which equidae are transported from their holding or establishment of origin either directly or through an approved market or assembly centre in the Member State of dispatch or from a third country; S.L. 437.11 "registered equidae" means any equidae registered as defined under the Trade with Member States in Equidae (Zootechnical and Genealogical Conditions) Regulations, identified by means of an identification document issued by the breeding authority or any ot her competent author ity of the country where the animal originated, which manages the studbook or register for that breed of animals or any international association or organisation which manages horses for competition or racing; "temporary admission" means the status of a registered animal originating in a third country and admitted into the Community for a period of less than ninety days to be fixed by the Commission in accordance with the procedure of the Community, depending on the health situation in the country of origin; "third country" means a state which is not a member of European Union; "trade" means trade between Member States or between a third country and a Member State in animals and their products, a business or occupation to make profit or gain, particularly in wholesale or retail sales and includes dealings in a particular business activity. Chapter 2: RULES FOR THE MOVEMENT OF EQUIDAE Authorisations of movement of equidae and exemptions. Amended by: L.N. 260 of
3. The competent authority shall authorise the movement of equidae registered in Malta or send equidae to another Member State only where they satisfy the conditions laid down in rules 4 and
4. However, the competent authority at destination may grant general or limited exemption in respect of movement of equidae ANIMAL HEALTH CONDITIONS GOVERNING THE MOVEMENT AND IMPORT FROM THIRD COUNTRIES OF EQUIDAE [ S.L.437.60 3 which (a) are being ridden or taken, for sporting or recreational purposes, along roads situated near internal borders of the Community; (b) are taking part in cultural or similar events or in activities organised by authorised local bodies situated near internal borders of the Community; (c) are intended solely for temporary pasturing or work near internal borders of the Community. When making use of such authorisation, the competent authority shall inform the Commission of the content of the exemptions granted. 4.

(1)Equidae must show no clinical sign of disease at inspection. Inspection must be carried out in the forty-eight hours prior to their embarkation or loading. In the case of registered equidae, however, this inspection shall, without prejudice to regulation 6, be required for intra-Community trade only.

(2)Without prejudice to the requirements of sub-rule

(5)regarding compulsorily notifiable diseases, the official veterinarian must, at the time of inspection, be satisfied that there are no grounds in particular on the basis of declarations by the owner or breeder for concluding that the equidae have been in contact with equidae suffering from an infectious or contagious disease during the fifteen days immediately preceding inspection.

(3)The equidae must not be intended for slaughter under a national programme of contagious or infectious disease eradication.

(4)The equidae must be identified in the following manner: (i) in the case of registered horses, by means of an identification document, as provided for in Directive 90/427/EEC, which must certify in particular that Article 5

(5)and

(6)have been complied with. The official veterinarian will have to suspend the validity of this document for the period of the prohibitions provided for in Article 5

(5). The document should, following the slaughter of the registered horse, be returned to the authority which issued it; (ii) for equidae for breeding and production, identification by a method to be established by the Commission in accordance with the relevant procedure of the Community. Until such time as this method is in use, the officially approved national identification methods shall remain applicable, provided that they are notified by the competent authority to the Commission and the other Member States within three months of the date on which these rules are adopted.

(5)In addition to the requirements laid down in rule 5, the equidae must not come from a holding which has been the subject of one of the following prohibition orders (

1. i)if all the animals of species susceptible to the disease Rules for inspection of equidae. Amended by: L.N. 260 of 2010. 4 [ S.L.437.60 ANIMAL HEALTH CONDITIONS GOVERNING THE MOVEMENT AND IMPORT FROM THIRD COUNTRIES OF EQUIDAE located on the holding have not been slaughtered, the period of prohibition concerning the holding of origin must be at least (
2. a)six months in the case of equidae suspected of having contracted dourine, beginning on the date of the last actual or possible contact with a sick animal. However, in the case of a stallion, the prohibition shall apply until the animal is castrated, (
3. b)six months in the case of glanders or equine encephalomyelitis, beginning on the day on which the equidae suffering from the disease in question are slaughtered, (
4. c)in the case of infectious anaemia, until the date on which, the infected animals having been slaughtered, the remaining animals have shown a negative reaction to two Coggins tests carried out three months apart, (
5. d)six months in the case of vesicular stomatitis, (
6. e)one month from the last recorded case, in the case of rabies, (
7. f)fifteen days from the last recorded case, in the case of anthrax; (
8. ii)if all the animals of species susceptible to the disease located on the holding have been slaughtered and the premises disinfected, the period of prohibition shall be thirty days, beginning on the day on which the animals were destroyed and the premises disinfected, except in the case of anthrax, where the period of prohibition is fifteen days. The competent authority may derogate from these prohibition measures for hippodromes and racecourses, and shall notify the Commission of the nature of any derogation granted.

(6)Where the competent authority draws up or has drawn up a voluntary or compulsory control programme for a disease to which equidae are susceptible, it may present the programme to the Commission outlining in particular – (

1. a)the distribution of the disease on its territory; (
2. b)the reasons for the programme, taking into consideration the significance of the disease and its cost/benefit advantages; (
3. c)the geographical area in which the programme will be implemented; (
4. d)the status categories to be applied to establishments, the standards which must be attained for each species and the test procedures to be used, the programme monitoring procedures; (
5. e)the action to be taken if, for any reason, a holding loses its status; ANIMAL HEALTH CONDITIONS GOVERNING THE MOVEMENT AND IMPORT FROM THIRD COUNTRIES OF EQUIDAE (
6. f)[ S.L.437.60 5 the measures to be taken if the results of the tests carried out in accordance with the provisions of the programme are positive; (
7. g)the non-discriminatory nature of trade in Malta with respect to intra-Community trade. The programmes presented by the competent authority shall be examined by the Commission. Where appropriate it shall approve them in accordance with the relevant procedure of the Community. Any additional guarantees, general or specific, which may be required in intra-Community trade may be defined in accordance with the same procedure. Such guarantees must not exceed those required by Malta in its own territory. Programmes submitted by competent authority may be amended or supplemented in accordance with the same procedure. 5.

(1)When Malta is not free of African horse sickness within the meaning of a Member State or Third Country free from African horse sickness in rule 2, the competent authority may authorise to dispatch equidae from that part of the territory of Malta which is considered to be infected within the meaning of sub-rule

(2)only under the conditions set out in sub-rule

(3).

(2)(

1. i)A part of the territory of Malta shall be considered to be infected with African horse sickness if: (
2. a)clinical, serological (in unvaccinated animals) and, or epidemiological evidence has revealed the presence of African horse sickness in the past two years, or (
3. b)vaccination against African horse sickness has been carried out in the past twelve months. (
4. ii)The part of the territory considered to be infected with African horse sickness must comprise as a minimum: (
5. a)a protection zone with a radius of at least 100 km around any centre of infection; (
6. b)a surveillance zone at least 50 km extending beyond the protection zone, in which no vaccination has been carried out in the last 12 months. (iii) The rules controlling the combat measures relating to the territories and zones referred to in paragraphs (
7. a)and (
8. b)and the relevant derogation are specified in Directive 92/35/EEC. (
9. iv)All vaccinated equidae found in the protection zone must be registered and identified in accordance with Article 6

(1)of Directive 92/35/EEC. The identification document and, or health certificate shall carry a clear reference to such vaccination.

(3)Malta may dispatch from its territory referred to in subrule

(2)(

1. b)only equidae which meet the following requirements: Dispatch of equidae when not free from African horse sickness. Amended by: L.N. 260 of 2010. 6 [ S.L.437.60 ANIMAL HEALTH CONDITIONS GOVERNING THE MOVEMENT AND IMPORT FROM THIRD COUNTRIES OF EQUIDAE (
2. i)they must be dispatched only during certain periods of the year, having regard to the activity of vector insects as has been determined by the Community; (
3. ii)they must show no clinical symptom of African horse sickness on the day of the inspection referred to in rule 4

(1); (iii) (

1. a)if they have not been vaccinated against African horse sickness, they must have undergone and reacted negatively to a complement fixation test for African horse sickness as described in Schedule D, on two occasions, with an interval of between twenty-one and thirty days between the two tests, the second of which must have been carried out during the ten days prior to dispatch, (
2. b)if they have been vaccinated, they must not have undergone vaccination during the previous two months and must have undergone the fixation test described in Schedule D at the aforementioned intervals without having recorded an increase in the antibody count. Other monitoring methods recognised by the Commission may be used; (
3. iv)they must have been kept in a quarantine station for a minimum period of forty days prior to dispatch; (
4. v)they must have been protected from vector insects during the period of quarantine and during transportation from the quarantine station to the place of dispatch. Derogation in case of inspection. Amended by: L.N. 260 of 2010. 6. The competent authority may grant, to equidae coming from Member States which implement an alternative control system providing guarantees equivalent to those laid down in rule 4

(5)as regards movements within their territory of equidae and registered equidae, in particular by means of the identification document, one other derogation from the provisions of the second sentence of rule 4

(1)and the second indent of rule 8

(1)(ii) on a reciprocal basis. The competent authority shall notify the Commission thereof. Transportation of equidae. Amended by: L.N. 260 of 2010. 7.

(1)The equidae shall be transported, as soon as possible, from the holding of origin either directly or via an approved market or marshalling centre defined as "assembly centre" under these rules to the place of destination in vehicles or containers which have been regularly cleansed and disinfected with a disinfectant at intervals to be fixed by the Member State of dispatch. The vehicles shall be designed in such a way that equidae droppings, litter or fodder cannot escape from the vehicle during transportation. Transportation shall be effected in such a way that the health and well-being of the equidae can be protected effectively.

(2)The competent authority may, at destination, on a general or restricted basis, grant a derogation from some of the requirements of rule 4

(5)for any animal bearing a special mark indicating that it ANIMAL HEALTH CONDITIONS GOVERNING THE MOVEMENT AND IMPORT FROM THIRD COUNTRIES OF EQUIDAE [ S.L.437.60 7 is scheduled for slaughter, provided that the health certificate mentions such derogation. In the case of granting such a derogation, equidae for slaughter must be transported directly to the designated slaughterhouse and be slaughtered within five days of arrival at the slaughterhouse.

(3)The official veterinarian must record the identification number or identification document number of the slaughtered animal and forward to the competent authority of the place of dispatch, at the latter’s request, an attestation to the effect that the animal has been slaughtered. 8.

(1)The competent authority shall verify that: (i) registered equidae which leave their holdings are accompanied by the identification document laid down in rule 4

(4)together if they are intended for intraCommunity trade with the attestation provided for in Schedule B; Identification document and certificates. Amended by: L.N. 260 of 2010. (ii) equidae for breeding, production and slaughter are, during their transportation to a Member State, accompanied by a health certificate complying with Schedule C to these rules. Equidae for breeding, production and slaughter at destination Malta are accompanied by a health certificate complying with Schedule C thereof. The certificate, or in the case of an identification document, the form containing the health particulars, must, without prejudice to rule 6, be drawn up during the forty-eight hours preceding their embarkation or else no later than the last working day prior to it, in at least one of the official languages of Malta and of the Member State of destination. The duration of validity of the certificate is ten days. The certificate must consist of a single sheet.

(2)Imports of equidae, other than registered equidae, may be covered by a single health certificate per consignment rather than by the individual certificate referred to in sub-rule

(1)(ii).

1. The rules laid down in article 15 of the Act and in Council Directive 90/425/EE concerning veterinary and zootechnical checks in intra-Community trade in certain live animals and products with a view to the completion of the internal market, shall apply in particular to checks at origin, to the organisation of, and follow-up to, the checks to be carried out at destination, and to the safeguard measures to be implemented. Application of Act and Council Directive 90/425/ EEC. Amended by: L.N. 260 of
3. Veterinary experts from the Commission may, to the extent necessary to ensure uniform application of these rules and in cooperation with the competent authority, carry out on-the-spot inspections. The competent authority shall give the experts all the assistance necessary to carry out their task. On-the-spot inspections. Amended by: L.N. 260 of
4. 8 [ S.L.437.60 ANIMAL HEALTH CONDITIONS GOVERNING THE MOVEMENT AND IMPORT FROM THIRD COUNTRIES OF EQUIDAE Chapter 3: RULES FOR IMPORTS FROM THIRD COUNTRIES Conditions for imported equidae from a third country.
5. Equidae imported from a third country into the Community through the territory of Malta must satisfy the conditions laid down in rules 12 to
6. When equidae are imported. Substituted by: L.N. 260 of
7. 12.

(1)The importation of equidae in Malta as a Member State of destination shall only be authorised from such third countries that appear on a list or lists to be drawn up or amended in accordance with the procedure referred to in rule 15. Taking into account the health situation and the guarantees provided by the third country for equidae, it may be decided in accordance with the procedure referred to in rule 15 that the authorisation provided for in this sub-rule shall apply to the whole territory of the third country or to only part of its territory. For such purpose and on the basis of the relevant international standards, account shall be taken of how the third country applies and implements those standards, in particular the principle of regionalisation, within its own territory and in relation to its sanitary requirements for importation from other third countries and other Member States.

(2)When the lists provided for in sub-rule

(1)are drawn up or amended, particular account shall be taken of: (

1. a)the health status of the equidae, other domestic animals and wildlife in the third country, with particular regard to exotic animal diseases and any aspects of the general health and the environmental situation in the third country which may pose a risk to the health and environmental status of the Community; (
2. b)the legislation of the third country in relation to animal health and welfare; (
3. c)the organisation of the competent authority of the third country and its inspection services, the powers of those services, the supervision to which they are subject, and the means at their disposal, including staff and laboratory capacity, to apply national legislation effectively; (
4. d)the assurances which the competent authority of the third country can give regarding compliance or equivalence with the relevant animal health conditions applicable in the Community; (
5. e)whether the third country is a member of the Office International des Epizooties (OIE) and the regularity and rapidity of the information supplied by the third country relating to the existence of infectious or contagious diseases of equidae in its territory, in particular those diseases listed by the OIE and in Schedule A; (
6. f)the guarantees given by the third country to directly inform the Commission and the Member States: (
7. i)within twenty-four hours, of the confirmation of the occurrence of infectious diseases of equidae listed in Schedule A and of any change in the ANIMAL HEALTH CONDITIONS GOVERNING THE MOVEMENT AND IMPORT FROM THIRD COUNTRIES OF EQUIDAE [ S.L.437.60 9 vaccination policy concerning such diseases; (
8. ii)within an appropriate period, of any proposed changes in the national sanitary rules concerning equidae, in particular regarding the importation of equidae; (iii) at regular intervals, of the animal health status of its territory concerning equidae; (
9. g)any experience of previous imports of live equidae from the third country and the results of any import controls carried out; (
10. h)the results of Community inspections and, or audits carried out in the third country, in particular the results of the assessment of the competent authorities thereof or, where the Commission so requests, the report submitted by the competent authorities thereof on the inspections which they have carried out; and (
11. i)the rules on the prevention and control of infectious or contagious animal diseases in force in the third country and their implementation, including rules on importation of equidae from other third countries.

(3)Special import conditions for each third country or group of third countries, having regard to the animal health situation concerning equidae in the third country or countries concerned shall be established in accordance with the procedure referred to in rule 15.

(4)Detailed rules for the application of this rule and criteria for including third countries or parts of third countries in the lists provided for in sub-rule

(1)may be adopted in accordance with the procedure referred to in rule 15. 13.

(1)The equidae must come from third countries: (

1. i)free from African horse sickness; (
2. ii)which have been free for two years from Venezuelan equine encephalomyelitis (VEE); Conditions for the importation of equidae. Amended by: L.N. 260 of 2010. (iii) which have been free for six months from dourine and glanders.

(2)The competent authority shall apply for a decision of the Commission that may: (i) decide that the provisions of sub-rule

(1)shall apply to only a part of the territory of a third country. In the event that the African horse sickness requirements apply on a regional basis, at the very least the measures laid down in rules 5

(2)and

(3)must be complied with; (ii) require additional guarantees for diseases alien to the Community. 14. Before the day of loading for transportation to Malta, the equidae must have remained without interruption in the territory or p a r t o f t h e t e r r i t o r y o f a t h i r d c o u n t r y o r, i n t h e e v e n t o f Other conditions for transportation. 10 [ S.L.437.60 ANIMAL HEALTH CONDITIONS GOVERNING THE MOVEMENT AND IMPORT FROM THIRD COUNTRIES OF EQUIDAE regionalisation, in the part of the territory defined pursuant to rule 13

(2)(i) for a period determined in rule

1. They must come from a holding placed under veterinary supervision. Other qualifications for importation of equidae from Third Countries. Amended by: L.N. 260 of
2. 15.

(1)Importation of equidae from the territory of a third country or part thereof as defined in accordance with rule 13

(2)(

1. i)on the list drawn up in accordance with rule 12 shall be authorised only if the equidae, over and above the requirements of rule 13 (
2. i)comply with the animal health requirements adopted, with reference to the species in question and the categories of equidae, by the Community for imports of equidae from that country. The reference basis for fixing animal health conditions in accordance with sub-rule

(1)shall be the standards laid down in rules 4 and 5; and (

1. ii)in the case of a third country not free of vesicular stomatitis or viral arteritis for at least six months, the equidae must meet the following requirements: (
2. a)they must come from a holding which has been free of vesicular stomatitis for at least six months and they must have reacted negatively to a serological test prior to dispatch; (
3. b)in the case of viral arteritis, male equidae must notwithstanding rule 18 have reacted negatively to a serological test or to a virus isolation test or to any other test recognised by the Community. The requirement relating to equine viral arteritis shall apply to male equidae with the exception of: (
4. a)equidae vaccinated against equine viral arteritis under official supervision with a vaccine approved by the competent authority and which have reacted with a negative result at 1 in 4 to a serum neutralisation test for that disease. The equidae shall be vaccinated on the date on which the blood specimen is taken or within the following fifteen days on condition that they have been isolated during that period. The test shall be carried out and certified, and the result and vaccination certified, under official veterinary supervision. Vaccination shall be repeated at regular intervals. In the case of registered equidae, vaccinations and the results of serological tests shall be entered in the identification document (passport), (
5. b)equidae vaccinated against equine viral arteritis under official supervision with a vaccine approved by the competent authority and which have undergone two serum neutralisation tests for that disease at an interval of at least ten days between the age of 180 and 270 days without an increase in antibodies being established. The equidae shall be isolated under official ANIMAL HEALTH CONDITIONS GOVERNING THE MOVEMENT AND IMPORT FROM THIRD COUNTRIES OF EQUIDAE [ S.L.437.60 supervision from the time the first blood specimen is taken up to vaccination. The tests shall be carried out and certified, and the results and vaccinations certified, under official veterinary supervision. Vaccination shall be repeated at regular intervals. In the case of registered equidae, vaccinations and the results of serological tests shall be entered in the identification document (passport), (
6. c)equidae less than 180 days old, (
7. d)equidae for slaughter sent directly to a slaughterhouse accompanied by a certificate as provided for in Annex I to Commission Decision 93/196/EEC animal health conditions and veterinary certification for imports of equidae for slaughter.

(2)Without prejudice to Directive 92/160/EEC, Malta shall authorise imports of equidae for slaughter from a third country appearing in Part I of the Annex to Decision 79/542/EEC and which are clearly and indelibly marked by a hot-branded ‘S’ of not less than 3 cm size on the hoof of the left front leg: (

1. i)and which, if sent directly to a slaughterhouse to be slaughtered within five days after arrival at the slaughterhouse and not more than five days after arrival in the Community, meet the requirements of Annex I to the Decision 93/196/EEC on animal health conditions and veterinary certification for imports of equidae for slaughter. However, where equidae are subjected to a sea-voyage of more than eight days, the competent authority of Malta may decide that such equidae may be slaughtered within twenty-one days of arrival at the slaughterhouse, provided they remain at the slaughterhouse under the daily supervision of the official veterinarian. The competent authority in Malta shall notify the Commission of such cases; (
2. ii)or which, if they are passing through a market or a marshalling centre before being slaughtered, meet the requirements of Annex II to the European Commission Decision 93/96/EC.

(3)Without prejudice to Decision 92/160/EEC, Malta shall authorise imports of registered equidae and equidae for breeding (

1. i)coming from a third country appearing in Annex I to Commission Decision 93/197/EC on animal health conditions and veterinary certification for imports of registered equidae and equidae for breeding and production, and (
2. ii)conforming to the requirements laid down in the appropriate specimen animal health certificate set out in Annex II to Commission Decision 93/197/EC. 11 12 [ S.L.437.60 Identification of equidae. Amended by: L.N. 260 of 2010. ANIMAL HEALTH CONDITIONS GOVERNING THE MOVEMENT AND IMPORT FROM THIRD COUNTRIES OF EQUIDAE 16.

(1)The equidae must be identified in accordance with rule 4

(4)and accompanied by a certificate drawn up by an official veterinarian of the exporting third country. This certificate must: (

1. i)be issued on the day of loading of the animals for dispatch to the Member State of destination or, in the case of registered horses, on the last working day before embarkation; (
2. ii)be drawn up in at least one of the official languages of Malta or the Member State of destination and one of those of the Member State in which the import inspection is carried out; (iii) accompany the animals in the original; (
3. iv)attest to the fact that the animals satisfy the requirements of Directive 90/426/EEC and those laid down pursuant to that Directive with regard to importation of equidae from third countries; (
4. v)consist of a single sheet; (
5. vi)be made out for a single consignee or, in the case of animals for slaughter, for a consignment, provided the animals are properly marked and identified. The competent authority shall inform the Commission if they make use of this option.

(2)The certificate must be drawn up on a form complying with a model established by the Community. Equidae on arrival in Malta. Amended by: L.N. 260 of 2010. 17.

(1)Immediately upon arrival in Malta as Member State of destination, equidae for slaughter shall be taken to a slaughterhouse, either directly or after transition through a market or a marshalling centre, and, in accordance with animal health requirements, be slaughtered within a period of time specified in rule 15.

(2)Without prejudice to any special conditions which may be adopted by the Community, the competent authority may, on animal health grounds, designate the slaughterhouse to which such equidae must be taken. Re-entry of registered horse for racing. Amended by: L.N. 260 of 2010. 18. Without prejudice to Decision 92/160/EEC, the competent authority shall authorise the re-entry of registered horses for racing, competition and cultural events after temporary export where such horses: (

1. a)return from third countries appearing in Parts I and II of the special column for equidae in the Annex to Decision 79/542/EEC to which they have been temporarily exported either directly or after transit through other countries of the same group in Annex I to the Decision 93/195/EEC on animal health conditions and veterinary certification of the re-entry of registered horses for racing, competition and cultural events after temporary export, (
2. b)comply with the requirements laid down in the ANIMAL HEALTH CONDITIONS GOVERNING THE MOVEMENT AND IMPORT FROM THIRD COUNTRIES OF EQUIDAE [ S.L.437.60 13 specimen animal health certificate set out in Annex II to the Decision 93/195/EEC. 19. The competent authority may designate a national reference laboratory for one or more of the diseases of equidae listed in Schedule A and shall stipulate the functions, tasks and procedures regarding collaboration with laboratories responsible for diagnosing infectious diseases of equidae in other Member States. National reference library. Added by: L.N. 260 of 2010. 14 [ S.L.437.60 ANIMAL HEALTH CONDITIONS GOVERNING THE MOVEMENT AND IMPORT FROM THIRD COUNTRIES OF EQUIDAE SCHEDULE A Compulsorily notifiable diseases The following diseases are compulsorily notifiable: - Dourine - Glanders - Equine encephalomyelitis (of all types, including VEE) - Infectious anaemia - Rabies - Anthrax - African horse sickness - Vesicular stomatitis. SCHEDULE B HEALTH INFORMATION (
3. a)Passport No. ....................... I, the undersigned, certify ( b ) that the equine animal described above meets the following requirements: (
4. a)it has been examined today and shows no clinical sign of disease; (
5. b)it is not intended for slaughter under a national programme of contagious or infectious disease eradication; (
6. c)it does not come from the territory or part of the territory of a Member State/third country which is the subject of restrictions for reasons of African horse sickness ( c), or - - it comes from the territory or part of the territory of a Member State which was subject to prohibition for animal health reasons and has undergone, with satisfactory results, the tests provided for in Article 5

(3)of Directive 90/426/=+EEC in the quarantine station of .............................................................. between ................................. and .......................................... (

1. c)it is not vaccinated against African horse sickness, or it was vaccinated against African horse sickness on .................................... (
2. c)(
3. d); (
4. d)it has not come from a holding which was subject to prohibition for animal health reasons nor had contact with equidae from a holding which was subject to prohibition for animal health reasons: - - during six months in the case of equidae suspected of having contracted dourine, beginning on the date of the last actual or possible contact with a sick animal. However, in the case of a stallion, the prohibition shall apply until the animal is castrated, during six months in the case of glanders or equine encephalomyelitis, beginning on the day on which the equidae suffering from the disease in question are slaughtered, ANIMAL HEALTH CONDITIONS GOVERNING THE MOVEMENT AND IMPORT FROM THIRD COUNTRIES OF EQUIDAE - - [ S.L.437.60 15 in the case of infectious anaemia, until the date on which, the infected animals having been slaughtered, the remaining animals have shown a negative reaction to two Coggins tests carried out three months apart, during six months from the last case, in the case of vesicular stomatitis, during one month from the last case, in the case of rabies, during fifteen days from the last case, in the case of anthrax, if all the animals of species susceptible to the disease located on the holding have been slaughtered and the premises disinfected during thirty days, beginning on the day on which the animals were destroyed and the premises disinfected, except in the case of anthrax, where the period of prohibition is fifteen days; (
5. e)to the best of my knowledge, it has not been in contact with equidae suffering from an infectious or contagious disease in the fiftten days prior to this declaration. Date

(1)(f) Place Stamp and signature of the official veterinarian

(1)Name in block capitals and capacity. at the time of inspection it was fit to be transported on the intended journey in accordance with the provisions of Directive 91/628/EEC. -------------------------------------------(

1. a)This information is not required where there is a bilateral agreement in accordance with Article 6 of Directive 90/426/EEC. (
2. b)Valid for 10 days. c ( ) Delete whichever does not apply. (
3. d)The vaccination date must be entered in the passport. 16 [ S.L.437.60 ANIMAL HEALTH CONDITIONS GOVERNING THE MOVEMENT AND IMPORT FROM THIRD COUNTRIES OF EQUIDAE SCHEDULE C MODEL Health certificate for trade between Member States of the EEC EQUIDAE No: ...................................................... Member State of dispatch: .................................................................................... Ministry responsible: ............................................................................................ Territorial Department responsible: ....................................................................... I. Number of equidae: II. Identification of equidae: Number of equidae III. Species: Breed, Age, Sex horse, ass, mule, hinny Method of identification and identification

(2)Origin and destination of animal/s: The animal/s is/are to be sent from: ................................................................ (Place of export) to: .................................................................................................................... (Member State and place of destination) Name and address of consignor: ............................................................................ ............................................................................................................................. Name and address of consignee: ............................................................................ ............................................................................................................................. IV. Health information ( a) I, the undersigned, certify that the animal/s described above meet/s the following requirements:

1. it/they has/have been examined today and show/s no clinical sign of disease;
2. it/they is/are not intended for slaughter under a national programme of contagious or infectious disease eradication;
4. - it/they does/do not come from the territory or part of the territory of a Member State/third country which is the subject of restrictions for reasons of African horse sickness, or - it/they come/s from the territory or part of the territory of a Member State which was the subject of restrictions for reasons of African horse sickness and has/have undergone, with satisfactory results, the tests provided for in Article 5

(3)of Directive 90/426/EEC in the quarantine station of ............................................. between ................................. and ...............................; - it/they is/are not vaccinated against African horse sickness, or - it/they was/were vaccinated against African horse sickness on ............................... ( b); it/they has/have not come from a holding which was subject to prohibition ANIMAL HEALTH CONDITIONS GOVERNING THE MOVEMENT AND IMPORT FROM THIRD COUNTRIES OF EQUIDAE [ S.L.437.60 17 for animal health reasons nor had contact with equidae from a holding which was subject to prohibition for animal health reasons: - during six months in the case of equidae suspected of having contracted dourine, beginning on the date of the last actual or possible contact with a sick animal. However, in the case of a stallion, the prohibition shall apply until the animal is castrated, - during six months in the case of glanders or equine encephalomyelitis, beginning on the day on which the equidae suffering from the disease in question are slaughtered, - in the case of infectious anaemia, until the date on which, the infected animals having been slaughtered, the remaining animals have shown a negative reaction to two Coggins tests carried out three months apart, - during six months from the last case, in the case of vesicular stomatitis, - during one month from the last case, in the case of rabies, - during fifteen days from the last case, in the case of anthrax, - if all the animals of species susceptible to the disease located on the holding have been slaughtered and the premises desinfected during 30 days, beginning on the day on which the animals were destroyed and the premises desinfected, except in the case of anthrax, where the period of prohibition is fifteen days; 5. to the best of my knowledge, it/they has/have not been in contact with equidae suffering from an infectious or contagious disease in the fifteen days prior to this declaration. 6. at the time of inspection it/they was/were fit to be transported on the intended journey in accordance with the provisions of Directive 91/628/EEC ( d). V. This certificate is valid for ten days. Done at ..........................................., date .......................................... ............................................................... (signature of the official veterinarian)

(3)....................................................... (Signature) (Name in capital letters and capacity of signing veterinarian) (

1. c)18 [ S.L.437.60 ANIMAL HEALTH CONDITIONS GOVERNING THE MOVEMENT AND IMPORT FROM THIRD COUNTRIES OF EQUIDAE SCHEDULE D African horse sickness diagnosis Reagents for the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA) described below may be obtained from the European Community Reference Laboratory or the OIE Reference Laboratories for African horse sickness. 1. Competitive elisa for the detection of antibodies to african horse sickness virus (AHSV) (prescribed test) Competitive ELISA is used to detect specific AHSV antibodies in sera from any species of equidae. The broad spectrum, polyclonal, immune anti-AHSV guinea-pig serum (hereinafter "guinea-pig antiserum") is serogroup specific and is able to detect all known serotypes of AHS virus. The principle of the test is the interruption of the reaction between AHSV antigen and a guinea-pig antiserum by a test serum sample. AHSV antibodies in the test serum sample will compete with those in the guinea-pig antiserum resulting in a reduction in the expected colour (following the addition of enzyme labelled antiguinea-pig antibody and substrate). Sera can be tested at a single dilution of 1 in 5 (spot test method) or may be titrated (serum titration method) to give dilution endpoints. Inhibition values higher than 50% may be regarded as positive. The test protocol described hereinafter is used in the Regional Reference Laboratory for African horse sickness in Pirbright, United Kingdom. 1.1. Test procedure 1.1.1. Preparation of plates 1.1.1.1. 1.1.1.2. 1.1.2. Control wells 1.1.2.1. 1.1.2.2. 1.1.2.3. 1.1.2.4. 1.1.3. Titrate the positive control sera in a twofold dilution series, from 1 in 5 to 1 in 640, across column 1 in blocking buffer (PBS containing 0,05% (v/
2. v)Tween-20, 5,0% (w/
3. v)skimmed-milk powder (Cadbury's Marvel TM) and 1% (v/
4. v)adult bovine serum) to give a final volume of 50 µ l/well Add 50 µ l of the negative control serum at a dilution of 1 in 5 (10 µ l serum + 40 µ l blocking buffer) to wells A and B of column 2. Add 100 µ l/well of blocking buffer to wells C and D of column 2 (blank). Add 50 µ l of blocking buffer to wells E, F, G and H of column 2 (guinea pig control). Spot test method 1.1.3.1. 1.1.4. Coat ELISA plates with AHSV antigen extracted from infected cell cultures and diluted in carbonate/bicarbonate buffer, pH 9,6. Incubate the ELISA plates overnight at 4°C. Wash plates three times by flooding and emptying the wells with phosphate buffered saline (PBS), pH 7,2 to 7,4 pH, and blot dry on adsorbent paper. Add a 1 in 5 dilution of each test serum in blocking buffer to duplicate wells of columns 3 to 12 (10 µ l sera + 40 µ l blocking buffer). or Serum titration method 1.1.4.1. Prepare a twofold dilution series of each test sample (1 in 5 ANIMAL HEALTH CONDITIONS GOVERNING THE MOVEMENT AND IMPORT FROM THIRD COUNTRIES OF EQUIDAE [ S.L.437.60 19 to 1 in 640) in blocking buffer across eight wells of single columns (3 to 12). then 1.1.5. Add 50 µ l of guinea pig antisera, pre-diluted in blocking buffer, to all wells except the blank wells of the ELISA plate (all wells now contain a final volume of 100 µ l). 1.1.5.1. 1.1.5.2. 1.1.5.3. 1.1.5.4. 1.1.5.5. 1.1.6. Incubate for 1 hour at 37°C on an orbital shaker. Wash plates three times and blot dry as before. Add 50 µ l of rabbit anti-guinea-pig horseradish peroxidase (HRP) conjugate prediluted in blocking buffer to each well. Incubate for 1 hour at 37°C on an orbital shaker. Wash plates three times and blot dry as before. Chromogen Prepare the chromogen OPD (OPD = ortho-phenyldiamine) solution according to the manufacturers instructions (0,4 mg/ml in sterile distilled water) just before use. Add substrate (hydrogen peroxide = H2O2) to give a final concentration of 0,05% (v/
5. v)(1 in 2000 of a 30% solution of H2O2). Add 50 µ l of the OPD solution to each well and leave plates on the bench for 10 minutes at ambient temperature. Stop the reaction by the addition of 50 µ l/well of 1M sulphuric acid (H2SO4). 1.1.7. Reading Read spectrophotometrically at 492 nm. 1.2. Expression of results 1.2.1. Using a software package print out the optical density (OD) values, and the percentage inhibition (PI) for test and control sera based on the mean value recorded in the four guinea pig control wells. The data expressed as OD and PI values are used to determine whether the test has performed within acceptable limits. The upper control limits (UCL) and lower control limits (LCL) for the guinea pig control are between OD values 1,4 and 0,4 respectively. The endpoint titre for the positive control based on 50% PI should be 1 in 240 (within a range from 1 in 120 to 1 in 480). Any plate that fails to conform to the above criteria must be rejected. However, if the positive control serum titre is greater than 1 in 480 and the test samples are still negative then the negative test samples can be accepted. The duplicate negative control serum wells and the duplicate blank wells should record PI values between + 25% and - 25%, and between + 95% and + 105%, respectively. Failure to be within these limits does not invalidate the plate but does suggest that background colour is developing. 1.2.2. The diagnostic threshold (cut-off value) for test sera is 50% (PI 50%). Samples recording PI values greater than 50% are recorded as positive. Samples recording PI values lower than 50% are recorded as negative. Samples that record PI values above and below the threshold for the duplicate wells are considered doubtful. Such samples may be retested in the spot test and by titration. Positive samples may also be titrated to provide an indication of the degree of positivity. 20 ANIMAL HEALTH CONDITIONS GOVERNING THE MOVEMENT AND IMPORT FROM THIRD COUNTRIES OF EQUIDAE [ S.L.437.60 Spot test layout A B C D E F G H 1 2 +ve cont Test sera 1:5 +ve cont 1:10 -ve cont 1:20 Blank 1:40 Blank 1:80 GP cont. 1:160 GP cont. 1:320 GP cont. 1:640 GP cont. 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 31 31 32 32 33 33 34 34 35 35 36 36 37 37 38 38 39 39 40 40 1 1 2 2 3 3 4 4 5 5 6 6 7 7 8 8 9 9 10 10 -ve cont = negative control. +ve con = positive control. GP cont = guinea pig control -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Test sera A B C D E F G H 1 2 +ve cont Test sera 1:5 +ve cont 1:10 -ve cont 1:20 Blank 1:40 Blank 1:80 GP cont. 1:160 GP cont. 1:320 GP cont. 1:640 GP cont. 3 1:5 1:10 1:20 1:40 1:80 1:160 1:320 1:640 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 1:5 1:10 1:20 1:40 1:80 1:160 1:320 1:640 -ve cont = negative control. +ve con = positive control. GP cont = guinea pig control -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------2. Indirect elisa for the detection of antibodies to african horse sickness virus (AHSV) (prescribed test) The test described hereinafter is in accordance with the test description in Chapter 2.1.11 of the OIE Manual of Standards for Diagnostic Tests and Vaccines, fourth edition, 2000. The recombinant VP7 protein has been used as antigen for AHS virus antibody determination with a high index of sensitivity and specificity. Other advantages are that it is stable and not infective. 2.1. Test procedure 2.1.1. Solid phase 2.1.1.1. 2.1.1.2. ELISA plates are coated with recombinant AHSV-4 VP7 diluted in carbonate/bicarbonate buffer, pH 9,6. Incubate plates overnight at 4°C. Wash the plates five times with distilled water containing ANIMAL HEALTH CONDITIONS GOVERNING THE MOVEMENT AND IMPORT FROM THIRD COUNTRIES OF EQUIDAE 2.1.1.3. 2.1.1.4. 2.1.2. 2.1.2.2. 0,01 % (v/
6. v)Tween 20 (washing solution). Gently tap the plates onto absorbent material to remove any residual wash. Block the plates with phosphate buffered saline (PBS) + 5% (w/
7. v)skimmed milk (Nestlé Dry Skim Milk TM), 200 µ l/ well, for 1 hour at 37°C. Remove the blocking solution and gently tap the plates onto absorbent material. Serum samples to be tested, and positive and negative control sera, are diluted 1 in 25 in PBS + 5% (w/
8. v)skimmed milk + 0,05% (v/
9. v)Tween 20, 100 µ l per well. Incubate for 1 hour at 37°C. For titration, make a twofold dilution series from 1 in 25 (100 µ l/well), one serum per plate column, and do the same with positive and negative controls. Incubate for 1 hour at 37°C. Wash the plates as described in step 2.1.1.2. Conjugate 2.1.3.1. 2.1.3.2. 2.1.4. 21 Test samples 2.1.2.1. 2.1.3. [ S.L.437.60 Dispense 100 µ l/well of horseradish-peroxidase (HRP) conjugated anti-horse gamma-globulin diluted in PBS + 5% milk + 0,05% Tween 20, pH 7,2. Incubate for 1 hour at 37°C. Wash the plates as described in step 2.1.1.2. Cromogen/Substrate 2.1.4.1. 2.1.4.2. Add 200 µ l/well of chromogen/substrate solution (10 ml of 80,6 mM DMAB (dimethyl aminobenzaldehyde) + 10 ml of 1,56 mM MBTH (3-methyl-2-benzo-thiazoline hydrazone hydrochlorid) + 5 µ l H2O2) Colour development is stopped by adding 50 µ l of 3N H2SO4 after approximately 5 to 10 minutes (before the negative control begins to be coloured). Other chromogens such as ABTS (2,2'-Azino-bis-[3ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulphonic acid]), TMB (tetramethyl benzidine), or OPD (ortho-phenyldiamine) can also be used. Read the plates at 600 nm (or 620 nm). 2.2. Interpretation of the results 2.2.1. Calculate the cut-off value by adding 0,6 to the value of the negative control (0,6 is the standard deviation derived with a group of 30 negative sera). 2.2.2. Test samples giving absorbance values lower than the cut-off are regarded as negative. 2.2.3. Test samples giving absorbance values greater than the cut-off + 0,15 are regarded as positive. 2.2.4. Test samples giving intermediate absorbance values are doubtful and a second technique must be employed to confirm the result. 3. Blocking elisa for the detection of antibodies to african horse sickness virus (AHSV) (prescribed test) 22 ANIMAL HEALTH CONDITIONS GOVERNING THE MOVEMENT AND IMPORT FROM THIRD COUNTRIES OF EQUIDAE [ S.L.437.60 The blocking ELISA is designed to detect specific AHSV antibodies in sera from any susceptible species. VP7 is the major, antigenic, viral protein of AHSV, and is conserved within the nine serotypes. Because the monoclonal antibody (Mab) is also directed against the VP7, the assay will give a high level of sensitivity and specificity. Further, the recombinant VP7 antigen is completely innocuous and therefore guarantees a high degree of safety. T he p ri ncip al o f the test i s th e in ter rup ti on of the react ion bet ween the recombinant VP7, as the antigen bound to the ELISA plate and the conjugated Mab specific for the VP7. Antibody in the test sera will block the reaction between the antigen and the Mab resulting in a reduction in colour. The test described hereinafter is carried out in the European Community Reference Laboratory for African horse sickness in Algete, Spain. 3.1. Test procedure 3.1.1. ELISA plates 3.1.1.1. 3.1.1.2. 3.1.1.3. 3.1.2. Test samples and controls 3.1.2.1. 3.1.2.2. 3.1.3. Coat ELISA plates with recombinant AHSV-4 VP7 diluted in carbonate/bicarbonate buffer, pH 9,6. Incubate overnight at 4°C. Wash the plates five times with phosphate buffered saline (PBS) containing 0,05% (v/
10. v)Tween 20 (PBST). Stabilise the plate by treatment with a stabilising solution (in order to allow long term storage at 4°C without loss of activity) and blot dry onto adsorbent material. For screening: dilute test sera and controls 1 in 10 directly on the plate in PBST to give a final volume 100 µ l/well. Incubate for 1 hour at 37°C. For titration: prepare a twofold dilution series of test sera and positive controls (100 µ l/well) from 1 in 10 to 1 in 1 280 across eight wells. Negative control is tested at 1 in 10 dilution. Conjugate Add 50 µ l/well of pre-diluted horseradish-peroxidase (HRP) conjugated Mab (monoclonal antibodies specific for VP7) to each well and mix gently to ensure homogeneity. Incubate for 30 minutes at 37°C. 3.1.4. Wash the plates five times with PBST and blot dry as above. 3.1.5. Chromogen/Substrate Add 100 µ l/well of chromogen/substrate solution (1 ml of ABTS (2,2'-Azino-bis-[3- ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulphonic acid]) 5 mg/ml + 9 ml of substrate buffer (0,1 M Phosphate-Citrate buffer of pH 4 containing 0,03% H2O2] and incubate for 10 minutes at room temperature. Colour development is stopped by adding 100 µ l/well of 2% (w/
11. v)SDS (sodium dodecyl sulphate). 3.1.6. Reading Read at 405 nm in an ELISA reader. 3.2. Interpretation of the results ANIMAL HEALTH CONDITIONS GOVERNING THE MOVEMENT AND IMPORT FROM THIRD COUNTRIES OF EQUIDAE 3.2.1. [ S.L.437.60 23 Assay validation The test is valid when the optical density (OD) of negative control (NC) is higher than 1,0 and the OD of positive control (PC) is lower than 0,2. 3.2.2. Cut-off calculation Positive cut-off = NC – ((NC – PC)x 0,3) Negative cut-off = NC – ((NC – PC)x 0,2) Where, NC is the OD of the negative control and PC the OD of positive control. 3.2.3. Interpretation of results Samples with OD lower than positive cut-off should be considered as positives to AHSV antibodies. Samples with OD higher than negative cut-off should be considered negatives for AHSV antibodies. Samples with OD between these two values should be considered doubtful and the animals re-sampled after two to three weeks.