1 
 Procedure for the Recognition of Infectious Animal Disease-Free 
Status of a Foreign Country (Zone) 
 
Note: In case of any discrepancy between the English version and the Chinese text of 
this Procedure, the Chinese text shall govern. 
 
Point 1  
This procedure is provided for processing the application of a foreign country (zone) 
for the recognition of its status as being free from infectious animal disease(s) by the 
Council of Agriculture, Executive Yuan (hereinafter as "the COA" ).  
 
Point 2 
2.1 For the applicant country which considers itself as complying with the criteria 
established in the “Terrestrial Animal Health Code” of the World Organisation for 
Animal Health (hereinafter as “the OIE Code” ) for infectious animal disease free 
or the risk status, the country may apply for recognition of infectious animal 
disease-free status for the entire country or a zone, or the risk status. 
2.2 Infectious animal diseases refer to one of the following: 
2.2.1 foot and mouth disease  
2.2.2 contagious bovine pleuropneumonia 
2.2.3 peste des petits ruminants 
2.2.4 African swine fever 
2.2.5 classical swine fever 
2.2.6 glanders 
2.2.7 African horse sickness 
2.2.8 highly pathogenic avian influenza 
2.2.9 Newcastle disease 
2.2.10 rabies  
2.2.11 bovine spongiform encephalopathy 
2.2.12 infectious animal diseases otherwise designated 
2.3 Countries (zone) that are disease free from infectious animal diseases mentioned 2 
 in Point 2.2.1 shall comply with the criteria for foot and mouth disease free 
country or zone where vaccination is not practiced as established in the OIE Code. 
 
Point 3 
3.1 The central competent authority of veterinary of the applicant country shall 
submit the dossiers in Chinese or English for the recognition of infectious animal 
disease-free status of entire country or a zone and the risk status of BSE to the 
import/export animal quarantine authority, the Bureau of Animal and Plant 
Health Inspection and Quarantine (hereinafter as “BAPHIQ” ), for review based on 
the type of infectious animal disease respectively. 
3.2 A country applying for the recognition of infectious animal disease-free zone for 
highly pathogenic avian influenza, Newcastle disease or foot and mouth disease 
where vaccination is not practiced shall comply with “The Principles for the 
Recognition of Infectious Animal Disease-Free Status of a Foreign Country by 
Zoning Focused on Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI), Newcastle Disease 
(ND), or Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) Where Vaccination Is Not Practiced” (as  
Appendix). 
 
Point 4 
4.1 Upon receiving the application, BAPHIQ will refer to available international animal 
disease information and conduct one of the following actions: 
4.1.1 Reject the application with the list of the facts leading to such a decision 
based on international animal disease information which shows that the 
applicant country is affected or not complying with the relevant 
requirements in the OIE Code; 
4.1.2 Reprocess the risk assessment after the requested supplementary  
documents are provided by the applicant country when the submitted 
information or required supplementary documents are incomplete; 
4.1.3 Reprocess the risk assessment after the detailed information on the animal 
health status of the applicant country is collected and evaluated or an 
on-site verification is conducted when submitted documents are complete 3 
 but fail to clarify the animal health status of the applicant country; or 
4.1.4 Process the risk assessment after the requested documents are complete 
and the animal health status is clear and comply with the criteria 
established in the OIE Code. 
4.2 After the risk assessment process for Point 4.1.2 to Point 4.1.4, one of the 
following actions will be conducted: 
4.2.1 Reject the application with the list of the facts leading to such a decision; 
4.2.2 Reprocess the risk assessment after the requested supplementary 
documents are provided by the applicant country; 
4.2.3 Reprocess the risk assessment after an on-site verification conducted by 
BAPHIQ; 
4.2.4 Submit the application to the Animal Quarantine Advisory Committee of 
BAPHIQ for further scrutiny and accept possible recommendations made 
by the Committee to reject, reprocess the risk assessment or approve; or 
4.2.5 Approve the recognition for application for recovery of the applicant 
country’s disease-free status. 
 
Point 5 
5.1 The recognition of infectious animal disease-free status for the entire country or a 
zone, and the status of risk level of BSE is established and announced by the COA. 
The COA may adjust the risk status of BSE based on information published by the 
OIE.  
5.2 The official recognition mentioned on Point 5.1 will become invalid immediately 
when the country or zone(s) is/are infected with the aforementioned disease and 
has (have) been removed from the list of disease-free countries. 
5.3 The country mentioned on Point 5.2 may submit an application along with the 
requested information and certified document to BAPHIQ for the recovery  
recognition of its disease-free status once the disease has been eradicated and 
the criteria listed in the OIE Code has been fulfilled. Appendix 
1/4 The Principles for the Recognition of Infectious Animal Disease 
-Free Status of a Foreign Country by Zoning Focused on Highly 
Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) , Newcastle Disease (ND), or 
Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) Where Vaccination Is Not 
Practiced 
 
Point 1 Definition 
1.1 Zoning: According to Chapter 4.4 of the “Terrestrial Animal Health 
Code” of the World Organisation for Animal Health (hereinafter as 
the OIE Code), the extent of a zone and its geographical limits should 
be established by the Veterinary Authority on the basis of natural, 
artificial or legal boundaries in order to separate animal 
subpopulations of distinct health status.  
1.2 Infectious animal diseases: Infectious animal diseases in the 
Principles refer to highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI), 
Newcastle disease (ND) and foot and mouth disease (FMD) free 
status where vaccination is not practiced. 
1.3 The administrative division: The administrative division refers to the 
subnational entity designated by the applicant country based on its 
laws and decrees for the purpose of administration. Overseas 
territories, dependencies and autonomies are excluded. 
1.4 The control unit: Based on the Principles that the control unit of the 
applicant country must have a permanent veterinary authority 
supervised by the central competent authority (CCA) in charge of 
veterinary affairs, and the permanent veterinary authority is the 
highest administrative division that can effectively implement animal 
disease prevention and control measures. Second tier of the 
administrative division can be used as a control unit after being 
evaluated and approved by the Bureau of Animal and Plant Health 
Inspection and Quarantine (hereinafter as “BAPHIQ”). 
1.4.1 The control range of the affected zone shall comply with Point Appendix 
2/4 3 of the Principles. 
1.4.2 The adjustment of the control unit shall comply with Point 5 
and Point 6 of the Principles. 
 
Point 2 
2.1 If the applicant country complies with the criteria established in 
Chapters 10.4, 10.9 and 8.8 of the OIE Code and the conditions of 
zoning, the applicant country can apply for the zoning recognition of 
infectious animal disease-free status based on the “Procedure for 
the Recognition of Disease-Free Status of a Foreign Country” to 
BAPHIQ. The recognition may be established after approval is 
granted. 
2.2 The CCA in charge of veterinary affairs of the applicant country shall 
submit the dossiers and relevant documents to BAPHIQ for review. 
2.3 After BAPHIQ completes the risk assessment process, one of the 
following actions will be conducted: 
2.3.1 Reject the application with the list of the facts leading to such 
a decision; 
2.3.2 Reprocess the risk assessment after the requested 
supplementary documents are provided by the applicant 
country; 
2.3.3 Approve the recognition when the risk assessment result is 
accepted and the applicant country agrees to comply with the 
requirements as stated in Point 3. 
 
Point 3 
3.1 If an outbreak of an infectious animal disease occurs within the 
control unit of the zoning-recognized country after acceptance and 
verification based on the Principles, the following measures shall be 
complied with and implemented by the CCA of the 
zoning-recognized country: Appendix 
3/4 3.1.1 The affected premise(s) and in control unit within a 10 
kilometer radius from the affected premise(s) are designated 
as the infected zone. Live animals and animal products 
susceptible to infectious animal diseases in the zones are 
suspended for export to Taiwan. 
3.1.2 The CCA in charge of veterinary affairs of the 
zoning-recognized country shall notify BAPHIQ with an official 
letter as soon as possible, and no later than 72 hours following 
confirmation of the outbreak. The letter shall include the 
following information for BAPHIQ’s review: etiology of the 
infectious animal disease (HPAI subtype or FMD serotype shall 
be specified), outbreak location, date of confirmation, map of 
the 10 kilometer radius control zones around the affected 
premises reflecting the control unit, and control measures 
(movement control, stamping out or slaughtering, and other 
preventive measures). 
 
Point 4 
The zoning-recognized country may submit the dossier with relevant 
documents (each control unit shall submit one application dossier) for 
recovering the zoning recognition application based on the “Procedure 
for the Recognition of Disease-Free Status of a Foreign Country” once 
termination of the outbreak has been confirmed and the criteria listed in 
the OIE Code has been fulfilled.  
 
Point 5 
The zoning-recognized country may submit the request to the CCA of 
Taiwan for adjusting the level of the control unit from the highest 
administrative division into a secondary division after a certain period of 
time of its implementation through bilateral consultation(s). 
 Appendix 
4/4 Point 6 
6.1 BAPHIQ reserves the right to revoke the recognition or adjust the 
control unit to the whole country when the zoning-recognized 
country fails to notify BAPHIQ within 72 hours after confirmation of 
the outbreak or there is a lack of sufficient information requested in 
accordance with Point 3. 
6.2 For a country which has its recognition revoked by BAPHIQ, BAPHIQ 
reserves the right to deny future application for the recognition of 
infectious animal diseases-free by zoning within 5 years from the 
date of revoking. 
 
Point 7 
Applicant countries that have signed a bilateral agreement for the 
mutual recognition of the zoning principle with Taiwan are excluded 
from the Principles.