Belize Agricultural Health Authority 
______________________________________________________________________________ 
 
1 
 BELIZE: 
 
STATUTORY INSTRUMENT 
 
NO.    OF 2011 
 
 
BELIZE AGRICULTURAL HEALTH AUTHORITY (PREVENTION, CONTROL AND 
ERADICATION OF BOVINE BRUCELLOSIS) REGULATIONS, 2011 
 
 
 
ARRANGEMENT OF REGULATIONS 
 
  
 
1. Citation.  
2. Interpretation. 
3. Competent authority. 
4. Notifiable animal disease. 
5. General provisions of the National Bovine Brucellosis Programme. 
6. Determination of health status and free herd certification. 
7. Herd officially free from bovine brucellosis. 
8. Herd free from bovine brucellosis.  
9. Importation for breeding or rearing. 
10. Exportation. 
11. Antigens and vaccines. 
12. Programme evaluation. 
13. Identification. 
14. Compensation. 
15. Epidemiological surveillance. 
16. Quarantine measures. 
17. Diagnosis. 
18. Movement. 
19. Disinfection. 
20. Fees 
21. Penalties. 
22. Commencement. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Belize Agricultural Health Authority 
______________________________________________________________________________ 
 
2 
 BELIZE: 
 
 
STATUTORY INSTRUMENT 
 
NO.    OF 2011 
 
REGULATIONS made by the Minister, after consultation with the Belize 
Agricultural Health Authority, in exercise of the powers conferred upon him 
by sections 61 and 86 of the Belize Agricultural Health Authority Act, 
Chapter 211 of the Substantive Laws of Belize, Revised Edition 2000-2003; 
and all other powers thereunto it enabling. 
 
(Gazetted …………, 2011). 
 
_________________________________ 
 
 
 
1. These Regulations may be cited as the 
 
BELIZE AGRICULTURAL HEALTH AUTHORITY (PREVENTION, CONTROL 
AND ERADICATION OF BOVINE BRUCELLOSIS) REGULATIONS, 2011. 
 
 
2.  In these Regulations 
 
 “accreditation” means the act through which the  Authority recognizes veterinarians and 
laboratories to perform sanitary activities referred to in these Regulations;  
 
“accredited veterinarian” means a veterinarian recognized and approved by the  Authority 
to conduct sanitary activities pertinent to these Regulations;  
 
“Act” means the Belize Agricultural Health Authority Act; 
 
“animal” means a bovine animal; 
 
“approved laboratory” means laboratory recognized and authorized by the  Authority to 
perform sanitary activities referred to in these Regulations;  
 
“area under quarantine” means a geographical area, production unit or farm declared 
under quarantine by provisions of the Act;  
 
“Authority” means the Belize Agricultural Health Authority established under section   of 
the Act;  
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Belize Agricultural Health Authority 
______________________________________________________________________________ 
 
3 
 “authorization” means the act through which the Authority recognizes organizations 
coordinating movement controls to perform the sanitary activities referred to in these 
Regulations; 
 
“BNLR” means the Belize National Livestock Registry;  
 
“beef cattle” means the type of animal in a production unit specialized for beef 
production;  
 
“bovine” means cattle; 
 
“brucellosis” means a contagious zoonotic disease, also known as Bang's disease, 
undulant fever and contagious abortion, is caused by bacteria of the genus Brucella which 
causes abortion, decreased milk production and infertility of susceptible species.   
 
“castrated animal” means an animal whose testicles or ovaries have been surgically 
removed; 
 
“cattle” means bos indicus, bos taurus and water buffalo; 
 
“certification of free herds” means the procedures through which the official documents 
are granted by the  Authority to the owner of a herd for demonstrating that the animals 
are free of brucellosis through the application of procedures described in these 
Regulations;  
 
“Committee” means the Committee established to support the implementation of the 
Programme;  
 
“compartment” means an animal subpopulation contained in one or more establishments 
under a common biosecurity management system with a distinct health status with 
respect to a specific disease or specific diseases for which required surveillance, control 
and biosecurity measures have been applied for the purpose of international trade; 
 
“confinement” means the isolation, observation and movement restriction of animals due 
to suspicion or existence of brucellosis until the final destination of the animal is 
determined;  
 
“control” means the group of sanitary measures the objective of which is to reduce the 
incidence or prevalence of brucellosis in a prescribed geographical area; 
 
“Controlled Production Unit” refers only to those units in which diary cattle are confined 
due to positive to the brucelosis test in order to benefit from their production before 
slaughter; 
 
“country” means Belize; 
 Belize Agricultural Health Authority 
______________________________________________________________________________ 
 
4 
 “dairy cattle” means the type of animal in a production unit specialized for milk 
production.   
 
“diagnostic test” means a test authorized by the  Authority for the Programme; 
 
“district veterinarian” means the official veterinarian designated to supervise and 
coordinate Programme activities in the northern, central, western or southern region of 
Belize;  
 
“dual purpose animal” means the type of animal in a production unit which produces 
cattle for beef or milk; 
 
“entire animal” means an animal that has its reproductive organs intact;  
 
“epidemiological surveillance” means the the systematic ongoing collection, collation, 
and analysis of information related to brucellosis and the timely dissemination of 
information so that action can be taken;   
 
“eradication” means the group of sanitary measures the objective of which is to eliminate 
brucellosis in a prescribed geographical area; 
 
“exposed animal” means a bovine that has had contact with an infected or reactor animal;   
 
“free herd” means a herd that has a valid Free Herd Certificate issued by the  Authority;  
 
 “Free Herd Certificate” means the official document granted by the Authority to the 
owner of a herd for compliance with the requirements established for the recognition of a 
herd free of bovine brucellosis; 
 
“herd” means a number of animals of one kind kept together under human control or a 
congregation of gregarious wild animals; and for the purposes of these Regulations, a 
herd shall be regarded as an epidemiological unit; 
 
“herd of origin” means a herd in which the origin of one or more animals is known and in 
which is found the breeding animals that gave birth to the animals in question; 
 
“herd test” means the application of the brucellosis test to a  group of animals in a herd 
older than 1 year of age, with exception of castrated males or animals that have calved 
during the last 14 days; 
 
“herd brucellosis status report” means an official document issued by the official or 
accredited veterinarians in which the results of a diagnostic test are reported. 
 
“identification of positive animals” means the application of a permanent mark with the 
letter “B” on the right masseter muscle; 
 Belize Agricultural Health Authority 
______________________________________________________________________________ 
 
5 
 “infected animal” means an animal in which the presence of bovine Brucellosis has been 
laboratory confirmed or in which epidemiological studies, including field and laboratory 
tests, show evidence of the presence of brucella;  
 
“infected herd” means a herd in which reactor animals to one or more brucellosis tests 
have been identified; 
 
“Ministry” means the Ministy responsible  for Agriculture;  
 
“NLSC” means the National Livestock Steering Committee; 
 
“negative animal” means an animal that has been subjected to one or more official 
brucellosis diagnostic tests producing  negative results; 
 
“OIE” means The World Organization for Animal Health; 
 
“OIE Terrestrial Code” means the most up-to-date version of the Terrestrial Animal 
Health Code as approved and published by the OIE from time to time; 
 
“official programme ear tag” means the ear tag used for individual animal identification 
by the Belize National Livestock Registry;  
 
“official veterinarian” means a professional employee of the  Authority who performs 
functions under these Regulations; 
 
“officially free herd” means the assurance of free herds in control areas conducted by 
official veterinarians for the purpose of moving cattle to areas in more advanced phases; 
 
“ovine epididymitis” means a bacterial disease exclusive of ram caused by brucella ovis 
characterized by inflammation of the epididimis;  
 
“permanent mark” means any indelible mark on the body of an animal for identification 
purposes;  
 
“population” means the total number of bovine in a given area; 
 
“prevalence” means the number of cases or outbreaks of brucellosis in an animal 
population in a defined geographical area during a specific period; 
 
“prevention”  means sanitary measures aimed at avoiding the introduction of brucellosis; 
 
“producer” means the owner of cattle whose activities include breeding, cow-calf 
operations,  fattening or milk production; 
 
“production unit” means a ranch, farm, stable, corral or other similar place that houses 
cattle;  Belize Agricultural Health Authority 
______________________________________________________________________________ 
 
6 
  
“Programme” means the National Bovine Brucellosis Programme;  
 
“Programme coordinator” means the veterinarian designated by the Authority to 
coordinate programme activities and the district veterinarians in the different regions of 
the country; 
 
“Programme phases” means the sanitary classification of the stages in which the region, 
district or community is found, according to the advances of the Programme as 
recognized by the  Authority; 
 
“quarantine” means the sanitary measure based on the isolation, observation and 
movement restriction of animals due to suspicion or existence of bovine brucellosis; 
 
“ranching” means the livestock activity the  purpose of which is the feeding of cattle on 
pasture;  
 
“reactor” means an animal which has been subject to one or more official diagnostic tests 
for brucellosis and whose results have been positive; 
  
“registered disinfectants” means chemical products registered by the  Authority for use in 
the installations and vehicles for the elimination of bovine brucellosis; 
 
“rough species” refers to brucella ovis and brucella canis; 
 
“routine slaughter” means cattle for consumption that enters a slaughterhouse without 
any reference to bovine brucellosis; 
 
“sample” means blood, sera, fluids, tissues, organs, milk or other diary products in which 
laboratory diagnostic tests are to be conducted to identify the presence of bovine 
brucellosis; 
 
 “seal” means an official provision installed on doors or compartments of vehicles 
transporting animals for the purpose of guaranteeing that during transportation animals 
are neither added nor removed; 
 
“slaughterhouse” means premises, including facilities for moving or lairaging animals 
used for the slaughter of animals to produce animal products and approved by veterinary 
services or other competent authority; 
 
“smooth species” refers to brucella abortus, brucella melitensis and brucella suis; 
 
“susceptible species” refers to bovines, caprines, ovines, porcines, equines, canines, some 
wild animals and man; 
 Belize Agricultural Health Authority 
______________________________________________________________________________ 
 
7 
 “suspect herd” means the herd in which infection has not been confirmed but is under 
epidemiological investigation;   
 
“transporter” means the person licensed by the  Authority to transport animals; 
 
“unit” means means an individually identifiable element used to describe, for example, 
the members of a population or the elements selected when sampling; 
 
“zoonosis” means a disease or infection which is naturally transmissible from animals to 
humans or vice versa.  
 
 
3. (1) The Authority is designated as the competent authority responsible for the 
implementation of these Regulations. 
 
(2)  In implementing these Regulations as prescribed in sub-regulation (1), the 
Authority may collaborate with auxiliary organizations, the government and the cattle 
industry. 
 
4. (1) Bovine brucellosis is a notifiable animal disease in Belize. 
 
     (2) A person who suspects or has diagnostic evidence of the presence of bovine 
brucellosis in an animal, whether the animal is alive or dead, shall notify the Authority 
within twenty-four hours of the suspicion or evidence of bovine brucellosis. 
 
 
5. (1) The Programme being implemented through these Regulations shall be 
implemented in a general, permanent and mandatory manner.  
 
(2) The Programme consists of the establishment of the diagnosis, prevention, 
control and eradication of brucellosis in cattle regardless of breed and production activity. 
 
 
(3) The protection of regions, districts, communities, herds free of the disease or in 
advanced programme phases shall be effected through the strict control of animal 
movement, coordinated among all stakeholders. 
 
(4)  The accredited veterinarians must coordinate activities with the Programme 
Coordinator and the official veterinarians of the Authority.  
 
 
6. (1) The Authority may declare the country of Belize or a zone within the country of 
Belize as free from bovine brucellosis where the country or a zone  complies with  the 
following requirements 
 Competent 
authority.


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


General 
provisions of 
the National 
Bovine 
Brucellosis 
Programme. 
 
Determination 
of health 
status and free 
herd 
certification. 
 Belize Agricultural Health Authority 
______________________________________________________________________________ 
 
8 
 (a) bovine brucellosis or any suspicion of infection has been declared as a 
notifiable disease in the country or zone; 
 
(b) the entire cattle population of the country or zone is under official 
veterinary control and it has been ascertained that the rate of bovine 
brucellosis infection does not exceed 0.1% of the cattle herds in the country 
or zone under consideration; 
 
(c) the serological tests for bovine brucellosis are periodically conducted in 
each herd, with or without the ring test; 
 
(d) no animal has been vaccinated against bovine brucellosis in the last three 
(3) years immediately preceding the year of intended declaration; 
 
(e) all reactors are slaughtered; 
 
(f) animals introduced into the country or zone shall only come from herds 
officially free from bovine brucellosis or from herds free from bovine 
brucellosis  
 
provided that this condition may be waived for animals which have not 
been vaccinated and which, prior to entry into the herd, were isolated and 
were subjected to the serological tests for bovine brucellosis with negative 
results on two occasions, with an interval of 30 days between each test, but 
testing in female animals which have calved during the past fourteen 
(14) days shall not be valid. 
 
(2) The system for control of a herd of cattle that has qualified as officially free from 
bovine brucellosis and where no reactor has been found in the last five years of testing, 
may be decided by Authority. 
 
7. (1) A bovine producer or a group of bovine producers may apply in writing to the 
Authority for a certification that a herd of bovine is officially free from bovine 
brucellosis. 
 
(2) A bovine producer or a group of bovine producers applying under subregulation 
(1)  shall satisfy the Authority that 
 
(a) the herd is under official veterinary control; 
 
(b) the herd contains no animal which has been vaccinated against bovine 
brucellosis during three (3) years immediately preceding the date of 
application; 
 
(c) the herd contains only animals which have not showed evidence of bovine 
brucellosis infection during the past 6 months and all suspect cases (such Herd 
officially free 
from  bovine. 
brucellosis. Belize Agricultural Health Authority 
______________________________________________________________________________ 
 
9 
 as animals which have prematurely calved) have been subjected to the 
necessary laboratory investigations; 
 
(d) all cattle over the age of one year (except castrated males) have been 
subjected to two series of serological tests yielding negative results, which 
testing has been conducted at an interval of 12 months between each test; 
and that this requirement has been maintained even where the entire herd 
is normally tested every year or testing is conducted in conformity with 
other requirements established by the Authority; 
 
(e) additions to the herd for which official free herd status is sought, come 
from herds officially free from bovine brucellosis or may also come from 
herds which have not been vaccinated, or come from a herd free from 
bovine brucellosis  
 
provided that negative results were shown following a buffered brucella 
antigen test and the complement fixation test during the 30 days prior to 
entry into the herd 
 
provided further that a recently calved or calving animal must be retested 
after 14 days, as tests are not considered valid in female animals which 
have calved during the past fourteen days. 
 
 8. (1) A bovine producer or a group of bovine producers may apply in writing to the 
Authority for a certification that a herd of bovine is free from bovine brucellosis. 
 
(2) A bovine producer or a group of bovine producers applying under subregulation 
(1)  shall satisfy the Authority that 
 
(a) the herd is under official veterinary control; 
 
(b)  the herd has been subjected to vaccination or a non-vaccination regime; 
 
(c) if a live vaccine is used in female cattle, the vaccination has been carried 
out between three and six months of age, in which case the female cattle 
have been identified with a permanent mark; 
 
(d) all cattle over the age of one year are controlled as provided in Regulation 
8(2)(d); 
 
(e)  that cattle under 30 months of age which have been vaccinated using a 
live vaccine before reaching 6 months of age, were subjected to a buffered 
brucella antigen test with a positive result along with the complement 
fixation test giving a negative result; 
 Herd free from 
bovine 
brucellosis. Belize Agricultural Health Authority 
______________________________________________________________________________ 
 
10 
 (f) all cattle introduced into the herd come from a herd officially free from 
bovine brucellosis or from a herd free from bovine brucellosis, or from a 
country or zone free from bovine brucellosis 
 
provided that this condition may be waived for animals which have been 
isolated and which, prior to entry into the herd, have been subjected to two 
series of serological tests for bovine brucellosis yielding negative results 
which testing has been conducted at an interval of 30 days between each 
test 
 
provided further that the tests are not valid where done on a female animal 
which has calved during the past fourteen days. 
 
 
 
9. (1) Without prejudice to Part X of the Act and any Regulations made under the Act and 
to any other laws regulating the importation of live animals, the importation of  live 
bovine is conditional upon the presentation of an international veterinary certificate that 
verifies compliance with the following where the bovine is imported for  
 
(a) breeding or rearing (except castrated males) 
 
(i) that the bovine shows no clinical sign of bovine brucellosis on the 
day of shipment; 
(ii) that the bovine were kept in a herd in which no clinical sign of 
bovine brucellosis was officially reported during 6 months 
immediately prior to shipment; 
(iii)that the bovine were kept in a country or zone free from bovine 
brucellosis, or were from a herd officially free from bovine 
brucellosis and were subjected to a serological test for bovine 
brucellosis with negative results during thirty days immediately 
prior to shipment; 
(iv) where the bovine comes from a herd other than those in (b) and (c) 
above, that the Brucella antigen and complement fixation tests were 
administered during the 30 days immediately prior to shipment and 
testing yielded negative results;  
(v) that the bovine were isolated for a period of thirty days prior to 
shipment and were subjected to two series of serological tests for 
bovine brucellosis yielding negative results, which tests were 
conducted at an interval of not less than 30 days between each test, 
the second test being performed during fifteen days immediately 
prior to shipment 
 
provided that the tests is not valid in female animals which have 
calved during the past fourteen days 
 Importation 
for breeding 
or rearing. Belize Agricultural Health Authority 
______________________________________________________________________________ 
 
11 
  
(b) slaughter 
 
(i) that the bovine showed no clinical sign of bovine brucellosis on 
the day of shipment; 
(ii) that the bovine are not being eliminated as part of an eradication 
programme against bovine brucellosis; 
(iii) that the bovine were kept in a country or zone free from bovine 
brucellosis; 
(iv) that the bovine were kept in a herd officially free from bovine 
brucellosis; 
(v) that the bovine were kept in a herd free from bovine brucellosis; 
or 
(vi) that the bovine were subjected to a serological test for bovine 
brucellosis with negative results during thirty days immediately 
prior to shipment. 
 
 
(2) The importation of bovine semen by a person is conditional upon the presentation 
of an international veterinary certificate that verifies compliance with the following  
 
 
(a) when the semen is from an artificial insemination centre, that the 
testing programme included the buffered Brucella antigen and 
complement fixation tests; 
(b) when the semen is not from an artificial insemination centre, that 
the donor animals 
 
(i) were kept in a country or zone free from bovine 
brucellosis; 
 
(ii)  were kept in a herd officially free from bovine 
brucellosis, showed no clinical sign of bovine brucellosis 
on the day of collection of the semen and were subjected 
to a buffered Brucella antigen test with negative results 
during the 30 days prior to collection; 
 
(iii) were kept in a herd free from bovine brucellosis, showed 
no clinical sign of bovine brucellosis on the day of 
collection and were subjected to the buffered Brucella 
antigen and complement fixation tests with negative 
results during the 30 days prior to collection, 
 
(c) that the semen was collected, processed and stored in 
conformity with the provisions of Chapters 4.5 and 4.6 of the 
OIE terrestrial code, Belize Agricultural Health Authority 
______________________________________________________________________________ 
 
12 
  
 
(3) The importation of in vivo derived bovine embryos by a person is conditional 
upon the presentation of an international veterinary certificate that verifies that the 
embryos were collected, processed and stored in conformity with the provisions of 
Chapters  4.7and 4.9 of the OIE Terrestrial Code. 
 
 
(4) The importation of in vitro produced bovine embryos or oocytes by a person is 
conditional upon the presentation of an international veterinary certificate that verifies 
compliance with the following  
 
(a) that the donor females 
 
(i) were kept in a country or zone free from bovine brucellosis; or 
 
(ii) were kept in a herd officially free from bovine brucellosis and 
were subjected to tests as prescribed in Chapter 1.3 of the OIE 
Terrestrial Code, 
 
(b) that the oocytes were fertilised with semen meeting the conditions 
referred to in Chapters 4.5 and  4.6 of the OIE Terrestrial Code; 
 
(c) that the embryos or oocytes, as the case may be, were collected, 
processed and stored in conformity with the provisions of Chapters 4.8 
and  4.9 of the OIE Terrestrial Code. 
 
 
10. The exportation of live animals, products and by products by a person must meet the 
coniditons of importation of the importing country. 
 
 
11. (1) The Authority is the sole entity authorized to  
 
(a) produce or authorize the production, 
(b) import or authorize the imporation,  
(c) regulate the use and distribution, 
(d) conduct quality control,  
 
of brucella antigens for diagnosis of bovine brucellosis. 
 
(2) The vaccination against bovine brucellosis in Belize is prohibited.  
 
 
 Exportation. 
Antigens and 
vaccines. Belize Agricultural Health Authority 
______________________________________________________________________________ 
 
13 
 12. (1) The Authority, through the Animal Health Department, on an annual basis, shall 
evaluate the Programme operation in the regions and districts through an annual report 
prepared by the NLSC.   
 
 
(2) The Authority may conduct visits to verify compliance with the requirements for 
each health status and shall issue a statement on the change of status according to the 
findings of the visits. 
 
 
        
13. (1) For the purpose of the Programme, all animals must be fully identified in 
accordance with the Belize Agricultural Health Authority (Animal Identification) 
Regulations, 2011.  
 
 (2) Notwithstanding subregulation (1), for the purpose of the Programme, the 
following specifications apply 
 
(a) an animal shall bear a permanent “B” mark on the right masseter muscle 
when the animal tests positive to the brucellosis test; 
 
(b) a bovine animal shall bear  a yellow flagged and button ear tags with black 
laser impriniting  on its the left and right ear respectively, that shall be the 
official identification of the animal for the brucellosis Programm; 
 
(c) the individual number that corresponds to each animal must be registered 
in the official documents of diagnostic tests; 
 
(d) an animal identified under the Belize Agricultural Health Authority 
(Animal Identification) Regulations, 2011shall be exempt from any other 
identification mark.  
 
14. The Ministry, Belize Livestock Producers Association and other stakeholders are to 
implement a mechanism in which owners of bovine slaughtered as a consequence of 
positive testing for bovine brucellosis receive financial compensation.  
 
 
15. (1) The milk of all diary herds shall be tested as directed by the  Authority using the 
Milk Ring Test. 
 
 (2) The owner or operator of a  slaughterhouse shall participate in the following 
diagnostic testing as part of the Programme as directed  by the  Authority 
 
(a) card test, 
(b) rivanol, 
(c) complement fixation, and Programme 
evaluation. 
Identification
. 
S.I.    of 
2011. 
Compensation. 
Epidemiological 
surveillance. Belize Agricultural Health Authority 
______________________________________________________________________________ 
 
14 
 (d) bacteriology. 
 
 
(3) The laboratory shall provide the Director of Animal Health with all tests results 
of the Programme. 
 
 (4) The  Authority shall determine the prevalence of brucellosis in the different 
areas based on laboratory results. 
 
(5) Every laboratory conducting tests for bovine brusellosis shall notify the  
Authority on the detection of reactors in an infected herd. 
 
(6)  The Director of Animal Health shall notify the Director of Medical Services in 
the Ministry of Health when an infected herd is detected which poses a risk for the 
consumers of dairy products. 
 
16. (1) For the purpose of these regulations, the concept of quarantine refers to its 
application in animals. 
 
(2) A production unit which fails to comply with the implementation of the 
Programme shall be placed under quarantine and shall only move bovines to 
slaughterhouses or to a Controlled Production Unit.  
 
(3) A production unit under quarantine shall received an official quarantine 
notification by the  Authority and the notice shall indicate the following 
 
(a) reason for quarantine; 
 
(b) restrictions on in and out movement of animals including indicating  the 
exceptions of movement to slaughter or to a Controlled Production Unit; 
 
(c) quarantine duration and biosecurity measures to be implemented. 
 
(4) Where the Authority lifts an order of quarantine on the basis that the production 
unit has entered the Programme, it shall issue an official certificate to the owner or 
manager of the production unit.  
 
(5) For the purpose of these Regulations, a controlled production unit refers only to a 
unit in which diary cattle are confined due to positive testing to the brucelosis test.  
 
(6) A controled production unit shall be monitored by the Authority and shall  
 
(a) comply with biosecurity measures determined by the  Authority to ensure 
confinement; 
(b) have an accredited veterinarian responsible for the unit; Quarantine 
measures. Belize Agricultural Health Authority 
______________________________________________________________________________ 
 
15 
 (c) equip the Production Unitwith facilities such as loading ramp, corral with 
chute, feed storage space, and water; 
(d) not overcrowd the unit; 
(e) have a disinfection system and wildlife control in place; 
(f) manage  the animals in the Production Unit  according to the infrastructure 
available; 
(g) not allow susceptible species to brucellosis such as equines or canines  to 
enter the Production Unit; 
(h) allow reactor animals to enter the controlled production unit only if in 
possession  of the corresponding veterinary certificate; 
(i) allow  a reactor animal to move out of the farm if the animal is in 
possession of a veterinary certificate certifying that the animal is destined 
for slaughter; 
(j) disinfect vehicles leaving a controlled production unit and a 
slaughterhouse. 
 
 
17. (1) The diagnostic tests for bovine brucellosis shall be performed in laboratories 
approved by the Authority, on samples consisting of serum, milk, body fluids and tissues.  
 
(2) The diagnostic tests referred to under subsection (1) may include immunological 
and bacteriological tests or any other tests as may be authorised by the  Authority.  
 
(3) The following immunological tests established by the Authority shall be  
conducted  by an official or accredited veterinarian  
(a) for smooth species 
 
(i) the card test,  
(ii)  the rivanol,  
(iii) the ELISA test, 
(iv)  the complement fixation,  
(v)  the milk ring test, 
 
(b) for the detection of brucella ovis, the double immunodiffusion test. 
  
(4) the immunological tests referred to under subregulation (3) shall be conducted as 
follows  
 
(a) the card test and the milk ring test shall be carried out by an official 
or accredited veterinarian or at an approved laboratory in 
accordance with subregulation (5) below, 
 
(b) the rivanol test, complement fixation and double immunodiffusion, 
shall be carried out at an approved laboratory. 
 Diagnosis. Belize Agricultural Health Authority 
______________________________________________________________________________ 
 
16 
 (5) An accredited veterinarian performing immunological tests under this Regulation  
shall conduct  the card test in the field while an approved laboratory shall perform 
proficiency tests, and are required  to have the minimum infrastructure necessary that 
guarantees the accuracy of the test and it shall record all tests and reagents used.  
 
(6) All laboratory results required under this Regulation shall be issued by the 
official veterinarian or accredited veterinarian on all brucelosis diagnostics conducted. 
 
(7) Laboratories shall store serum samples for a period of 3 months after testing in 
freezers that comply with requirements established by Authority. 
 
(8) An accredited veterinarian conducting testing under this Regulation shall inform 
the  Authority on all diagnostic activities specifying the reagents and the test performed, 
including laboratory used, lot number and expiry date of product used.  
 
(9) Where a card test is conducted under this Regulation  it shall be conducted 
 
(a) with non heamolysed serum, 
 
(b) with an antigen authorized by the  Authority that fulfills the following 
characteristics 
 
(i) elaborated with strain 1119-3 of Brucella abortu, 
(ii) stained with rose bengal in lactic acid, 
(iii) pH of 3.65 (± 0.05), 
(iv) with cellular concentration of 8% for cattle and 3% for caprines 
and ovines. 
 
(10) The results of a card test conducted under this Regulation shall be interpreted as 
are either positive of negative, depending on the presence or absence of agglutination. 
 
(11) The rivanol test conducted under this Regulation shall be performed only on 
bovine serum 
(a) with non heamolized será, positive to the card test, 
(b) with an antigen authorized by the Authority and with rivanol reagent (2 
etoxi lactate 6,9 diamino acridine), 
(c) with an antigen elaborated with strain1119-3 of Brucella abortus shall 
comply with the following characteristics 
 
(i) stained with a mixture of flourescent green and violet crystal, 
(ii) pH of 5.8 to 6.2, 
(iii) cellular concentration of 4%. 
 
(12) The results of a rivanol test conducted under this Regulation shall be interpreted  
as either positive or negative sera wherepositive are the sera of animals that present a 
reaction of complete agglutination in whichever of the following dilutions, from 1/25 to Belize Agricultural Health Authority 
______________________________________________________________________________ 
 
17 
 1/400. In the case of a vaccinated animal a complete agglutination of a dilution greater or 
equal to 1/50 will be a positive test. 
 
 
(13) (a)  A complement fixation test conducted under this Regulation shall be 
conducted  with a non heamolysed sera that has tested positive to the card 
and rivanol tests. An antigen authorized  by the  Authority to be used for 
this test, shall be prepared with the strain 1119-3 of Brucella abortus, 
without staining but in conformance with the following specifications 
 
(a) pH 6.8 to 7.0, 
 
(b) cellular concentration of 4.5%. 
 
(b)  For the purpose of this Regulation, sera shall be classified as positives or 
negative where positives are titres greater than 1/16 (cool) or greater than 
1/8 (warm).  
 
 
(14) (a) The milk ring test conducted under this Regulation shall be conducted as a 
surveillance test and results are to be confirmed with serological tests. 
This test shall be performed on fresh milk, fluids, with antigen authorized 
by the Authority and the test shall fulfill  the following characteristics 
 
(i) stained with hematoxilin, 
(ii) pH between 4.0 and 4.3, 
(iii) cellular concentration of 4%. 
 
(b)  For bovines, the results of the milk ring test shall be interpreted as negative 
in the absence of a stained ring or positive if present on the surface. 
 
 
 
(15) The bacteriological study required to be conducted under this Regulation shall 
be performed on milk, blood, body fluids or tissue fragments placed in sterile containers 
with hermatic lid for submission to an approved laboratory for diagnosis. The presence of 
Brucella specie signifies a positive animal, even if serological testing methods indicate 
absence of antibodies. 
 
(16) Animals in which bovine brucelosis has been diagnosed shall trigger an 
epidemiological investigation, where the sampling of all adjacent farms including 
animals that have come in contact with positive animals shall be conducted. 
 
(17) Further to testing under subregulation (16) above, animals exposed to bovine 
brucellosis shall remain in the farms where found unless a veterinary certifícate is issued Belize Agricultural Health Authority 
______________________________________________________________________________ 
 
18 
 by the  Authority for movement directly to a slaughterhouse or to a controlled production 
unit. 
 
 
18.  A person who desires to move an animal to another district shall apply to the 
Authority for a Movement Permit and and shall comply with the Belize Agricultural 
Health Authority (Animal Identification) Regulations, 2011. 
 
19. (1) The owner or manager of a production unit shall disinfect the production unit 
whenever a reactor is identified. 
 
      (2) Organic matter found in a production unit shall be removed with soap and 
water before disinfection. 
  
      (3) Aborted material found in a production unit shall be incinerated or buried at a 
minimum depth of 1.5 meters and covered with a layer of limestone.  
 
(4) All chemical disinfectants used in the Programme shall be approved and 
registered by the Authority. 
 
(5) The owner or manager of a production unit shall avoid any contact of disinfectant 
with foods designed for human consumption and foods designed for animal consumption. 
 
      (6) The following disinfectants are recommended disinfectants approved by the 
Authority to eliminate the brucella species 
 
           (a) Sodium hypochlorite solution or calcium hypochlorite,  
           (b) Caustic soda solution 2%,  
           (c) Limestone 15%,   
           (d) Creolin 5%,  
           (e) Phenol 1%,  
           (f) Other disinfectants as determined by the Authority. 
 
 
20.  (1) The Authority may charge fees for testing and services related to testing for 
brucellosis in bovine. 
 
(2) Fees imposed by the Authority under subregulation (1) shall be borne by the 
producer. 
 
(3) The amount of fees to be charged under this Regulation shall be published by 
Notice in the Gazette. 
 
21. A person who contravenes these Regulations commits an offence and is liable on 
summary conviction to a fine not exceeding five thousand dollars or to imprisonment for 
a period not exceeding three years or to both fine and imprisonment. Penalties. Fees. Disinfection. Movement. 
S.I.    of 
2011. Belize Agricultural Health Authority 
______________________________________________________________________________ 
 
19 
  
 
22. These Regulations come into effect on the ______ day of _______________, 2011.   
 
 
MADE by the Minister responsible for Agriculture after consultation with the Belize 
Agricultural Health Authority, this              day of                        , 2011. 
 
 
 
________________________ 
(RENE MONTERO) 
Minister responsible for Agriculture 
 Commencement.