Annex 34

**USA COMMENTS IN RED FONT**

TERMINOLOGY: USE OF THE TERMS‘COMPETENT AUTHORITY’, ‘VETERINARY AUTHORITY’ AND ‘VETERINARY SERVICES’

GLOSSARY

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***ANIMAL FOR SLAUGHTER***

means an *animal* intended for *slaughter* within a short time, under the control of the relevant~~*Veterinary*~~*Competent Authority*.

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***SLAUGHTERHOUSE/ABATTOIR***

means premises, including facilities for moving or lairaging *animals*, used for the *slaughter* of *animals* to produce animal products and approved by the *~~Veterinary Services~~*~~or other~~relevant *Competent Authority*.

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Article 1.7.1.

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6.	AHS prevention

c)	Import control procedures

i)	Provide a map showing the number and location of all ports, airports and land border crossings. Describe the management structure, staffing levels and resources of the service responsible for import controls and its accountability to the~~central *Veterinary Services*~~*Veterinary Authority*. Describe the communication systems between the~~central authorities~~*Veterinary Authority* and the *border posts*, and between *border posts*.

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Article 1.7.2.

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6.	AHS prevention

c)	Import control procedures

i)	Provide a map showing the number and location of all ports, airports and land border crossings. Describe the management structure, staffing levels and resources of the service responsible for import controls and its accountability to the~~central *Veterinary Services*~~*Veterinary Authority*. Describe the communication systems between the~~central authorities~~*Veterinary Authority* and the *border posts*, and between *border posts*.

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Article 1.9.1.

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6.	CSF prevention

d)	Import control procedures

i)	Provide a map showing the number and location of all ports, airports and land border crossings. Describe the management structure, staffing levels and resources of the service responsible for import controls and its accountability to the~~central *Veterinary Services*~~*Veterinary Authority*. Describe the communication systems between the~~central authorities~~*Veterinary Authority* and the *border posts*, and between *border posts*.

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Article 1.10.1.

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6.	CBPP prevention

c)	Import control procedures

i)	Provide a map showing the number and location of all ports, airports and land border crossings. Describe the management structure, staffing levels and resources of the service responsible for import controls and its accountability to the~~central *Veterinary Services*~~*Veterinary Authority*. Describe the communication systems between the~~central authorities~~*Veterinary Authority* and the *border posts*, and between *border posts*.

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Article 1.10.2.

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6.	CBPP prevention

c)	Import control procedures

i)	Provide a map showing the number and location of all ports, airports and land border crossings. Describe the management structure, staffing levels and resources of the service responsible for import controls and its accountability to the~~central *Veterinary Services*~~*Veterinary Authority*. Describe the communication systems between the~~central authorities~~*Veterinary Authority* and the *border posts*, and between *border posts*.

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Article 1.10.3.

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3.	Official control programme for CBPP submitted for WOAH endorsement

e)	CBPP prevention

iii)	Import control procedures

· Provide a map showing the number and location of all ports, airports and land border crossings. Describe the management structure, staffing levels and resources of the service responsible for import controls and its accountability to the~~central *Veterinary Services*~~*Veterinary Authority*. Describe the communication systems between the~~central authorities~~*Veterinary Authority* and the *border posts*, and between *border posts*.

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Article 1.11.1.

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6.	FMD prevention

d)	Import control procedures

i)	Provide a map with the number and location of all ports, airports and land border crossings. Describe the management structure, staffing levels and resources of the service responsible for import controls and its accountability to the~~central *Veterinary Services*~~*Veterinary Authority*. Describe the communication systems between the~~central authorities~~*Veterinary Authority* and the *border posts*, and between *border posts*.

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Article 1.11.2.

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6.	FMD prevention

d)	Import control procedures

i)	Provide a map with the number and location of all ports, airports and land border crossings. Describe the management structure, staffing levels and resources of the service responsible for import controls and its accountability to the~~central *Veterinary Services*~~*Veterinary Authority*. Describe the communication systems between the~~central authorities~~*Veterinary Authority* and the *border posts*, and between *border posts*.

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Article 1.11.3.

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6.	FMD prevention

d)	Import control procedures

i)	Provide a map with the number and location of all ports, airports and land border crossings. Describe the management structure, staffing levels and resources of the service responsible for import controls and its accountability to the~~central *Veterinary Services*~~*Veterinary Authority*. Describe the communication systems between the~~central authorities~~*Veterinary Authority* and the *border posts*, and between *border posts*.

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Article 1.11.4.

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6.	FMD prevention

d)	Import control procedures

i)	Provide a map with the number and location of all ports, airports and land border crossings. Describe the management structure, staffing levels and resources of the service responsible for import controls and its accountability to the~~central *Veterinary Services*~~*Veterinary Authority*. Describe the communication systems between the~~central authorities~~*Veterinary Authority* and the *border posts*, and between *border posts*.

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Article 1.11.5.

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3.	Official control programme for FMD submitted for WOAH endorsement

e)	FMD prevention

iv)	Import control procedures

· Provide a map showing the number and location of all ports, airports and land border crossings. Describe the management structure, staffing levels and resources of the service responsible for import controls and its accountability to the~~central *Veterinary Services*~~*Veterinary Authority*. Describe the communication systems between the~~central authorities~~*Veterinary Authority* and the *border posts*, and between *border posts*.

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Article 1.12.1.

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6.	PPR prevention

c)	Import control procedures

i)	Provide a map showing the number and location of all ports, airports and land border crossings. Describe the management structure, staffing levels and resources of the service responsible for import controls and its accountability to the~~central *Veterinary Services*~~*Veterinary Authority*. Describe the communication systems between the~~central authorities~~*Veterinary Authority* and the *border posts*, and between *border posts*.

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Article 1.12.2.

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6.	PPR prevention

c)	Import control procedures

i)	Provide a map showing the number and location of all ports, airports and land border crossings. Describe the management structure, staffing levels and resources of the service responsible for import controls and its accountability to the~~central *Veterinary Services*~~*Veterinary Authority*. Describe the communication systems between the~~central authorities~~*Veterinary Authority* and the *border posts*, and between *border posts*.

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Article 1.12.3.

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3.	Official control programme for PPR submitted for WOAH endorsement

e)	PPR prevention

iii)	Import control procedures

· Provide a map showing the number and location of all ports, airports and land border crossings. Describe the management structure, staffing levels and resources of the service responsible for import controls and its accountability to the~~central *Veterinary Services*~~*Veterinary Authority*. Describe the communication systems between the~~central authorities~~*Veterinary Authority* and the *border posts*, and between *border posts*.

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Article 3.2.3.

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8)	formal external coordination mechanisms with clearly described procedures or agreements for activities (including preparedness and response mechanisms) between the *Veterinary Authority*, other *Competent Authorities*, other relevant governmental authorities and stakeholders, incorporating a One Health approach;

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Article 4.1.1.

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Prerequisites for developing such programmes include:

– quality *Veterinary Services*including legislative framework, *laboratory*capacity and adequate and committed funding;

– appropriate education and training to secure *veterinarians*and *veterinary paraprofessionals*;

– close links with research institutions;

– effective awareness of, and active cooperation with, private stakeholders;

– public-private partnerships;

– cooperation between~~*Veterinary Authorities*~~**the*Veterinary Authority* and other *Competent Authorities*;

– regional cooperation among *Veterinary Authorities*on transboundary animal diseases.

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Article 4.13.2.

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4)	any need to transfer the ownership of *animals*to the~~competent authority~~*Competent Authority*;

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Should the chosen option for the disposal of dead *animals*be applied near the border of a neighbouring country, the

~~competent authorities~~ relevant *Competent Authority* of that country should be consulted.

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Article 4.19.1.

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The *Veterinary Authority*should determine the diseases against which *official control programmes*are to be prepared, developed and implemented, according to an evaluation of the actual or likely impact of the disease. *Official control programmes*should be prepared by the *Veterinary Authority*and~~*Veterinary Services*~~**other*Competent Authorities***in close collaboration with the relevant stakeholders and other authorities, as appropriate.

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Article 5.1.4.

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3)	In case of suspicion, on reasonable grounds, that an official certificate may be fraudulent, the *Veterinary Authorit~~y~~ies*of the *importing country*and *exporting country*should conduct an investigation. Consideration should also be given to notifying any third country that may have been implicated. All associated consignments should be kept under official control, pending the outcome of the investigation. The *Veterinary Authorities*of all countries involved should fully cooperate with the investigation. If the certificate is found to be fraudulent, every effort should be made to identify those responsible so that appropriate action can be taken in accordance with the relevant legislation.

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Article 5.6.4.

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3)	a list of airports in its territory which are provided with an area of direct transit, approved by the~~relevant~~*Veterinary Authority*and placed under its immediate control, where *animals*stay for a short time pending further transport to their final destination.

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Article 6.3.3.

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The CHPM does not provide inspection measures for specific *hazards*, which remain the responsibility of~~national competent authorities~~*Competent Authorities*. The animal and public health *risks*associated with livestock populations vary across regions and animal husbandry systems, and ante- and post-mortem inspection needs to be tailored to the individual country situation and its animal and public health objectives.

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Article 6.3.6.

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The~~national competent authority(ies)~~*Competent Authority*(*ies*) should provide an appropriate institutional environment to allow *Veterinary Services*to develop the necessary policies and standards.

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Article 7.4.4.

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1.	Health and customs requirements

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	Contact the *Veterinary Authorit~~ies~~y*in the country of origin regarding veterinary certification.

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Article 7.7.6.

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DPM activities performed by *Veterinary Services*or~~other~~ relevant*Competent Authorities*should be integrated, to the greatest extent possible, with the activities of all other responsible agencies.

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Article 8.3.15.

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2)	The bluetongue *surveillance*programme should:

a)	in a free country or *zone*or seasonally free *zone*, have an *early warning system*which obliges farmers and workers, who have regular contact with domestic ruminants, as well as diagnosticians, to report promptly any suspicion of bluetongue to the *Veterinary~~Authority~~ Services*. 

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Article 8.18.8.

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2)	The *surveillance*programme for the pathogenic agent should, at least:

a)	in a free country or *zone*, have an *early warning system*which obliges animal owners and keepers and other stakeholders who have regular contact with susceptible animals, as well as *veterinarians*or *veterinary**paraprofessionals*, to report promptly any suspicion of *infection*with *T. brucei*, *T. congolense*, *T. simiae*and *T. vivax*to the *Veterinary~~Authority~~ Services*.

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Article 10.4.27.

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2)	The high pathogenicity avian influenza *surveillance*programme should include the following.

a)	An *early warning system*for reporting suspected *cases*, in accordance with Article 1.4.5. throughout the production, marketing and processing chain. Farmers and workers who have day-to-day contact with *poultry*, as well as diagnosticians, should report promptly any suspicion of avian influenza to the *Veterinary~~Authority~~ Services*. All suspected *cases*of high pathogenicity avian influenza should be investigated immediately and samples should be ~~taken~~collected and submitted to a *laboratory*for appropriate tests.

**RATIONALE:**For consistency with a similar phrase in Article 10.4.29.

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Article 10.4.29.

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Passive *surveillance*, i.e. sampling of birds found dead, is an appropriate method of *surveillance*in *wild*birds because *infection*with high pathogenicity avian influenza can be associated with mortality in some species. Mortality events, or clusters of birds found dead should be reported to the~~local *Veterinary Authorities*~~*Veterinary Services*and investigated, including through the collection and submission of samples to a *laboratory*for appropriate tests.

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Article 15.1.29.

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2)	The ASF *surveillance*programme should:

a)	include an *early warning system*throughout the production, marketing and processing chain for reporting suspected *cases*. Diagnosticians and those with regular contact with pigs should report promptly any suspicion of ASF to the *Veterinary~~Authority~~ Services*. The reporting system under the *Veterinary Authority*should be supported directly or indirectly (e.g. through private *veterinarians*or *veterinary paraprofessionals*) by government or private sector awareness programmes targeted to all relevant stakeholders. Personnel responsible for *surveillance*should be able to seek expertise in ASF diagnosis, epidemiological evaluation and control;

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Article 15.2.29.

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2)	The CSF *surveillance*programme should:

a)	include an *early warning system*throughout the production, marketing and processing chain for reporting suspected *cases*. Diagnosticians and those with regular contact with pigs should report promptly any suspicion of CSF to the *Veterinary~~Authority~~ Services*. The reporting system under the *Veterinary Authority*should be supported directly or indirectly (e.g. through private *veterinarians*or *veterinary paraprofessionals*) by information programmes. Given that many strains of CSFV do not induce pathognomonic gross lesions or clinical signs, *cases*in which CSF cannot be ruled out should be immediately investigated. Other important diseases such as African swine fever should also be considered in any differential diagnosis.

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Article 15.3.14.

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2)	Any PRRS *surveillance*programme should:

a)	include the reporting and investigation of suspected *cases*. Diagnosticians and those with regular contact with pigs should report promptly any suspicion of PRRS to the *Veterinary~~Authority~~ Services*;

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Report of the Meeting of the WOAH Terrestrial Animal Health Standards Commission/February 2023	1

Report of the Meeting of the WOAH Terrestrial Animal Health Standards Commission/February 2023	1