Annex 13

The USA would like to commend WOAH for its essential work and thank the Code Commission for having taken into consideration USA comments on the Terrestrial Code submitted previously.

In addition, there are additional comments provided in the text (Articles 12.6.1. & 12.6.7.) below.

CHAPTER 12.6.INFECTION WITH EQUINE INFLUENZA VIRUS

Article 12.6.1.

General provisions

For the purposes of the *Terrestrial Code*, equine influenza (EI) is defined as an *infection* of domestic and c*aptive wild* equids with equine influenza virus (EIV), i.e. subtypes H3N8 and H7N7 of influenza A viruses ~~(H7N7 and H3N8)~~.

This chapter deals not only with the occurrence of clinical signs caused by *infection* with~~equine influenza virus (~~EIV~~)~~, but also with the presence of *infection* with EIV in the absence of clinical signs.

The following defines the occurrence of *infection* with EIV:

1)EIV, excluding modified-live virus vaccine strains following recent *vaccination*, has been isolated and identified as such ~~from~~in a sample from a domestic or *captive wild* equid; or

2)ribonucleic acid or antigen specific to EIV has been detected in a sample from a domestic or *captive wild* equid showing clinical signs or pathological lesions suggestive of equine influenza or epidemiologically linked to a confirmed or suspected~~or confirmed~~*case* of equine influenza; or

3)seroconversion due to recent exposure to EIV~~virus~~, demonstrated by a significant increase in antibody titres which are not the consequence of *vaccination*, have been detected in paired samples from a domestic or *captive wild* equid showing clinical signs or pathological lesions ~~consistent~~~~with~~ !suggestive of equine influenza, or epidemiologically linked to a confirmed or suspected~~or confirmed~~*case* of *infection* with EIV.

**Rationale:**To remove redundancy, i.e., “virus”.

~~For the purposes of this chapter, isolation is defined as ‘the separation of domestic equids from domestic equids of a different EI health status, utilising appropriate *biosecurity* measures, with the purposes of preventing the transmission of *infection*’.~~

For the purposes of the *Terrestrial Code*, the *infective period* for EI shall be ~~21~~10 days.

For the purposes of this chapter, a temporary importation refers to the introduction of horses into a country or *zone*, for a defined period of time, not exceeding 90 days, during which the *risk* of transmission of the *infection* is mitigated through specific measures under the supervision of the *Veterinary Authority.* Temporarily imported horses are re-exported at the end of this period. The duration of the temporary importation period and the destination after this period, as well as the conditions required to leave the country or *zone,* should be defined in advance. 

When authorising the importation or transit of the *commodities* listed in this chapter, with the exception of those listed in Article 12.6.2., *Veterinary Authorities* should require the conditions prescribed in this chapter relevant to the EI status of the equine population of the *exporting country*, *zone* or *compartment*.

Standards for diagnostic tests and vaccines are described in the *Terrestrial Manual*.

Article 12.6.2.

Safe commodities

When authorising the importation or transit of the following *commodities*, *Veterinary Authorities* should not require any EIV-related conditions, regardless of the ~~EI~~health status of the ~~equine~~animal population of the *exporting country*, *zone* or *compartment*:

1)	equine semen;

2)*in vivo* derived equine embryos collected, processed and stored in accordance with Chapters 4.8. and 4.10., as relevant ~~(under study).;~~

3)*meat* and *meat products* from equids that have been slaughtered in a *slaughterhouse/abattoir* and have been subjected to ante- and post-mortem inspections with favourable results. 

Article 12.6.3.

Determination of the EI status of a country, a zone or a compartment

The EI status of a country, a *zone* or a *compartment* can be determined on the basis of the following criteria:

1)	the outcome of a *risk assessment* identifying all risk factors and their historic relevance;

2)	whether EI is notifiable in the whole country, an ongoing EI awareness programme is in place, and all notified suspect occurrences of EI are subjected to field and, where applicable, *laboratory* investigations;

3)	appropriate *surveillance* is in place to demonstrate the presence of *infection* in the absence of clinical signs in domestic and c*aptive wild* equids.

Article 12.6.4.

~~EI free c~~Country, zone or compartment free from EI

A country, *zone*or *compartment*may be considered free from EI provided ~~the disease~~that *infection* with EIV is notifiable in the whole country and it shows evidence, through an effective *surveillance*programme, planned and implemented in accordance with the general principles in Chapter 1.4., that no *case*of ~~EI~~*infection* with EIV occurred in the past two years. The *surveillance*may need to be adapted to parts of the country, *zone*or *compartment*depending on historical or geographical factors, industry structure, population data, movements of equids within and into the country, *zone*or *compartment*, *wild*equine populations or proximity to recent *outbreaks*.

A country, *zone*or *compartment*seeking freedom from EI, in which *vaccination*is practised, should also demonstrate that EIV has not been circulating in the population of domestic, c*aptive wild,**feral,*and *wild*equids during the past 12 months, through *surveillance*, in accordance with Chapter 1.4. In a country in which *vaccination*is not practised, *surveillance*may be conducted using serological testing alone. In countries where *vaccination*is practised, the *surveillance*should include agent identification methods described in the *Terrestrial Manual*for evidence of *infection*.

A country, *zone* or *compartment* seeking freedom from EI should apply appropriate movement controls to minimise the risk of introduction of EIV in accordance with this chapter and should be in accordance with relevant requirements and principles described in Chapter 4.4. and Chapter 4.5.

~~If an *outbreak*of clinical EI occurs in a previously free country, *zone*or *compartment*, free status can be regained 12 months after the last clinical *case*, providing that *surveillance*for evidence of *infection*has been carried out during that twelve-month period in accordance with Chapter 1.4.~~

Article 12.6.4bis.

Recovery of free status

If a *case* of *infection* with EIV occurs in a previously free country, *zone*or *compartment*, free status can be regained 12 months after the last *case*, providing that *surveillance*in accordance with Chapter 1.4. has been carried out during that 12-month period, with negative results. 

Article 12.6.5.

Recommendations for the importation of domestic and captive wild equids for immediate slaughter

*Veterinary Authorities* should require the presentation of an *international veterinary certificate*attesting that the domestic ~~and~~ or *captive wild* equids showed no clinical sign of EI on the day of shipment.

Article 12.6.6.

Recommendations for the importation of domestic and captive wild equids ~~for unrestricted movement~~

*Veterinary Authorities* should require the presentation of an *international veterinary certificate* attesting that the domestic or *captive wild* equids :

1)	came from an EI free country, *zone* or *compartment* in which they had been resident for at least ~~21~~10 days; in the case of a vaccinated ~~domestic~~ equid, information on its *vaccination* status should be included in the veterinary certificate;

OR

2)	a)~~came from a country, *zone* or *compartment* not known to be free from EI,~~ were subjected to pre-export isolation for ~~21~~10 days and showed no clinical sign of EI during isolation nor on the day of shipment; and~~~~

~~AND~~

~~3~~b)	were ~~immunised~~vaccinated in accordance with the recommendations of the manufacturer with a vaccine complying with the standards described in the *Terrestrial Manual*and considered effective against the epidemiologically relevant virus strains,~~between 21 and 90 days before shipment either with a primary course or a booster; information on their *vaccination* status should be included in the veterinary certificate or the passport in accordance with Chapter 5.12.~~in accordance with one of the following procedures:

~~a~~i)between 14 and 90 days before shipment ~~either~~with either a primary course or a booster; or 

~~b~~ii)between 14 and 180 days before shipment, if they are older than four years of age, ~~previously~~having received up to the date of this pre-shipment *vaccination*, at least four doses of ~~the same~~vaccine at intervals not greater than 180 days. 

Information on the *vaccination* status should be included in the *international veterinary certificate*or the passport in accordance with Chapter 5.12. as relevant.

~~For additional security, c~~Countries that are free ~~of~~from EI or undertaking an eradication programme may also request that the  equids were ~~tested negative for EIV by~~subjected to an agent identification test for EI described in the *Terrestrial Manual*with negative results, conducted on samples collected on two occasions,~~at 7 to 14 days~~four to six days after commencement of pre-export isolation and ~~less than 5~~~~prior to~~ within four days ~~before of~~prior to shipment.

Article 12.6.7.

Recommendations for the temporary importation of ~~domestic~~~~equid~~~~which will be kept in isolation (see Article 12.6.1.)~~horses

If the importation of horses on a temporary basis does not comply with the recommendations in Article 12.6.6., *Veterinary Authorities*of *importing countries*should ~~require the presentation of an *international veterinary certificate*attesting that the domestic equids~~:

1)require ~~that~~:

a)that the horses be accompanied by a passport in accordance with the model contained in Chapter 5.12. or be individually identified as belonging to a high health status *subpopulation* as defined in Chapter 4.17.;

b)the presentation of an*international veterinary certificate* attesting that the horses: 

~~1~~i)	came from a~~n EI free~~country, *zone*or *compartment*free from EI, in which they had been resident for at least ~~21~~10 days; in the case of ~~a~~ vaccinated ~~domestic equid~~horses, information on ~~its~~their*vaccination*status should be included in the veterinary certificate; 

**Rationale:**To harmonize this section with infective period updates in Articles 12.6.1 & 12.6.6.

OR

~~2~~ii)	showed no clinical sign of EI in any premises in which the ~~domestic equids~~horses had been resident for the ~~21~~10 days prior to shipment nor on the day of shipment; and 

**Rationale:**To harmonize this section with infective period updates in Articles 12.6.1 & 12.6.6.

~~3~~iii)	were ~~immunised in accordance~~vaccinated with ~~the recommendations of the manufacturer with~~ a vaccine complying with the standards described in the *Terrestrial Manual*; information on their *vaccination*status should be included in the veterinary certificate or the passport in accordance with Chapter 5.12.;

2)ensure that during their stay in the country or *zone*~~domestic equids~~horsesare kept separated from domestic and *captive wild* equids of a different EI health status through appropriate *biosecurity*.

~~Article 12.6.8.~~

~~Recommendations for the importation of fresh meat of equids~~

*~~Veterinary Authorities~~*~~should require the presentation of an *international veterinary certificate* attesting that the *fresh meat* came from equids which had been subjected to ante- and post-mortem inspections as described in Chapter 6.3.~~

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Report of the Meeting of the WOAH Terrestrial Animal Health Standards Commission / September 2022	1

Report of the Meeting of the WOAH Terrestrial Animal Health Standards Commission / September 2022	1

Report of the Meeting of the WOAH Terrestrial Animal Health Standards Commission / September 2022	1