Annex 8

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 minor editorial comments provided in the text (Article 8.15.11.) below.

CHAPTER 8.15.INFECTION WITH RIFT VALLEY FEVER VIRUS

Article 8.15.1.

General provisions

1)	The aim of this chapter is to mitigate the animal and public health risks posed by Rift Valley fever (RVF) and to prevent its international spread.

2)For the purposes of this chapter:

a)'~~epizootic~~epidemic area' means a part of a country or *zone*in which an ~~epizootic~~epidemic of RVF is occurring~~s~~, and which does not correspond to the definition of *zone*;

b)'~~epizootic~~epidemic of RVF' means a sudden and unexpected change in the distribution or increase in *incidence* of, or morbidity or mortality of RVF;

c)'inter-~~epizootic~~epidemic period' means a period~~with low levels of *vector* activity and low rates of RVF virus (RVFV) transmission~~ between two epidemics;

d)‘susceptible animals’ means ruminants and dromedary camels.

3~~2~~)	Humans and many animal species ~~are susceptible to *infection*~~**can be affected by RVF. For the purposes of the *Terrestrial Code*, RVF is defined as an *infection* of ~~ruminants~~~~‘~~susceptible animals~~’~~ with Rift Valley fever virus ~~Rift Valley fever virus (~~(RVFV~~)~~).

4~~3~~)	The following defines the occurrence of *infection* with RVFV:

a)	RVFV, excluding vaccine strains, has been isolated and identified as such from a sample from a ~~ruminant~~susceptible animal; or

b)	antigen or ribonucleic acid specific to RVFV, excluding vaccine strains, has been identified in a sample from a ~~ruminant~~susceptible animal~~epidemiologically linked~~with epidemiological links to a confirmed or suspected *case* of RVF, ~~including in~~or to a human infected with RVFV, or giving cause for suspicion of association or contact with RVFV; or

c)	antibodies to RVFV antigens which are not the consequence of *vaccination*, have been identified in a sample from a ~~ruminant~~susceptible animal with ~~either~~epidemiological links either to a confirmed or suspected *case* of RVF~~,~~~~including in~~or to a human infected with RVFV, or giving cause for suspicion of association or contact with RVFV.

5~~4~~)	For the purposes of the *Terrestrial Code*, the *infective period* for RVF shall be 14 days and the *incubation period*shall be 7 days.

~~6)~~~~For the purposes of the *Terrestrial Code*, the *incubation period* for RVF shall be 7 days.~~

~~7~~6~~5~~)	In areas where RVFV is present, ~~epizootic~~epidemics of RVF may occur following favourable climatic~~,~~and other environmental conditions and availability of susceptible ~~host~~animal and competent *vector* populations. ~~Epizootic~~Epidemics are separated by inter-~~epizootic~~epidemic periods. The transition from an inter-~~epizootic~~epidemic period to an ~~epizootic~~epidemic complies with point 1~~)~~(~~d~~e) of Article 1.1.3. in terms of *notification*.

~~6)~~~~For the purposes of this chapter:~~

~~a)~~~~'area' means a part of a country that experiences epizootics and inter-epizootic periods, but which does not correspond to the definition of *zone*;~~

~~b)~~~~'epizootic of RVF' means the occurrence of *outbreaks* at an incidence substantially exceeding that during an inter-epizootic period or the occurrence of indigenous human cases;~~

~~c)~~~~'inter-epizootic period' means the period of variable duration, often long, with intermittent low level of *vector* activity and low rate of virus transmission, which is often not detected;~~

~~d)~~~~ruminants include dromedary camels.~~

~~7)~~~~The historical distribution of RVF has been parts of the African continent, Madagascar, some other Indian Ocean Islands and the south western Arabian Peninsula. However, *vectors*, environmental and climatic factors, land-use dynamics, and animal movements may modify the temporal and spatial distribution of the *infection*.~~

7~~8~~)	When authorising importation or transit of the *commodities* covered in the chapter, with the exception of those listed in Article 8.15.2., *Veterinary Authorities* should require the conditions prescribed in this chapter relevant to the RVF status of the ~~ruminant~~susceptible animal population of the *exporting country*.

8~~9~~)	Standards for diagnostic tests and vaccines are described in the *Terrestrial Manual*.

Article 8.15.2.

Safe commodities

When authorising the importation or transit of the following *commodities*~~and any products made from them~~, *Veterinary Authorities* should not require any RVF-related conditions, regardless of the ~~RVF~~health status of the ~~ruminant~~~~susceptible~~ animal population of the *exporting country* or *zone*:

1)	hides and skins;

2)	wool and fibre~~.~~;

3)extruded dry pet food;

4)heat-treated *meat products* in a hermetically sealed container with an F0 value of 3 or above.

Article 8.15.3.

Country or zone free from RVF

A country or a *zone* may be considered free from RVF when *infection* with RVFV is notifiable in the entire country and either:

1)	it meets the requirements for historical freedom in ~~point 1*a)* of~~ Article 1.4.6.; or

2)	it meets the following conditions:

a)	an on-going pathogen-specific *surveillance* programme in accordance with Chapter 1.4. has demonstrated no evidence of *infection* with RVFV in ~~ruminants~~susceptible animals in the country or *zone* for a minimum of ten years; and

b)	during that period no indigenous ~~human cases~~infections in humans ~~have occurred has~~have been reported by the public health authorities in the country or *zone*.

A country or *zone* free from RVF will not lose its free status through the importation of ~~ruminants~~susceptible animals that are seropositive, so long as they are either permanently identified as such or destined for immediate *slaughter*.

Article 8.15.4.

Country or zone infected with RVFV ~~during the inter-epizootic period~~

A country or *zone* infected with RVFV~~, during the inter-epizootic period,~~ is one that does not ~~comply with~~ meet the requirements of Article 8.15.3. ~~in which virus activity is present at a low level but the factors predisposing to an epizootic are absent.~~

~~Article 8.15.5.~~

~~Country or zone infected with RVFV during an epizootic~~

~~A country or *zone* infected with RVFV, during an epizootic, is one in which *outbreaks* of RVF are occurring at an incidence substantially exceeding that of the inter-epizootic period; or one in which indigenous human cases of RVF are occurring even in the absence of detection of animal *cases*.~~

Article 8.15.~~6~~5.

Strategies to protect from vector attacks during transport

Strategies to protect animals from *vector* attacks during transport should take into account the local ecology and potential insecticide resistance of the *vectors*. ~~and potential *r*~~*Risk management* measures include:

1)	treating animals and *vehicles/vessels* with insect repellents and insecticides prior to and during transportation;

2)	*loading*, transporting and *unloading* animals at times of low *vector* activity;

3)	ensuring *vehicles/vessels* do not stop en route ~~during dawn or dusk, or overnight,~~unless the animals are~~held behind insect-proof netting~~ protected from *vector* attacks;

4)	using historical and current information to identify lower risk ports and transport routes.

Article 8.15.~~7~~6.

Recommendations for importation of susceptible animals from countries or zones free from RVF

~~For~~~~ruminants~~~~susceptible animals~~

*Veterinary Authorities* should require the presentation of an *international veterinary certificate* attesting that the animals:

1)	were kept in a country or *zone* free from RVF since birth or for at least 14 days prior to shipment;

AND

2)	either:

a)	were vaccinated at least 14 days prior to leaving the free country or *zone*; or

b)	did not transit through an ~~epizootic~~epidemic area ~~experiencing an epizootic during transportation to the *place of shipment*;~~.~~or~~

~~c)~~~~were protected from *vector* attacks when transiting through an epizootic area~~~~experiencing an epizootic~~.

Article 8.15.~~8~~7.

Recommendations for importation of susceptible animals from countries or zones infected with RVFV~~during the inter-epizootic period~~

~~For~~~~ruminants~~~~susceptible animals~~

*Veterinary Authorities* should require the presentation of an *international veterinary certificate* attesting that the animals:

1)	showed no clinical signs of RVF on the day of shipment;

2)	met one of the following conditions:

a)	were vaccinated against RVF at least 14 days prior to shipment~~with a modified live virus vaccine~~; or

b)	were held for at least 14 days prior to shipment in a *vector*-protected *quarantine station*, which is located in an area of demonstrated low *vector* activity. During this period the animals showed no clinical sign of RVF;

AND

3)	~~either:~~

~~a)~~	did not originate in or transit through an ~~area experiencing an~~~~epizootic~~epidemic area~~during transportation to the *place of shipment*; or~~

~~b)~~~~were protected from *vector* attacks when transiting through an area experiencing an epizootic area~~.

~~Article 8.15.98.~~

~~Recommendations for importation of susceptible animals from countries or zones infected with RVFV during an epizootic~~

~~For ruminants susceptible animals~~

*~~Veterinary Authorities~~*~~should require the presentation of an *international veterinary certificate* attesting that the susceptible animals: 1~~

~~1)~~~~showed no clinical signs of RVF on the day of shipment;~~

~~2)~~~~did not originate from an in the epizootic area of the epizootic;~~

~~3)~~~~were vaccinated against RVF at least 14 days prior to shipment;~~

~~4)~~~~were held for at least 14 days prior to shipment in a *vector*-protected *quarantine station*, which is located in an area of demonstrated low *vector* activity outside the of an epizootic area of the epizootic. During this period the animals showed no clinical signs of RVF;~~

~~AND~~

~~5)~~~~either:~~

~~a)~~~~did not transit through an epizootic area experiencing an epizootic during transportation to the *place of shipment*; or~~

~~b)~~**~~were protected from *vector* attacks when transiting through an epizootic area experiencing an epizootic.~~

Article 8.15.~~109~~8.

Recommendations for importation of semen and *in vivo*derived embryos of susceptible animals from countries or zones ~~not free from~~infected with RVFV

~~For semen and *in vivo* derived embryos of~~~~ruminants~~~~susceptible animals~~

*Veterinary Authorities* should require the presentation of an *international veterinary certificate* attesting that the donor animals:

1)	showed no clinical signs of RVF within the period from 14 days prior to and 14 days following collection of the semen or embryos;

AND

2)	either:

a)	were vaccinated against RVF at least 14 days prior to collection; or

b)	were subjected to a serological test~~demonstrated to be seropositive~~ on the day of collection, with positive result; or

c)	were subjected to a serological test on two occasions with negative results on the day of collection and 14 days after collection~~testing of paired samples has demonstrated that seroconversion did not occur within 14 days of~~~~between~~~~semen or embryo collection~~~~and 14 days after~~.

Article 8.15.~~1110~~9.

Recommendations for importation of fresh meat and meat products ~~and meat products~~ from ~~ruminants~~susceptible animals from countries or zones ~~not free from~~infected with RVFV

*Veterinary Authorities* should require the presentation of an *international veterinary certificate* attesting that:

1)	the entire consignment of *meat*or *meat products*comes from:

~~1~~a)	~~ruminants which~~susceptible animalsthat showed no clinical signs of RVF within 24 hours before *slaughter*;

~~2~~b)~~ruminants which~~susceptible animals that****were slaughtered in an approved *slaughterhouse/abattoir* and were subjected to ante- and post-mortem inspections in accordance with Chapter 6.3. with favourable results;

~~3~~c)	carcasses ~~which~~that****were submitted to maturation at a temperature above 2°C for a minimum period of 24 hours following *slaughter*;

2)the necessary precautions were taken to avoid contact of the ~~products~~*meat* or *meat products*with any potential source of RVFV. 

~~Article 8.15.10bis.~~

~~Recommendations for importation of meat products from susceptible animals from countries or zones infected with RVFV~~

*~~Veterinary Authorities~~*~~should require the presentation of an *international veterinary certificate* attesting that the entire consignment of *meat products* comes from *meat*that complies with Article 8.15.10.~~

Article 8.15.~~1211~~10.

Recommendations for importation of milk and milk products ~~of~~from susceptible animals from countries or zones ~~not free from~~infected with RVFV 

~~For milk and milk products~~

*Veterinary Authorities* of *importing countries* should require the presentation of an *international veterinary certificate* attesting that the consignment:

1)	was subjected to pasteurisation; or

2)	was subjected to a combination of control measures with equivalent performance as described in the Codex Alimentarius Code of Hygienic Practice for Milk and Milk Products.

Article 8.15.~~1312~~11.

Surveillance

*Surveillance*for RVF should be carried out in accordance with Chapter 1.4.

*Surveillance* for arthropod *vectors* should be carried out in accordance with Chapter 1.5., especially to determine areas of low *vector* activity. 

Detection of RVFV in *vectors* has low sensitivity and therefore is not a recommended *surveillance* method.

An epidemic should be suspected in countries or *zones* infected with RVFV, or countries or *zones* adjacent to a country or *zone* in which epidemics have been~~reported~~ notified, when ecological conditions favour the breeding of large numbers of mosquitoes and other *vectors* with concurrent or consequent occurrence of an increased number of abortions, and mortality particularly in new-born susceptible animals showing clinical signs or pathological lesions consistent with RVF, or reports of indigenous infection in humans.

**Rationale:**To improve syntax, i.e., plural of “mosquito”.

Ecological conditions can be assessed through the sharing and analysis of meteorological data, and data on precipitation and water levels~~data~~, as well as the monitoring of *vector* activity. Clinical *surveillance* targeted at abortions and the use of sentinel *herds* can support detection of epidemics. Serological *surveillance* can also be used to assess the increase ~~of~~in the number of seroconversions.

~~1)~~	During an ~~epizootic~~epidemic, *surveillance* should be conducted to define the extent of the ~~affected area~~ epidemic area for the purpose of disease prevention and control as well ~~of~~as defining the extent of movements and trade of susceptible animals; including the geographic extent for the use of public health messages to prevent human exposure and infection.

**Rationale:**To improve clarity and inclusion of the importance of public health awareness messages to prevent infection in humans handling animals.

~~2)~~	During ~~the~~inter-~~epizootic~~epidemic periods:~~, *surveillance* and monitoring of climatic factors predisposing to an epizootic should be carried out in countries or *zones* infected with RVFV.~~

1)the level of virus transmission should be assessed and determined by *surveillance*in sentinel *herds* of susceptible animals;

2)monitoring of ecological and meteorological factors should be carried out.

~~3)~~	Countries or *zones* adjacent to a country or *zone* in which ~~epizootic~~epidemics have been ~~reported~~notified  should determine their RVF status through an on-going specific *surveillance* programme.

~~To determine areas of low *vector* activity (see Articles 8.15.87. and 8.15.98.) *surveillance* for arthropod *vectors* should be carried out in accordance with Chapter 1.5.~~

~~Examination of *vectors* for the presence of RVFV is an insensitive *surveillance* method and is therefore not recommended.~~

The *Veterinary Authority* should coordinate in a timely manner with public health and other relevant authorities and share information to support the *surveillance* outcomes and the decision-making process for the prevention and control of RVF.

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Report of the Meeting of the WOAH Terrestrial Animal Health Standards Commission / September 2022	5

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