All regions, except Regierungsbezirke Oberpfalz and Oberfranken in the federal state of Bavaria

Regions of Member States to which the additional guarantees for infectious bovine rhinotracheitis apply in accordance with Article 9 of Directive 64/432/EEC

Regions of Member States to which the additional guarantees for infectious bovine rhinotracheitis apply in accordance with Article 10 of Directive 64/432/EEC

ANNEX III

BHV1-free holding

1. A holding keeping bovine animals shall be considered free of BHV1 infection if it complies with the conditions set out in this Annex.

1.1. No suspicion of BHV1 infection has been recorded for the holding during the previous six months and all bovine animals on the holding are free from clinical symptoms indicative of BHV1 infection.

The holding and any non-adjacent pastures or premises, independently of ownership, that form part of the holding as an epidemiological entity, must be effectively separated from any pasture or premises of lesser BHV1-status, either by natural or physical barriers that effectively prevent direct contact between animals of different health status.

1.2. Only bovine animals from holdings situated in Member States or regions thereof listed in Annex II or from BHV1-free holdings have been introduced and none of the bovine animals on the holding have been in contact with bovine animals other than those coming from holdings situated in Member States or regions thereof listed in Annex II or from BHV1-free holdings.

1.3. Female bovine animals are only inseminated with bovine semen produced in accordance with Directive 88/407/EEC, or have been serviced by bulls from holdings situated in Member States or regions thereof listed in Annex II to this Decision or from BHV1-free holdings.

1.4. At least one of the following control regimes is applied on the holding:

1.4.1. a serological investigation for antibodies against BHV1 has been carried out with negative results in each case on at least two samples of blood, taken with an interval of five to seven months from all female bovine animals older than nine months of age, and from all male bovine animals older than nine months of age which are used or intended for breeding purposes;

1.4.2. a serological investigation for antibodies against BHV1 has been carried out with negative results in each case on at least: — two samples of milk taken with an interval of five to seven months from all lactating female bovine animals, either individually or in a pool of milk samples taken from not more than five animals; and — two samples of blood, taken with an interval of five to seven months from all non-lactating female bovine animals older than nine months of age, and from all male bovine animals older than nine months of age which are used or intended for breeding purposes;

1.4.3. in the case of dairy farms on which at least 30 % of the bovine animals are lactating female bovine animals, a serological investigation for antibodies against BHV1 has been carried out with negative results in each case on at least: — three milk samples collected with an interval of at least three months from a bulk of milk of not more than 50 lactating female bovine animals, depending on the specification of the test employed; and — one individual sample of blood, taken from all non-lactating female bovine animals older than nine months of age, and from all male bovine animals older than nine months of age which are used or intended for breeding purposes;

1.4.4. all bovine animals on the holding originate either from holdings situated in Member States or regions thereof listed in Annex II or from BHV1- free holdings.

2. The BHV1-free status of a holding keeping bovine animals shall be retained if:

2.1. the conditions in points 1.1 to 1.4 continue to apply, and

2.2. at least one of the following control regimes is applied on the holding within a 12-month period: 2.2.1. a serological investigation for antibodies against BHV1 has been carried out with negative results in each case on at least one individual sample of blood taken from all bovine animals older than 24 months of age; 2.2.2. a serological investigation for antibodies against BHV1 has been carried out with negative results in each case on at least: — one individual sample of milk taken from all lactating female bovine animals, either individually or in a pool of milk samples taken from not more than five animals; and — one individual sample of blood taken from all non-lactating female bovine animals older than 24 months of age, and from all male bovine animals older than 24 months of age; 2.2.3. in the case of dairy farms on which at least 30 % of the bovine animals are lactating female bovine animals, a serological investigation for antibodies against BHV1 has been carried out with negative results in each case on at least: — two milk samples collected with an interval of three to 12 months from a bulk of milk of not more than 50 lactating female bovine animals, depending on the specification of the test employed; and — one individual sample of blood, taken from all non-lactating female bovine animals older than 24 months of age, and from all male bovine animals older than 24 months of age.

3. The BHV1-free status of a holding keeping bovine animals shall be suspended where during the investigations referred to in points 2.2.1 to 2.2.3. an animal has reacted with positive results in a test for antibodies against BHV1.

4. The BHV1-free status of a holding which was suspended in accordance with point 3, shall only be restored after a serological investigation for antibodies against BHV1, commencing not earlier than 30 days after the removal of the seropositive animals, has been carried out with negative result in each case on at least:

— two samples of milk taken with an interval of at least two months from all lactating female bovine animals, either individually or in a pool of milk samples taken from not more than five animals; and

— two samples of blood, taken with an interval of at least three months from all non-lactating female bovine animals, and from all male bovine animals.

Note:

(a) Where reference is made in this Annex to a serological test for the detection of antibodies against BHV1, the principles laid down in Article 2(1)(c) relating to the vaccination status of the tested animals shall apply.