Council Directive 2000/75/EC of 20 November 2000 laying down specific provisions for the control and eradication of bluetongue
Date: 2000-11-20
Institutions: Council of the European Union
Subjects: EU control, animal disease, sheep, vaccination, veterinary inspection

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COUNCIL DIRECTIVE 2000/75/EC

of 20 November 2000

laying down specific provisions for the control and eradication of bluetongue

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

(7)

A procedure for close cooperation between the Member
States and the Commission must be introduced,

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European
Community,

Having regard to Council Directive 92/119/EEC of 17
December 1992 introducing general Community measures for
the control of certain animal diseases and specific measures
relating to swine vesicular disease (1), and in particular the
second indent of Article 15 thereof,

Having regard to the proposal from the Commission,

Whereas:

HAS ADOPTED THIS DIRECTIVE:

Article 1

This Directive lays down control rules and measures to combat
and eradicate bluetongue.

Article 2

For the purposes of this Directive, the following definitions
shall apply:

In accordance with Article 15 of Directive 92/119/EEC,
specific measures to control and eradicate bluetongue
should be introduced.

(a)

(cid:145)holding(cid:146):
animals
permanently or temporarily reared or kept;

agricultural or other
susceptible
of

species

establishment where
are
bluetongue
to

The epidemiological characteristics of bluetongue are
comparable to those of African horse sickness.

(b)

(cid:145)susceptible species(cid:146): all ruminants;

The Council has adopted Directive 92/35/EEC laying
down control rules and measures to combat African
horse sickness (2).

To combat bluetongue, therefore, the overall measures
laid down by Directive 92/35/EEC to combat African
horse sickness should be used as a model, making
appropriate adjustments due to the characteristics of the
rearing of species susceptible to bluetongue.

Rules
should be laid down on the movement of
susceptible species and their semen, ova and embryos
from areas
to restrictions arising from an
outbreak of the disease.

subject

Article 3 of Council Decision 90/424/EEC of 26 June
1990 on expenditure in the veterinary field (3), applies
in the event of an outbreak of bluetongue.

(1) OJ L 62, 15.3.1993, p. 69. Directive as amended by the 1994 Act

of Accession.

(2) OJ L 157, 10.6.1992, p. 19. Directive as amended by the 1994

Act of Accession.

(3) OJ L 224, 18.8.1990, p. 19. Decision as

last amended by

Regulation (EC) No 1258/1999 (OJ L 160, 26.6.1999, p. 103).

(c)

(d)

(e)

(f)

(g)

(cid:145)animal(s)(cid:146): animal(s) belonging to a susceptible species,
excluding wild animals with regard to which specific
provisions may adopted in accordance with the procedure
laid down in Article 20(2);

(cid:145)owner(cid:146) or (cid:145)holder(cid:146): the natural or legal person(s) owning
the animals or responsible for their upkeep, whether in
return for payment or not;

(cid:145)vector(cid:146): an insect of the species Culicoides imicola or any
other insect of the genus Culicoides capable of transmitting
bluetongue, to be identified according to the procedure
laid down in Article 20(2), on the advice of the Scientific
Veterinary Committee;

(cid:145)suspicion(cid:146): appearance of any clinical sign suggesting
bluetongue in a susceptible species, together with a set of
epidemiological data enabling such a possibility to be
reasonably envisaged;

by

the

competent
declaration
(cid:145)confirmation(cid:146):
authority, based on laboratory results, that the bluetongue
virus is circulating in a specific area; however,
in the
event of an epidemic, the competent authority may also
confirm the presence of
the disease on the basis of
clinical and/or epidemiological results;

the

(1)

(2)

(3)

(4)

(5)

(6)

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L 327/75

(h)

(cid:145)competent authority(cid:146): the central authority of the Member
to conduct veterinary checks, or any
State competent
other veterinary authority to which it has delegated this
competence;

(i)

(cid:145)official veterinarian(cid:146): the veterinarian designated by the
competent authority.

Article 3

Member States
compulsory
notification to the competent authority if circulation of the
bluetongue virus is suspected or confirmed.

immediate,

ensure

shall

the

Article 4

1.
If a holding located in a region not subject to restrictions
within the meaning of this Directive has one or more animals
suspected of being infected with bluetongue, Member States
veterinarian immediately
shall
implements official methods of investigation to confirm or rule
out the presence of the disease.

the official

ensure

that

As soon as notification is given of suspected presence,

2.
the official veterinarian:

(a)

shall place the suspect holding or holdings under official
surveillance;

(b)

shall:

(i)

(ii)

compile an inventory of the animals, indicating for
each species the number of animals already dead,
infected or likely to be infected, and update this
inventory to take account of the animals which are
born or die during the period in which the disease is
suspected;
the data from this inventory must be
produced on request and may be checked during
each visit;

compile an inventory of places likely to facilitate the
survival of or
in
particular, of the sites conducive to its reproduction;

the vector and,

to harbour

(iii) carry out an epidemiological survey in accordance

with Article 7;

(c)

shall make regular visits to the holding or holdings and,
on each occasion, conduct a detailed clinical examination
or an autopsy of animals that are dead or suspected of
infection and confirm the disease, if necessary by means
of laboratory tests;

(d)

shall ensure that:

(ii)

(iii)

(iv)

the animals are confined at times when the vectors
the means
are active, where he considers
required
are
available;

this measures

implementing

that

for

the animals, the buildings used to house them and
their surroundings (in particular habitats in which
the Culicoides populations thrive) are regularly treated
with authorised insecticides. To prevent infestations
by the vectors as
the rate of
treatment shall be fixed by the competent authority,
taking account of the persistence of the insecticide
used and the climatic conditions;

far as possible,

eliminated,

the carcases of the dead animals at the holding are
destroyed,
incinerated or buried in
accordance with Council Directive 90/667/EEC of 27
November 1990 laying down the veterinary rules for
the disposal and processing of animal waste, for its
placing on the market and for the prevention of
pathogens in feedingstuffs of animal or fish origin
and amending Directive 90/425/EEC (1).

Pending implementation of the measures referred to in
3.
paragraph 2, the owner or the holder of any animal suspected
of being infected with the disease shall take all precautionary
measures to comply with the provisions of paragraph 2(d)(i)
and (ii).

The

competent

4.
authority may apply the measures
referred to in paragraph 2 to other holdings in the event that
their location, geographical situation or contacts with the
holding where the disease is suspected provides grounds for
suspecting the possibility of contamination.

5.
In addition to the provisions of paragraph 2, specific
provisions may be laid down, according to the procedure
provided for in Article 20(2),
for nature reserves in which
animals live freely.

The measures referred to in this Article shall not be lifted
the suspected presence of

6.
by the official veterinarian until
bluetongue has been ruled out by the competent authority.

Article 5

Vaccination against bluetongue may be carried out only in
accordance with the provisions laid down in this Directive.

Article 6

1. When the presence of bluetongue is officially confirmed,
the official veterinarian shall:

(a)

proceed,
informing the Commission thereof, with the
slaughter deemed necessary to prevent extension of the
epidemic;

(i)

any movement of animals from or to the holding or
holdings is prohibited;

(1) OJ L 363, 27.12.1990, p. 51. Directive as last amended by the

1994 Act of Accession.

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(b) order the destruction, elimination, incineration or burial
in accordance with

those animals,

the carcases of
of
Directive 90/667/EEC;

2.
A crisis unit shall be established to carry out the overall
coordination of all the measures necessary for ensuring the
eradication of bluetongue as soon as possible and to conduct
the epidemiological survey.

extend the measures provided for in Article 4 to holdings
located within a radius of 20 kilometres (including the
protection zone defined in Article 8) around the infected
holding or holdings;

General rules concerning the national crisis units and the
Community crisis unit shall be laid down according to the
procedure provided for in Article 20(2).

(c)

(d)

implement the measures adopted in accordance with the
procedure laid down in Article 20(2), in particular with
regard to the introduction of any vaccination programme
or other, alternative measure; if need be, the competent
informing the
authorities of a Member State may,
Commission thereof,
starting a
vaccination programme;

take the initiative of

(e)

carry out an epidemiological survey in accordance with
Article 7.

However, by way of derogation from subparagraph (c),
provisions applicable to movements of animals in the zone
may be adopted in accordance with the procedure laid down
in Article 20(2).

The zone referred to in paragraph 1(c) may be extended
2.
or
reduced on the basis of epidemiological, geographical,
ecological or meteorological circumstances by the competent
authority which shall notify the Commission thereof.

3. Where the zone referred to in paragraph 1(c) is located
on the territory of more than one Member State,
the
competent authorities of the Member States concerned shall
cooperate in order to demarcate the zone. If necessary, the
zone shall be demarcated according to the procedure laid
down in Article 20(2).

Article 7

1.

The epidemiological survey shall concern:

(a)

the duration of the period for which bluetongue may
have been present at the holding;

(b)

the possible origin of bluetongue at the holding and the
identification of other holdings which have animals that
may have been infected or contaminated from the same
source;

(c)

the presence and distribution of vectors of the disease;

(d) movements of animals

in
question or any departure of animal carcases from those
holdings.

to the holdings

from or

Article 8

in addition to the
1. Member States shall ensure that,
the competent authority
measures referred to in Article 6,
demarcates
surveillance zone.
Demarcation of the zones must take account of geographical,
administrative,
factors
and
connected with bluetongue and of the control arrangements.

a protection zone

epizootiological

ecological

and a

2.

(a) The protection zone shall consist of a part of the
Community territory having a radius of at least 100
kilometres around the infected holding.

(b) The surveillance zone shall consist of a part of the
least 50
Community territory with a depth of at
the
kilometres
protection zone and in which no vaccination has
been carried out during the previous twelve months.

extending beyond the

limits of

(c) Where the zones are located on the territory of more
than one Member State, the competent authorities of
the Member States concerned shall cooperate for the
purpose of demarcating the zones referred to in
subparagraphs (a) and (b).

(d) However, the protection and surveillance zones shall
to the

if necessary be demarcated according
procedure laid down in Article 20(2).

On receipt of a duly substantiated request

3.
from a
Member State, a decision may be taken, in accordance with the
procedure
the
demarcation of the zones defined in paragraph 2, in the light
of:

laid down in Article 20(2),

to change

(a)

their geographical location and ecological factors;

(b) meteorological conditions;

(c)

the presence and distribution of the vector;

(d)

the results of epizootiological studies carried out pursuant
to Article 7;

(e)

the results of laboratory tests;

(f)

application

the
disinsectisation.

of

countermeasures,

in

particular

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Article 9

Article 13

1. Member States shall ensure that the following measures
are applied in the protection zone:

(a)

the identification of all holdings with animals inside the
zone;

in a given region,

If,
the bluetongue epidemic is of an
exceptionally serious nature, any additional measures to be
taken by the Member States concerned shall be adopted in
accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 20(2).

(b)

(c)

competent

implementation by the

authority of
the
an epidemiosurveillance programme
on the
monitoring of sentinel groups of bovine animals (or, in
their absence, of other species of ruminant) and vector
populations; this programme may be laid down according
to the procedure provided for in Article 20(2);

based

a ban on animals leaving the zone. However, under the
procedure laid down in Article 20(2), exemptions from
the exit ban may be decided on in particular for animals
situated in part of
the zone where there is a proven
absence of viral circulation or of vectors.

2.
In addition to the measures laid down in paragraph 1,
the vaccination of animals against bluetongue and their
identification in the protection zone may be decided on
according to the procedure laid down in Article 20, or on the
initiative of the Member State informing the Commission.

Article 10

Member States shall ensure that:

Article 14

Member States shall ensure that the competent authority takes
all the necessary measures so that all persons in the protection
and surveillance zones are fully informed of the restrictions in
force and make any arrangements required for the proper
implementation of the measures in question.

Article 15

Each Member State shall designate a national laboratory
1.
responsible for carrying out the laboratory tests provided for
by this Directive. These national laboratories, as well as their
powers and obligations, are listed in Annex I.

The national

2.
shall
cooperate with the Community reference laboratory referred to
in Article 16.

listed in Annex I

laboratories

Article 16

1.

2.

the measures provided for in Article 9(1) apply in the
surveillance zone;

any vaccination against bluetongue is prohibited in the
surveillance zone.

The Community reference
is
indicated in Annex II. Without prejudice to the provisions laid
down in Decision 90/424/EEC, in particular Article 28 thereof,
the tasks of this laboratory are set out in Annex II(B).

laboratory for bluetongue

Article 11

Article 17

The measures taken pursuant to Articles 6, 8, 9 and 10 shall
be amended or repealed in accordance with the procedure laid
down in Article 20(2).

Article 12

By way of derogation from Articles 9 and 10, the provisions
applicable
in and from the
protection and surveillance zones
shall be determined in
accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 20(2).

to movements of

animals

Experts from the Commission may, where necessary in order
to ensure the uniform application of this Directive and in
competent
collaboration with the
carry out
authorities,
this purpose they may inspect a
on-the-spot checks. For
representative percentage of holdings
to verify
whether the competent authorities monitor compliance with
the provisions of this Directive. The Commission shall notify
the Member States of the results of the checks carried out.

in order

The Member State on whose territory a check is carried out
shall provide the experts with all the necessary assistance in
the performance of their task.

When the decision referred to in the first paragraph is
adopted, the rules applicable to trade shall be determined in
accordance with the same procedure.

The general
implementing rules for this article shall be laid
down in accordance with the procedure provided for in Article
20(2).

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Article 18

2. Where reference is made to this paragraph, Articles 5
and 7 of Decision 1999/468/EC (1) shall apply.

1.
Each Member State shall draw up a contingency plan
indicating the means by which it applies the measures laid
down in this Directive.

This plan must provide for access
to plant, equipment,
personnel and any other appropriate facility necessary for the
swift and effective eradication of the disease.

The period laid down in Article 5(6) of Decision 1999/468/EC
shall be set at 15 days.

3.

The Committee shall adopt its Rules of Procedure.

The criteria to be applied for drawing up the plans

2.
referred to in paragraph 1 are set out in Annex III.

Article 21

Plans drawn up pursuant to these criteria shall be submitted to
the Commission no later than three months after the entry
into force of this Directive.

to
examine
The Commission shall
determine whether they enable the desired objective to be
attained, and shall suggest to the Member State concerned any
modification required, inter alia, in order to guarantee that they
are compatible with those of the other Member States.

the plans,

in order

The Commission shall approve the plans,
if necessary with
modifications, in accordance with the procedure laid down in
Article 20(2).

The plans may subsequently be modified or supplemented, in
accordance with the same procedure,
to take account of
developments in the situation.

Article 19

This Directive may if necessary be amended by the Council,
acting by a qualified majority on a proposal
from the
Commission.

Acting in accordance with the procedure laid down in Article
20(2), the Commission may adopt, for a period of two years,
the
the
changeover to the new arrangements provided for by this
Directive.

transitional measures necessary

facilitating

for

Article 22

1. Member States shall bring into force the laws, regulations
and administrative provisions necessary to comply with this
Directive by 1 January 2002. They shall forthwith inform the
Commission thereof.

When Member States adopt these measures, they shall contain
a reference to this Directive or shall be accompanied by such
reference on the occasion of
their official publication. The
methods of making such reference shall be laid down by the
Member States.

2. Member States shall communicate to the Commission the
text of the main provisions of national law which they adopt
in the field covered by this Directive.

The Annexes
procedure laid down in Article 20(2).

shall be amended in accordance with the

Article 23

Any detailed rules necessary for the implementation of this
Directive shall be adopted in accordance with the procedure
laid down in Article 20(2).

This Directive is addressed to the Member States.

Done at Brussels, 20 November 2000.

Article 20

The Commission shall be assisted by the Standing

1.
Veterinary Committee.

For the Council

The President

J. GLAVANY

(1) OJ L 184, 17.7.1999, p. 2.

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ANNEX I

A. LISTA DE LOS LABORATORIOS NACIONALES DE LA FIEBRE CATARRAL OVINA

LISTE OVER NATIONALE LABORATORIER FOR BLUETONGUE

LISTE DER F(cid:220)R DIE BLAUZUNGENKRANKHEIT ZUST˜NDIGEN NATIONALEN LABORATORIEN

JASAKOCOR EHMIJXM EQCARSGQIXM CIA SOM JASAQQO(cid:218)JO PTQESO SOT PQOBASOT

LIST OF THE NATIONAL BLUETONGUE LABORATORIES

LISTE DES LABORATOIRES NATIONAUX POUR LA FI¨VRE CATARRHALE DU MOUTON

ELENCO DEI LABORATORI NAZIONALI PER LA FEBBRE CATARRALE DEGLI OVINI

LIJST VAN DE NATIONALE LABORATORIA VOOR BLUETONGUE

LISTA DOS LABORAT(cid:211)RIOS NACIONAIS EM RELA˙ˆO (cid:192) FEBRE CATARRAL OVINA

LUETTELO KANSALLISISTA LAMPAAN BLUETONGUE-TAUTIA VARTEN NIMETYIST˜ LABORATORIOISTA

F(cid:214)RTECKNING (cid:214)VER NATIONELLA LABORATORIER F(cid:214)R BLUETONGUE

Belgium:

Denmark:

Germany:

Greece:

Spain:

France:

Centrum voor Onderzoek in Diergeneeskunde en Agrochemie (CODA)/
Centre d’Øtudes et de recherches vØtØrinaires et agrochimiques (CERVA)
Groeselenbergstraat 99/Rue Groeselenberg 99
B-1180 Brussel/Bruxelles
Tel. (32-2) 375 44 55
Fax (32-2) 375 09 79
E-mail: piker@var.fgov.be

Statens Veterin(cid:230)re Institut for Virusforskning
Lindholm
DK-4771 Kalvehave
Tlf. (45) 55 86 02 00
Fax (45) 55 86 03 00
E-post: sviv@vetvirus.dk

Bundesforschungsanstalt f(cid:252)r Viruskrankheiten der Tiere
Anstaltsteil T(cid:252)bingen
Postfach 11 49
D-72001 T(cid:252)bingen
Tel. (49) 70 71 96 72 55
Fax (49) 70 71 96 73 03

Ministry of Agriculture
Centre of Athens Veterinary Institutions
Virus Department
Neapoleos Str. 25
GR-15310 Ag. Paraskevi
Athens
Tel. (30-1) 601 14 99/601 09 03
Fax (30-1) 639 94 77

Centro de Investigaci(cid:243)n en Sanidad Animal INIA-CISA
D. JosØ Manuel SÆnchez Vizca(cid:237)no
Carretera de Algete-El Casar, km 8, Valdeolmos
E-20180 Madrid
Tel. (34) 916 20 22 16
Fax (34) 916 20 22 47
E-mail: vizcaino@inia.es

CIRAD-EMVT
Campus international de Baillarguet
BP 5035
F-34032 Montpellier Cedex 1
Tel. (33-4) 67 59 37 24
Fax (33-4) 67 59 37 98
E-mail: bastron@cirad.fr

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Ireland:

Italy:

Luxembourg:

Netherlands:

Austria:

Portugal:

Finland:

Sweden:

United Kingdom:

Central Veterinary Research Laboratory
Abbotstown
Castleknock
Dublin 15
Ireland
Tel. (353-1) 607 26 79
Fax (353-1) 822 03 63
E-mail: reillypj@indigo.ie

CESME presso IZS
Via Campo Boario
I-64100 Teramo
Tel. (39) 0861 33 22 16
Fax (39) 0861 33 22 51
E-mail: Cesme@IZS.it

Centre d’Øtudes et de recherches vØtØrinaires et agrochimiques (CERVA)
Rue Groeselenberg 99
B-1180 Bruxelles
Tel. (32-2) 375 44 55
Fax (32-2) 375 09 79
E-mail: piker@var.fgov.be

ID-DLO
Edelhertweg 15
8219 PH Lelystad
Nederland
Tel. (0031-0320) 23 82 38
Fax (0031-0320) 23 80 50
E-mail: postkamer@id.dlo.nl

Bundesanstalt f(cid:252)r Virusseuchenbek(cid:228)mpfung bei Haustieren
Robert Kochgasse 17
A-2340 M(cid:246)dling
Tel. (43-2) 236 466 40-0
Fax (43-2) 236 466 40-941
E-mail: BATSB VetMoedling@compuserve.com

Laborat(cid:243)rio Nacional de Investiga(cid:231)ªo VeterinÆria
Estrada de Benfica, 701
P-1549-011 Lisboa
Tel. (351) 21 711 52 00
Fax (351) 21 711 53 836
E-mail: dir.Inlv@mail.telepac.pt

Danish Institute for Virus Research
Lindholm
DK-4771 Kalvehave
Tlf. (45) 55 86 02 00
Fax (45) 55 86 03 00
E-mail: sviv@vetvirus.dk

Statens veterin(cid:228)rmedicinska anstalt, SVA
S-751 89 Uppsala
Tfn (00-46) 18 67 40 00
Fax (00-46) 18 30 91 62
E-post: sva@sva.se

Institute for Animal Health
Pirbright Laboratory
Ash Road
Pirbright
Woking
Surrey GU24 ONF
United Kingdom
Tel. (44-1483) 23 24 41
Fax (44-1483) 23 24 48
E-mail: philip-mellor@bbsrc.ac.uk

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B. TASKS OF THE NATIONAL LABORATORIES FOR BLUETONGUE

The national
laboratories for bluetongue are responsible for the coordination of the standards and diagnostic
methods laid down by each diagnostic laboratory in the Member State, the use of reagents and the testing of
vaccines. To this end:

(a)

they may supply diagnostic reagents to diagnostic laboratories which request them;

(b)

they check the quality of all the diagnostic reagents used in the Member State;

(c)

they organise comparative tests at regular intervals;

(d)

they preserve isolates of the bluetongue virus taken from confirmed cases in the Member State;

(e)

they ensure confirmation of positive results obtained in regional diagnostic laboratories.

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ANNEX II

A. LABORATORIO COMUNITARIO DE REFERENCIA DE LA FIEBRE CATARRAL OVINA

EF-REFERENCELABORATORIUM FOR BLUETONGUE

GEMEINSCHAFTLICHES REFERENZLABORATORIUM F(cid:220)R DIE BLAUZUNGENKRANKHEIT

JOIMOSIJO EQCARSGQIO AMAUOQAR CIA SOM JASAQQO(cid:218)JO PTQESO SOT PQOBASOT

COMMUNITY REFERENCE LABORATORY FOR BLUETONGUE

LABORATOIRE COMMUNAUTAIRE DE R(cid:201)F(cid:201)RENCE POUR LA FI¨VRE CATARRHALE DU MOUTON

LABORATORIO COMUNITARIO DI RIFERIMENTO PER LA FEBBRE CATARRALE DEGLI OVINI

COMMUNAUTAIR REFERENTIELABORATORIUM VOOR BLUETONGUE

LABORAT(cid:211)RIO COMUNIT`RIO DE REFER˚NCIA EM RELA˙ˆO (cid:192) FEBRE CATARRAL OVINA

LAMPAAN BLUETONGUE-TAUTIA VARTEN NIMETTY YHTEIS(cid:214)N VERTAILULABORATORIO

GEMENSKAPENS REFERENSLABORATORIUM F(cid:214)R BLUETONGUE

AFRC Institute for Animal Health
Pirbright Laboratory
Ash Road
Pirbright
Woking
Surrey GU24 ONF
United Kingdom
Tel. (44-1483) 23 24 41
Fax (44-1483) 23 24 48
E-mail: philip-mellor@bbsrc.ac.uk

B. TASKS OF THE COMMUNITY REFERENCE LABORATORY FOR BLUETONGUE

The Community reference laboratory has the following tasks:

1.

coordinating, in consultation with the Commission, diagnostic methods for bluetongue in the Member States,
in particular by:

(a)

(b)

specifying, holding and supplying strains of the bluetongue virus for the purpose of serological tests and
the preparation of antiserum;

the provision of reference sera and other reference reagents to the national reference laboratories for the
purpose of standardising the tests and the reagents used in each Member State;

(c)

the establishment and conservation of a collection of strains and isolates of the bluetongue virus;

(d)

the regular organisation of Community comparative testing of diagnostic procedures;

(e)

(f)

the collection and collation of data and information concerning the diagnostic methods used and the
results of the tests carried out in the Community;

the classification of isolates of the bluetongue virus, using the most advanced methods, in order to provide
a better understanding of the epizootiology of bluetongue;

(g) monitoring developments worldwide in the area of surveillance, epizootiology and prevention of

bluetongue;

actively assisting in the identification of centres of bluetongue infection in the Member States by studying viral
isolates sent to it for confirmation of diagnosis, classification and epizootiological studies;

facilitating the provision of training and refresher courses for experts in laboratory diagnostics with a view to
harmonising diagnostic techniques throughout the Community;

2.

3.

4. mutual and reciprocal

information exchange with the World Bluetongue Laboratory designated by the
in particular concerning global developments with regard to

International Office for Epizootics (OIE),
bluetongue.

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L 327/83

ANNEX III

MINIMUM CRITERIA APPLICABLE TO CONTINGENCY PLANS

The contingency plans must provide for at least the following:

1.

2.

the establishment at national level of a crisis unit to coordinate all emergency measures in the Member State
concerned;

a list of local emergency centres adequately equipped for the purpose of coordinating control measures at local
level;

3. detailed information on the personnel responsible for emergency measures,

their qualifications and their

responsibilities;

4.

the possibility, for each local centre, of swiftly contacting persons or organisations directly or indirectly affected
by an outbreak;

5.

the availability of the equipment and materials necessary for the proper implementation of emergency measures;

6. precise instructions regarding the steps to be taken,

including means of destroying carcases, when cases of

infection or contamination are suspected and confirmed;

7.

8.

training programmes for updating and enhancing knowledge of procedures on the ground and administrative
procedures;

the capability required for conducting serological and
for the diagnostic laboratories, an autopsy function,
histological tests, etc., and the updating of rapid diagnostic techniques (provisions on the swift transportation of
samples should be laid down for this purpose);

9.

information concerning the quantity of vaccines against bluetongue deemed necessary in case emergency
vaccination needs to be reintroduced;

10.

regulatory provisions for implementing the contingency plans.