S.L. 437.103 Art. 12Consignment of poultry and hatching eggs in relation to vaccine measures.

(1) In the case of consignment of poultry and hatching eggs from a Member State of collection or part thereof, which vaccinate the poultry referred to in sub-rule (2) against Newcastle disease, to Malta, being the Member State of destination, the status of which has been established in accordance with sub-rule (2), the following rules shall apply:

(a) hatching eggs shall come from flocks which are:

(i) not vaccinated; or

(ii) vaccinated using an inactivated vaccine; or

(iii) vaccinated using a live vaccine, provided that vaccination has taken place at least 60 days before the collection of the hatching eggs;

(b) day-old chicks shall come from:

(i) hatching eggs satisfying the conditions in paragraph (a); and OF POULTRY AND HATCHING EGGS) [

(ii) a hatchery where working practices ensure that such eggs are incubated at completely separate times and locations from eggs not satisfying the conditions in paragraph (a);

(c) breeding and productive poultry shall:

(i) not have been vaccinated against Newcastle disease; and

(ii) have been isolated for 14 days before consignment, at either a holding or a quarantine station under the supervision of the official veterinarian. In this regard, no fowl at the holding of origin or quarantine station, as applicable, may have been vaccinated against Newcastle disease during the 21 days preceding consignment and no bird which is not due for consignment may have entered the holding or the quarantine station during that time; in addition, no vaccinations may be carried out in the quarantine stations; and

(iii) have undergone, during the 14 days preceding consignment, representative serological testing to detect Newcastle disease antibodies in accordance with detailed rules adopted pursuant to the procedure referred to in the definition "Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health" as provided under rule 2(2); and

(d) slaughter poultry shall come from flocks which:

(i) if not vaccinated against Newcastle disease, satisfy the requirement in the third item of paragraph (c); and

(ii) if vaccinated, have not been vaccinated with a live vaccine during the 30 days preceding consignment and have undergone, during the 14 days preceding consignment and on the basis of a representative sample, a test to isolate the Newcastle disease virus complying with detailed rules adopted in accordance with the procedure referred to in the definition "Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health" as provided under rule 2(2).

(2) The status of Malta, being the Member State of destination as regards Newcastle disease, shall be established in accordance with the procedure referred to in the definition "Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health" as provided under rule 2(2), at the latest six months before the date on which the competent authority shall conform to these rules. The elements to be taken into consideration for determining this status shall be the data referred to in rule 14(1) and, in particular, the following criteria:

(i) no Newcastle disease shall have been detected in the OF POULTRY AND HATCHING EGGS)

poultry for at least the preceding 12 months;

(ii) vaccination against Newcastle disease in the poultry referred to in sub-rule (1), shall not have been authorised for at least the preceding 12 months;

(iii) all breeding flocks shall have been monitored at least once a year for the presence of Newcastle disease; and

(iv) the holdings shall contain no poultry which have been vaccinated against Newcastle disease.