S.L. 437.79 Art. 17Checks and inspections. CHAPTER I. A. Grant An officially 1. a (a) in (b) (c) in on at (d) in an 2. a caprine B. 1. In the holdings officially animals is representative checked free status if animals to be - all - all - in 2. For a the ovine or free, the may be brucellosis programme. C.

(1) Veterinary experts from the Commission may, in cooperation with the Veterinary Services, carry out on-the-spot inspections. The Veterinary Services on whose territory inspections are carried out shall afford all necessary aid to the experts in the accomplishment of their task.

(2) Concerning checks at destination, where Malta implements an alternative control system providing guarantees equivalent to those laid down in rule 8 and rule 9(a) and ( ) as regards c movements within its territory of ovine and caprine animals, Veterinary Services may grant one another derogations from the inspection provided for under rule 4(1)(b) and the obligation to produce a certificate provided for under rule 15 on a reciprocal basis for Member States which implement an alternative control system providing guarantees equivalent to those laid down in rules 8 and 9(a) and (c) as regards movements within their territory of ovine and caprine animals. The Veterinary Services shall notify the European Commission thereof. SCHEDULE A

1 Officially brucellosis (B. ovine or caprine holding melitensis)-free of status brucellosis (B. melitensis)-free ovine or caprine holding means holding: which all the animals which are susceptible to brucellosis (B. have been free from clinical or any other signs of brucellosis melitensis) (B. melitensis) for at least 12 months; which contains no ovine or caprine animals which have been vaccinated against brucellosis (B. save those vaccinated at least two melitensis), years previously with Rev. 1 vaccine or any other vaccine approved under the relevant procedure of the European Community; which two tests separated by an interval of six months or more have been carried out, with negative results, in accordance with Schedule C all ovine and caprine animals on the holding over six months of age the time of testing; and which, following the tests referred to in paragraph (c), there are only ovine or caprine animals born on the holding or which have come from officially brucellosis-free or brucellosis-free holding under the conditions laid down in point D, and in which, after qualification, the requirements laid down in point B continue to be fulfilled;

holding situated in an "officially recognized brucellosis-free ovine or holding" in terms of the definition in rule 2.

Maintenance of status case of officially brucellosis (B. ovine or caprine melitensis)-free which are not situated in a part of the territory which is recognized as brucellosis-free, and in which, after qualification, the introduction of carried out in accordance with the requirements of point D, a number of the ovine and caprine animals over six months old must be annually. The holding may retain its officially brucellosis (B. melitensis)-the results of the tests are negative. The representative number of tested must, for each holding, consist of the following: non-castrated male animals over six months old, animals brought onto the holding since the previous test, 25% of the females which have reached the age of reproduction (i.e. which are sexually mature) or are in milk, with a minimum of 50 per holding except in holdings where there are fewer than 50 such females, which case all females must be tested. region which is not officially brucellosis-free where more than 99% of caprine holdings are declared to be officially brucellosis (B. melitensis)-frequency of checks of officially brucellosis-free ovine or caprine holdings extended to three years, provided that the holdings which are not officially free are placed under official control or undergo an eradication

Suspected or actual cases of brucellosis