S.L. 437.94 Art. 18Vaccination.

(1) Vaccination against the diseases listed in Schedule I

may not be carried out except as a supplement to control measures taken when the disease in question broke out, in accordance with the following provisions:

(a) the decision to introduce vaccination as a supplement to control measures shall be taken by the competent authority in cooperation with the Commission and under its approval;

(b) this decision shall be based on the following criteria in particular:

(i) the concentration of animals of the species concerned in the affected zone;

(ii) the characteristics and composition of each vaccine used;

(iii) the procedures for supervision of the distribution, storage and use of vaccines;

(iv) the species and age of the animals which may or must be vaccinated;

(v) the areas in which vaccination may or must be carried out;

(vi) the duration of the vaccination campaign.

(2) In the cases referred to in sub-rule (1):

(a) the vaccination or re-vaccination of animals of susceptible species on the holdings referred to in rule 4 shall be prohibited;

(b) hyper-immune serum injection shall be prohibited.

(3) In the event of recourse to vaccination, the following rules shall apply:

(a) all vaccinated animals must be identified by a clear and legible mark in accordance with a method approved by the Community;

(b) all vaccinated animals must remain within the vaccination zone unless sent to a slaughterhouse designated by the competent authority for immediate slaughter, in which case the movement of animals may be authorized only after the official veterinarian has carried out an examination of all the susceptible animals on the holding and confirmed that none of the animals is suspected of being infected.

(4) When the vaccination operations have been completed, movements of animals of susceptible species from the vaccination zone may be permitted under the relevant procedure of the Community.

(5) The competent authority shall inform the Commission, on a regular basis, of progress as regards the vaccination measures.

(6) By way of derogation from sub-rule (1), the decision to introduce emergency vaccination may be taken by the competent authority, following notification of the Commission, provided that the fundamental interests of the Community are not affected. That decision, which must in particular take into account the degree of concentration of the animals in certain regions, of the need to protect individual breeds and of the geographical area in which vaccination is carried out, shall forthwith be re-examined, under the relevant procedure of the Community and it may be decided to retain, modify or extend the measures or to bring them to an end.