S.L. 437.48 Art. 6Further requirements for animals for breeding or production.

(1) Animals for breeding or production must, in addition to the requirements of regulations 3, 4 and 5 -

(a) have remained in a single holding of origin for a period of thirty days prior to loading, or since birth in the holding of origin where the animals are less than thirty days old. The official veterinarian must, on the basis of the official identification provided for in regulation 3(2)(c) and official records, be satisfied that the animals have complied with this condition and furthermore that the animals have originated in Malta or in the European Community or have been imported from a third country in compliance with European Community animal health legislation: Provided that in the case of animals transiting through an approved assembly centre in Malta or in the Member State of origin, the period during which the assembly of these animals takes place outside the holding of origin shall not exceed six days;

(b) with regard to animals imported from a third country into the territory of Malta which is not the ultimate destination, be transported to the Member State of destination as quickly as practicable under cover of a certificate issued under Article 7 of European Union Council Directive 91/496/EEC;

(c) with regard to animals imported from a third country upon arrival in the territory of Malta and before any further movements, satisfy the requirements of these regulations, and in particular the residency requirement in subregulation (1)(a), and may not be brought into the herd until the veterinarian responsible for that holding has ascertained that the animals in question are not likely to jeopardise the health status of the holding: Provided that if an animal from a third country is introduced into a holding no animal from the holding may be traded for thirty days following introduction unless the imported animal is isolated from all other animals on the holding.

(2) Bovine animals for breeding and production must, in addition to the requirements in regulation 3, 4 and 5 -

(a) come from an officially tuberculosis-free bovine herd, and in the case of animals more than six weeks old, have reacted negatively to an intradermal tuberculin test carried out in accordance with the provisions of point 2.2 of Schedule B either during the thirty days prior to leaving the herd of origin or in a place and under conditions to be defined in accordance with the procedure referred to in regulation 17: Provided that this intradermal tuberculin test is not required if the animals originate in a Member State or part of a Member State recognised as officially tuberculosis free or in a Member State or part of a Member State with an approved surveillance network;

(b) in the case of uncastrated animals which come from an officially brucellosis free bovine herd and more than twelve months old, have shown a brucella count lower that thirty international units (IU) of agglutination per millilitre when given a serum agglutination test (or any test approved by Standing Veterinary Committee

(SVC) procedure following the adoption of the relevant protocols) carried out during the thirty days prior the leaving the herd of origin and complying with the provisions of Annex C Section 2.2.2.1.(a): Provided that this serurn agglutination test (or any test approved by SVC procedure following the adoption of the relevant protocols) is not required if the animals originate in a Member State or part of a Member State recognized as officially bruceliosis free or in a Member State or part of a Member State with an approved surveillance network;

(c) come from an officially enzootic-bovine-leukosis-free herd and, if more than twelve months old, have reacted negatively to an individual test carried out during the thirty days prior to leaving the herd of origin and complying with the provisions of Schedule D: Provided that the test is not required if the animals originate in a Member State or part of a Member State recognised as officially enzootic-bovine-leukosis free or in a Member State or part of a Member State with an approved surveillance network;

(d) at no time between leaving the holding of origin and arriving at destination come into contact with bovine animals which meet only the requirements in subregulation (3);

(e) until 31 December 2000, not be subject to the test requirements laid down in paragraph (a) or (b) in the case of bovine animals aged less than thirty months intended for meat production which -

(i) come from a beef holding officially tuberculosis-free and officially brucellosis-free;

(ii) are accompanied by an animal health certificate with paragraph 7 in Section A of Annex F Model 1 duly completed;

(iii) remain under supervision until their slaughter;

(iv) have not come into contact during transport with bovine animals not coming from herds officially free from those diseases. and provided that -

(i) these arrangements are restricted to trade between Member States or regions of Member States with the same health status with regard to tuberculosis or brucellosis;

(ii) the Member State of destination takes all necessary measures to avoid any contamination of indigenous herds;

(iii) the Member States put in place a proper system of random sampling, inspections and controls designed to ensure the efficient implementation of these regulations;

(iv) the Commission monitors the proper operation of the Directive so as to ensure that Member States comply fully with the regulations.

(3) Bovine animals for slaughter must, in addition to the requirements in regulations 3, 4 and 5, come from herds that are officially tuberculosis free, officially enzootic-bovine-leukosis free and in the case of uncastrated bovines, from herds that are officially brucellosis free.