S.L. 437.80 Art. 8Demarcation of protection and surveillance zones.

(1) The competent authority shall ensure that, in addition to the measures referred to in rule 6, it shall demarcate a protection zone and a surveillance zone. Demarcation of the zones must take into account the geographical, administrative, ecological and epizootiological actors, connected with bluetongue and the control arrangements.

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

(b) The surveillance zone shall consist of a part of the Maltese territory with a depth of at least 50 kilometres extending beyond the limits of the protection zone and in which no vaccination against bluetongue with live attenuated vaccines has been carried out during the previous twelve months.

(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 paragraphs (a) and (b).

(d) However, the protection and surveillance zones shall if necessary, be demarcated in accordance with the procedure provided in the definition "Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health" under rule 2.

(3) On receipt of a duly substantiated request from a Member State, a decision may be taken, in accordance with the procedure provided in the definition "Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health" under rule 2, to change the demarcation of the zones defined in sub-rule (2), in the light of:

(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 rule 7;

(e) the results of laboratory tests;

(f) the application of counter measures, in particular disinsectisation.