Terrestrial Animal Health Code
Terrestrial Animal Health Code |
Application for official recognition by the OIE of free status for African horse sickness
Country free from infection with African
horse sickness virus
The following information should be provided
by OIE Member Countries to support applications for official recognition
of status as a country free from infection with
African horse sickness (AHS) virus in accordance with Chapter 12.1. of the Terrestrial Code.
The dossier provided to the OIE should address concisely all the topics under the headings provided to describe the actual situation in the country and the procedures currently applied, explaining how these comply with the Terrestrial Code.
The terminology defined in the OIE Terrestrial Code and Terrestrial Manual should be referred to and used in compiling the dossier.
National legislation, regulations and Veterinary Authority directives
may be referred to and annexed as appropriate in one of the OIE
official languages. Weblinks to supporting documents in one of the
official languages of the OIE may also be provided, where they exist.
All annexes should be provided in one of the
OIE official languages.
The Delegate of the Member Country applying for recognition of AHS freedom for a country must demonstrate compliance with the Terrestrial Code. That is, the Delegate should submit documentary evidence that the provisions of Article 12.1.2. have been properly implemented and supervised.
In addition, the Delegate of the Member Country
must submit a declaration indicating that:
there has been no case of infection with
AHS virus for at least the past two years;
no routine vaccination against
AHS has been carried out during the past year;
and that any equids imported have been done so in accordance with Chapter 12.1.
In addition, the Delegate of the Member Country
applying for recognition of historical freedom must also submit documentary
evidence that the provisions of point 1 a) of
Article 1.4.6. of
the Terrestrial Code have
been properly implemented and supervised.
Introduction
Geographical features (rivers, mountain ranges, etc.). Provide a general description of the country and, where relevant, of the region, including physical, geographical and other factors that are relevant to introduction of infection and spread of AHS virus, taking into account the countries sharing common borders and other epidemiologic pathways for the potential introduction of infection. Provide maps identifying the features above. Specify whether the application includes any noncontiguous territories.
Demographics of domestic equids. Describe the composition of the equine population by species (e.g. horses, donkeys, mules, zebras, etc.) within the various sectors.
Equine sectors are defined as equids (including
donkeys, mules, hinnies and zebras) used for breeding stock, competition,
leisure, exhibition, working (including transport) and production.
How are the equine sectors distributed (e.g. density, etc.) throughout
the country? Provide tables and maps as appropriate.
Equine sectors. Provide a general description of the relative economic importance of the equine sectors in the country. Consider the below-mentioned sector groupings and outline any recent significant changes observed within the sector groupings (attach relevant documents if available):
breeding stock equids;
competition horses;
leisure equids;
exhibition equids;
working, transport and production equids (including donkeys, mules and hinnies).
Wildlife demographics. What captive wild, wild or feral equids are present in the country? Provide estimates of population sizes and geographic distribution.
Veterinary system
Legislation. Provide a table (and when available a weblink) listing all relevant veterinary legislation, regulations and Veterinary Authority directives in relation to AHS and a brief description of the relevance of each. The table should include, but not be limited to, the legislation on disease control measures and compensation systems.
Veterinary Services. Describe how the Veterinary Services of the country comply with Chapters 1.1., 3.1. and 3.2. of the Terrestrial Code. Describe how the Veterinary Services supervise, control, enforce and monitor all AHS-related activities. Provide maps, figures and tables wherever possible.
Provide information on any OIE PVS evaluation conducted in the country and follow-up steps within the PVS Pathway and highlight the results relevant to AHS and the susceptible species.
Provide a description of the involvement and the participation of industry, producers, farmers, including subsistence and small-scale producers, keepers, veterinary paraprofessionals including community animal health workers, and other relevant groups in AHS surveillance and control. Provide a description of the role and structure of the private veterinary sector, including the number of veterinarians and their distribution, in AHS surveillance and control. Include a description of continuing education and awareness programmes on AHS at all relevant levels.
Animal identification, registration, traceability and movement control. Are equids identified (individually or at a group level)? Provide a description of the traceability system, including methods of animal identification and establishment or herd registration, applicable to all equine sectors. How are movements of equids controlled in the country for all equine sectors? Provide evidence of the effectiveness of animal identification and movement controls and a table describing the number, species, origin and destination of the animals and their products moved within the country in the past 24 months. Provide information on pastoralism, transhumance and related paths of movement.
Describe the risk management strategy for uncontrolled movements of susceptible species (e.g. seasonal migration).
Describe the actions available under national
legislation. Provide information on illegal movements detected in
the past 24 months and the action taken.
Leisure, exhibition and competition movements of equids. How are movements of these types of equids controlled in the country? Provide information on systems including any use of registration. Provide information on any events that include international movements of equids.
Describe the market systems for the sale of, or transfer of ownership of, equids in the country, including where the international movement of equids occurs.
AHS eradication
History. If infection has never occurred in the country, or has not occurred within the past 25 years, state explicitly whether or not the country is applying for recognition of historical freedom according to point 1 a) of Article 1.4.6. of the Terrestrial Code.
If infection has occurred in the country within the past 25 years, provide a description of the AHS history in the country, with emphasis on recent years. If applicable, provide tables and maps showing the date of first detection, the sources and routes of introduction of infection, the temporal and spatial distribution (number and location of outbreaks per year), the susceptible species involved, and the date of last case or eradication in the country.
Strategy. Describe how AHS was controlled and eradicated (e.g. isolation of cases, stamping-out policy, zoning, movement control, protection of equids against vectors). Provide the time frame for eradication. Describe and justify the corrective actions that have been implemented to prevent future outbreaks of AHS in response to any past incursions of AHS virus.
Vaccines and vaccination. Briefly answer the following:
Is there any legislation that prohibits vaccination? If so:
Provide the date when vaccination was formally prohibited;
Provide information on cases of detection of illegal vaccination during the reporting period and actions taken in response to the detection.
Was vaccination ever used in the country? If so:
Provide the date when the last vaccination was carried out;
What type of vaccine was used?
What species were vaccinated?
How were vaccinated animals identified?
What was the fate of those animals?
In addition, if vaccination was applied during the past 24 months, provide a description and justification of the vaccination strategy and programme, including the following:
the vaccine strains;
the species vaccinated;
identification of vaccinated animals;
the way in which the vaccination of animals was certified or reported and the records maintained;
evidence that the vaccine used complies with Chapter 2.5.1. of the Terrestrial Manual.
Provide a description of the legislation, organisation and implementation of the eradication campaign. Outline the legislation applicable to the eradication and how the campaign was organised at different levels. Indicate if detailed operational guidelines exist and give a brief summary.
AHS diagnosis
Provide documentary evidence that the relevant provisions of Chapters 1.1.2., 1.1.3. and 2.5.1. of the Terrestrial Manual are applied. The following points should be addressed:
Is AHS laboratory diagnosis carried out in the country? If so, provide an overview of the AHS-approved laboratories in the country, including the following:
How the work is shared between different laboratories, logistics for shipment of samples, the follow-up procedures and the time frame for reporting results;
Details of test capability and the types of tests undertaken and their performance for their applied use (specificity and sensitivity per type of test). Provide details of the number of AHS tests performed in the past 24 months in national laboratories and in laboratories in other countries, if relevant;
Procedures for quality assurance and for the official accreditation of laboratories. Give details of formal internal quality management systems, e.g. Good Laboratory Practice, ISO, etc. that exist in, or are planned for, the laboratory system;
Provide details of performance in inter-laboratory validation tests (ring trials), including the most recent results and, if applicable, the corrective measures applied;
Provide details of the handling of live pathogenic agent, including a description of the biosecurity and biosafety measures applied;
Provide a table identifying the tests carried out by each of the laboratories where they are performed, the quality accreditation and biosecurity standards followed and the proficiency tests carried out.
If AHS laboratory diagnosis is not carried out in the country, provide the names of the laboratories in other countries providing the service as well as the arrangements in place, including logistics for shipment of samples and the time frame for reporting results.
AHS surveillance
Provide documentary evidence that surveillance for AHS in the country complies with Articles 12.1.11. to 12.1.13. of the Terrestrial Code, and Chapter 2.5.1. of the Terrestrial Manual. The following information should be included:
What are the criteria for raising a suspicion of AHS? What is the procedure to notify (by whom and to whom) and what incentives are there for reporting and what penalties are involved for failure to report?
Describe how clinical surveillance is conducted, including which equine sectors are included in clinical surveillance, such as establishments, markets, fairs, slaughterhouses/abattoirs, check points, etc.
Provide a summary table indicating, for the past 24 months, the number of suspected cases, the number of samples tested for AHS, species, type of sample, testing methods and results (including differential diagnosis). Provide an indication of the timelines of the response including completion of testing to confirm or exclude AHS. Provide details of follow-up actions taken on all suspicious and positive results.
Other surveillance. Is surveillance undertaken as described in Article 12.1.13., specifically:
Serological surveillance.
Virological surveillance including genome or antigen detection.
Sentinel animals.
If so, provide detailed information on the target population, design prevalence, confidence level, sample size, stratification, sampling methods and diagnostic tests used in accordance with Articles 12.1.11. and 12.1.13. of the Terrestrial Code. How frequently are they conducted? Which equine species are included? Are wildlife species included? If not, explain the rationale.
Provide a summary table and maps indicating detailed results for at least the past 24 months. Provide details of follow-up actions taken on all suspicious and positive results and how these findings are acted upon. Provide criteria for selection of populations for targeted surveillance and numbers of equids examined and samples tested in diagnostic laboratories. Provide details of the methods selected and applied for monitoring the performance of the surveillance programme including indicators.
Provide information on risks in the different equine sectors, and provide evidence that targeted studies are implemented to address gaps (e.g. targeted serological surveys, active surveillance, participatory epidemiology studies, risk assessments, etc.). Provide evidence of how the knowledge acquired through these activities assisted in more effective implementation of control measures.
Provide details of the oversight of surveillance programmes by the Veterinary Services including training programmes for personnel involved in clinical, serological, virological and other surveillance, and the approaches used to increase community involvement in AHS surveillance programmes.
AHS prevention
Describe the procedures in place to prevent the introduction of AHS into the country, including details of:
Coordination with other countries. Describe any relevant factors in neighbouring countries that should be taken into account (e.g. size, distance from the border to affected herds or animals, wind currents and possible vector spread)? Describe coordination, collaboration and information-sharing activities with other countries in the same region or ecosystem.
If the AHS free country borders an infected country or zone, describe the animal health measures implemented to effectively prevent the introduction of the pathogenic agent or vectors, taking into consideration the seasonal vector conditions and existing physical, geographical and ecological barriers.
Are protection zones in place? If so, provide details of the measures that are applied (e.g. vaccination, intensified surveillance, density control of susceptible species), and provide a geo-referenced map of the zones.
Describe the measures implemented to effectively prevent the introduction of the pathogenic agent, taking into consideration physical or geographical barriers. Describe the measures implemented to prevent the spread of the pathogenic agent within the country. Provide evidence that measures to reduce transmission of AHS are in place at markets, such as enhancing awareness of AHS transmission mechanisms and human behaviour that can interrupt transmission, and implementation of good biosecurity, hygiene and disinfection routines at critical points all along the production and marketing networks (typically where animals are being moved and marketed through the country or region).
Import control procedures
Provide information on countries, zones or compartments from which the country authorises the import of susceptible animals or their products into the country. Describe the criteria applied to approve such countries, zones or compartments, the controls applied to entry of such animals and products, and subsequent internal movement. Describe the import measures (e.g. quarantine) and test procedures required. Advise whether imported animals of susceptible species are required to undergo a quarantine or isolation period and, if so, the duration and location of quarantine. Advise whether import permits and international veterinary certificates are required.
Describe any other procedures used for assessing the risks posed by import of susceptible animals or their products. Provide summary statistics on imports of susceptible animals and their products for at least the past 24 months, including temporary import and re-entry, specifying countries, zones or compartments of origin, species and the quantity or volume and eventual destination in the country. Provide information on whether or not outbreaks have been related to imports or transboundary movements of domestic equids.
Provide a map showing the number and location of all ports, airports and land border crossings. Describe the management structure, staffing levels and resources of the service responsible for import controls and its accountability to the central Veterinary Services. Describe the communication systems between the central authorities and the border posts, and between border posts.
Cite the regulations and describe procedures, type and frequency of checks, and management of noncompliance at the points of entry into the country or their final destination, concerning the import and follow-up of the following:
equids;
genetic material (semen, oocytes and embryos of the equine species);
equine derived (by-)products;
Control measures and contingency planning
List any written guidelines, including contingency plans, available to the Veterinary Services for dealing with suspected or confirmed outbreaks of AHS. The contingency plan should be attached as an annex in one of the OIE official languages. If not available, provide a brief summary of what is covered. Provide information on any simulation exercise for AHS that was conducted in the country in the past five years.
In the event of a suspected or confirmed AHS outbreak:
Are quarantine measures imposed on establishments with suspected cases, pending final diagnosis? What other procedures are followed with respect to suspected cases (e.g. standstills)?
Indicate the sampling, dispatch and testing procedures that would be used to identify and confirm presence of the pathogenic agent;
Describe the actions that would be taken to control the disease situation in and around the establishments where the outbreak is confirmed;
Provide a detailed description of the control or eradication procedures (e.g. forward and backward tracing, movement control, disinfection of establishments, vehicles and equipment, including verification methods, vaccination, stamping-out policy, vector-protected stabling, methods of disposal of carcasses and other contaminated products or materials, decontamination, campaigns to promote awareness of farmers) that would be taken. In the case of emergency vaccination, indicate the source and type of vaccine and provide details of any vaccine supply scheme and stocks;
Describe the criteria and procedures that would be used to confirm that an outbreak has been successfully controlled or eradicated, including restocking strategies, use of sentinel animals, serological surveillance programmes, etc.;
Give details of any compensation that would be made available to owners, farmers, etc. when animals are slaughtered for disease control or eradication purposes and the prescribed timetable for payments;
Describe how control efforts, including vaccination and biosecurity, would target critical risk control points.
Recovery of free status
Member Countries applying for recognition of recovery of free status for a country should comply with the provisions of Article 12.1.5. of the Terrestrial Code and provide detailed information as specified in Sections 4 a), 4 b), 4 c) and 6, and Sections 1-7 (inclusive) of this questionnaire. Information in relation to other sections need only be supplied if relevant.
Zone free from infection with African horse sickness virus
The following information should be provided by OIE Member Countries to support applications for official recognition of status as a zone free from infection with African horse sickness virus in accordance with Chapter 12.1. of the Terrestrial Code.
The dossier provided to the OIE should address concisely all the topics under the headings provided to describe the actual situation in the country and the procedures currently applied, explaining how these comply with the Terrestrial Code.
The terminology defined in the OIE Terrestrial Code and Terrestrial Manual should be referred to and used in compiling the dossier.
National legislation, regulations and Veterinary Authority directives may be referred to and annexed as appropriate in one of the OIE official languages. Weblinks to supporting documents in one of the official languages of the OIE may also be provided, where they exist.
All annexes should be provided in one of the OIE official languages.
The Delegate of the Member Country applying for recognition of AHS freedom for a zone must demonstrate compliance with the Terrestrial Code. That is, the Delegate should submit documentary evidence that the provisions of Article 12.1.2. have been properly implemented and supervised.
In addition, the Delegate of the Member Country must submit a declaration indicating that:
there has been no case of infection with AHS virus for at least the past two years in the zone;
no routine vaccination against AHS has been carried out during the past year in the zone;
and that any equids imported into the zone have been done so in accordance with Chapter 12.1.
In addition, the Delegate of the Member Country applying for recognition of historical freedom must also submit documentary evidence that the provisions of point 1 a) of Article 1.4.6. of the Terrestrial Code have been properly implemented and supervised.
Introduction
Geographical features (rivers, mountain ranges, etc.). Provide a general description of the country and the zone, and where relevant of the region, including physical, geographical and other factors that are relevant to introduction of infection and spread of AHS virus, taking into account the countries or zones sharing common borders and other epidemiologic pathways for the potential introduction of infection.
The boundaries of the zone must be clearly defined, including a protection zone if applied. Provide maps identifying the features above, including a digitalised, geo-referenced map with a precise text description of the geographical boundaries of the zone.
Demographics of domestic equids. Describe the composition of the equine population by species (e.g. horses, donkeys, mules, zebras, etc.) within the various sectors in the country and the zone.
Equine sectors are defined as equids (including donkeys, mules, hinnies and zebras) used for breeding stock, competition, leisure, exhibition, working (including transport) and production. How are the equine sectors distributed (e.g. density, etc.) throughout the country and the zone? Provide tables and maps as appropriate.
Equine sectors. Provide a general description of the relative economic importance of the equine sectors in the country and the zone. Consider the below-mentioned sector groupings and outline any recent significant changes observed within the sector groupings (attach relevant documents if available):
breeding stock equids;
competition horses;
leisure equids;
exhibition equids;
working, transport and production equids (including donkeys, mules and hinnies).
Wildlife demographics. What captive wild, wild or feral equids are present in the country and the zone? Provide estimates of population sizes and geographic distribution.
Veterinary system
Legislation. Provide a table (and when available a weblink) listing all relevant veterinary legislation, regulations and Veterinary Authority directives in relation to AHS and a brief description of the relevance of each. The table should include, but not be limited to, the legislation on disease control measures and compensation systems.
Veterinary Services. Describe how the Veterinary Services of the country comply with Chapters 1.1., 3.1. and 3.2. of the Terrestrial Code. Describe how the Veterinary Services supervise, control, enforce and monitor all AHS-related activities. Provide maps, figures and tables wherever possible.
Provide information on any OIE PVS evaluation conducted in the country and follow-up steps within the PVS Pathway and highlight the results relevant to AHS and the susceptible species.
Provide a description of the involvement and the participation of industry, producers, farmers, including subsistence and small-scale producers, keepers, veterinary paraprofessionals including community animal health workers, and other relevant groups in AHS surveillance and control. Provide a description of the role and structure of the private veterinary sector, including the number of veterinarians and their distribution, in AHS surveillance and control. Include a description of continuing education and awareness programmes on AHS at all relevant levels.
Animal identification, registration, traceability and movement control. Are equids identified (individually or at a group level)? Provide a description of the traceability system, including methods of animal identification and establishment or herd registration, applicable to all equine sectors. How are movements of equids controlled in and between zones of the same or different status for all equine sectors? Provide evidence of the effectiveness of animal identification and movement controls and a table describing the number, species, origin and destination of the animals and their products moved within the country in the past 24 months. Provide information on pastoralism, transhumance and related paths of movement.
Describe the risk management strategy for uncontrolled movements of susceptible species (e.g. seasonal migration).
Describe the actions available under national legislation. Provide information on illegal movements detected in the past 24 months and the action taken.
Leisure, exhibition and competition movements of equids. How are movements of these types of equids controlled in the country and the zones? Provide information on systems including any use of registration. Provide information on any events that include international movements of equids.
Describe the market systems for the sale of, or transfer of ownership of, equids in the country and the zones, including where the international movement of equids occurs.
AHS eradication
History. If infection has never occurred in the country, or has not occurred within the past 25 years, state explicitly whether or not the zone is applying for recognition of historical freedom according to point 1 a) of Article 1.4.6. of the Terrestrial Code.
If infection has occurred in the zone within the past 25 years, provide a description of the AHS history in the country and zone, with emphasis on recent years. If applicable, provide tables and maps showing the date of first detection, the sources and routes of introduction of infection, the temporal and spatial distribution (number and location of outbreaks per year), the susceptible species involved, and the date of last case or eradication in the zone.
Strategy. Describe how AHS was controlled and eradicated in the zone (e.g. isolation of cases, stamping-out policy, zoning, movement control, protection of equids against vectors). Provide the time frame for eradication. Describe and justify the corrective actions that have been implemented to prevent future outbreaks of AHS in response to any past incursions of AHS virus.
Vaccines and vaccination. Briefly answer the following:
Is there any legislation that prohibits vaccination? If so:
Provide the date when vaccination was formally prohibited;
Provide information on cases of detection of illegal vaccination during the reporting period and actions taken in response to the detection.
Was vaccination ever used in the country? If so:
Provide the date when the last vaccination was carried out;
What type of vaccine was used in the zone and the rest of the country?
What species were vaccinated?
How were vaccinated animals identified?
What was the fate of those animals?
In addition, if vaccination was
applied during the past 24 months, provide a description and justification of
the vaccination strategy
and programme, including the following:
the vaccine strains;
the species vaccinated;
identification of vaccinated animals;
the way in which the vaccination of animals was certified or reported and the records maintained;
evidence that the vaccine used complies with Chapter 2.5.1. of the Terrestrial Manual.
Provide a description of the legislation, organisation and implementation of the eradication campaign. Outline the legislation applicable to the eradication and how the campaign was organised at different levels. Indicate if detailed operational guidelines exist and give a brief summary.
AHS diagnosis
Provide documentary evidence that the relevant
provisions of Chapters 1.1.2., 1.1.3. and 2.5.1. of the Terrestrial Manual are
applied. The following points should be addressed:
Is AHS laboratory diagnosis
carried out in the country? If so, provide an overview of the AHS-approved laboratories in
the country. Indicate the laboratories where
samples originating from the zone are
diagnosed. Address the following points:
How the work is shared between
different laboratories, logistics
for shipment of samples, the follow-up procedures and the time frame
for reporting results;
Details of test capability and the types
of tests undertaken and their performance for their applied use (specificity
and sensitivity per type of test). Provide details of the number
of AHS tests performed in the past 24 months in national laboratories and
in laboratories in
other countries, if relevant;
Procedures for quality assurance and for the official accreditation of laboratories. Give details of formal internal quality management systems, e.g. Good Laboratory Practice, ISO, etc. that exist in, or are planned for, the laboratory system;
Provide details of performance in inter-laboratory validation tests (ring tests), including the most recent results and, if applicable, the corrective measures applied;
Provide details of the handling of live pathogenic agent, including a description of the biosecurity and biosafety measures applied;
Provide a table identifying the tests carried out by each of the laboratories where they are performed, the quality accreditation and biosecurity standards followed and the proficiency tests carried out.
If AHS laboratory diagnosis is not carried out in the country, provide the names of the laboratories in other countries providing the service as well as the arrangements in place, including logistics for shipment of samples and the time frame for reporting results.
AHS surveillance
Provide documentary evidence that surveillance for
AHS in the zone complies
with Articles 12.1.11. to 12.1.13. of the Terrestrial Code,
and Chapter 2.5.1. of the Terrestrial Manual.
The following information should be included:
What are the criteria for
raising a suspicion of AHS? What is the procedure to notify (by
whom and to whom) and what incentives are there for reporting and
what penalties are involved for failure to report?
Describe how clinical surveillance is
conducted, including which equine sectors are included in clinical surveillance,
such as establishments,
markets, fairs, slaughterhouses/abattoirs, check
points, etc.
Provide a summary table indicating, for the past 24 months, the number of suspected cases, the number of samples tested for AHS, species, type of sample, testing methods and results (including differential diagnosis). Provide an indication of the timelines of the response including completion of testing to confirm or exclude AHS. Provide details of follow-up actions taken on all suspicious and positive results.
Other surveillance. Is surveillance undertaken as described in Article 12.1.13., specifically:
Serological surveillance.
Virological surveillance including genome or antigen detection.
Sentinel animals.
If so, provide detailed information on the target
population, design prevalence, confidence level, sample size, stratification,
sampling methods and diagnostic tests used in accordance with Articles 12.1.11. and 12.1.13. of the Terrestrial Code.
How frequently are they conducted? Which equine species are included?
Are wildlife species
included? If not, explain the rationale.
Provide a summary table and maps indicating detailed results for at least the past 24 months. Provide details of follow-up actions taken on all suspicious and positive results and how these findings are acted upon. Provide criteria for selection of populations for targeted surveillance and numbers of equids examined and samples tested in diagnostic laboratories. Provide details of the methods selected and applied for monitoring the performance of the surveillance programme including indicators.
Provide information on risks in the different equine sectors, and provide evidence that targeted studies are implemented to address gaps (e.g. targeted serological surveys, active surveillance, participatory epidemiology studies, risk assessments, etc.). Provide evidence of how the knowledge acquired through these activities assisted in more effective implementation of control measures.
Provide details of the oversight of surveillance programmes by the Veterinary Services including training programmes for personnel involved in clinical, serological and virological surveillance, and the approaches used to increase community involvement in AHS surveillance programmes.
AHS prevention
Describe the procedures in place to prevent the introduction of AHS into the country or zone, including details of:
Coordination with other countries.
Describe any relevant factors in neighbouring countries and zones that should
be taken into account (e.g. size, distance from the border to affected herds or
animals, wind currents and possible vector spread)?
Describe coordination, collaboration and information-sharing activities
with other countries and zones in
the same region or ecosystem.
If the AHS free zone is
established in an AHS infected country or borders an infected country
or zone, describe
the animal health measures implemented to effectively prevent the
introduction of the pathogenic agent or vectors,
taking into consideration the seasonal vector conditions
and existing physical, geographical and ecological barriers.
Are protection zones in
place? If so, indicate whether or not the protection zones are
included in the proposed free zones. Provide
details of the measures that are applied (e.g. vaccination, intensified surveillance,
density control of susceptible species), and provide a geo-referenced
map of the zones.
Describe the measures implemented to effectively prevent the introduction of the pathogenic agent, taking into consideration physical or geographical barriers. Describe the measures implemented to prevent the spread of the pathogenic agent within the country or zone. Provide evidence that measures to reduce transmission of AHS are in place at markets, such as enhancing awareness of AHS transmission mechanisms and human behaviour that can interrupt transmission, and implementation of good biosecurity, hygiene and disinfection routines at critical points all along the production and marketing networks (typically where animals are being moved and marketed through the country or region).
Import control procedures
Provide information on countries, zones or compartments from which the country authorises the import of susceptible animals or their products into the country or zone. Describe the criteria applied to approve such countries, zones or compartments, the controls applied to entry of such animals and products, and subsequent internal movement. Describe the import measures (e.g. quarantine) and test procedures required. Advise whether imported animals of susceptible species are required to undergo a quarantine or isolation period and, if so, the duration and location of quarantine. Advise whether import permits and international veterinary certificates are required.
Describe any other procedures used for assessing the risks posed by import of susceptible animals or their products. Provide summary statistics on imports of susceptible animals and their products for at least the past 24 months, including temporary import and re-entry, specifying countries, zones or compartments of origin, species and the quantity or volume and eventual destination in the country or zone. Provide information on whether or not outbreaks have been related to imports or transboundary movements of domestic equids.
Provide a map showing the number and location of all ports, airports and land border crossings. Describe the management structure, staffing levels and resources of the service responsible for import controls and its accountability to the central Veterinary Services. Describe the communication systems between the central authorities and the border posts, and between border posts.
Cite the regulations and describe procedures, type and frequency of checks, and management of noncompliance at the points of entry into the zone or their final destination, concerning the import and follow-up of the following:
equids;
genetic material (semen, oocytes and embryos of the equine species);
equine derived (by-)products;
Control measures and contingency planning
List any written guidelines, including contingency plans, available to the Veterinary Services for dealing with suspected or confirmed outbreaks of AHS. The contingency plan should be attached as an annex in one of the OIE official languages. If not available, provide a brief summary of what is covered. Provide information on any simulation exercise for AHS that was conducted in the country in the past five years.
In the event of a suspected or confirmed AHS outbreak:
Are quarantine measures imposed on establishments with suspected cases, pending final diagnosis? What other procedures are followed with respect to suspected cases (e.g. standstills)?
Indicate the sampling, dispatch and testing procedures that would be used to identify and confirm presence of the pathogenic agent;
Describe the actions that would be taken to control the disease situation in and around the establishments where the outbreak is confirmed;
Provide a detailed description of the control or eradication procedures (e.g. forward and backward tracing, movement control, disinfection of establishments, vehicles and equipment, including verification methods, vaccination, stamping-out policy, vector-protected stabling, methods of disposal of carcasses and other contaminated products or materials, decontamination, campaigns to promote awareness of farmers) that would be taken. In the case of emergency vaccination, indicate the source and type of vaccine and provide details of any vaccine supply scheme and stocks;
Describe the criteria and procedures that would be used to confirm that an outbreak has been successfully controlled or eradicated, including restocking strategies, use of sentinel animals, serological surveillance programmes, etc.;
Give details of any compensation that would be made available to owners, farmers, etc. when animals are slaughtered for disease control or eradication purposes and the prescribed timetable for payments;
Describe how control efforts, including vaccination and biosecurity, would target critical risk control points.
Recovery of free status
Member Countries applying for recognition of recovery of free status for a zone should comply with the provisions of Article 12.1.5. of the Terrestrial Code and provide detailed information as specified in Sections 4 a), 4 b), 4 c) and 6, and Sections 1-7 (inclusive) of this questionnaire. Information in relation to other sections need only be supplied if relevant.
nb: first adopted in 2009; most recent update adopted in 2018.
2018 ©OIE - Terrestrial Animal Health Code |
