(a) ‘animals’: means land mammals of the species belonging to the taxa Proboscidea and Artiodactyla, and their crossbreeds;

(b) ‘holding’: means a farm or other officially supervised agricultural, industrial or commercial undertaking, including zoos, amusement parks and wildlife or hunting reserves where animals are regularly kept or bred;

(c) ‘trimmed offal’: means offal from which the bones, the cartilage, the trachea and main bronchi, the lymphatic glands and adhering connective tissue, the fat and the mucus have been completely removed; in the case of meat from domestic bovine animals, the whole masseter muscles, incised in accordance with point 41(a) of Chapter VIII of Annex I to Council Directive 64/433/EEC, are also considered as trimmed offal.

(i) animals intended for immediate slaughter shall be conveyed without delay to the slaughterhouse of destination where they shall be slaughtered within five working days;

(ii) animals intended for breeding, production or fattening purposes, and animals intended for zoos, amusement parks and hunting or wildlife reserves, shall be conveyed without delay to the holding of destination where they shall remain for a minimum period of 30 days before further movement outside the holding, except in the case of direct dispatch to a slaughterhouse.

(a) unskinned carcases of wild cloven-hoofed game intended for human consumption after further processing;

(b) trimmed offal of domestic bovine animals intended for human consumption as meat-based products after further heat-treatment by cooking to a core temperature of at least 80 °C, or sterilised in hermetically sealed containers in a way as to achieve a value of Fo ≥ 3.

(a) the names and addresses of the establishments referred to in paragraph 2 and of the local competent authority responsible for the supervision of these establishments, as well as

(b) the categories of products for which these establishments are approved and registered.

(a) they shall come from the territory of a third country or a part thereof listed in Annex II, part 1, of this Decision for the import of fresh meat of that species;

(b) they shall meet the specific animal health conditions for the species concerned set out in the corresponding model animal health certificate drawn up pursuant to Annex II, part 2;

(c) they shall be accompanied by an animal health certificate established in accordance with the model laid down in Annex III, signed by an official veterinarian of the competent veterinary services of the third country concerned;

(d) they are certified as acceptable for transit or storage (as appropriate) on the common veterinary entry document by the official veterinarian of the border inspection post of introduction.

(a) the consignment shall be sealed with a serially numbered seal at the border inspection post (BIP) of entry to the Community by the veterinary services of the competent authority;

(b) the documents accompanying the consignment and referred to in Article 7 of Directive 97/78/EC shall be stamped ‘ONLY FOR TRANSIT TO RUSSIA VIA THE EC’ on each page by the official veterinarian of the competent authority responsible for the BIP;

(c) the procedural requirements provided for in Article 11 of Directive 97/78/EC shall be complied with;

(d) the consignment is certified as acceptable for transit on the common veterinary entry document by the official veterinarian of the border inspection post of introduction.

(a) Veterinary certificates shall be produced by the exporting country, based on the models appearing in Part 2 of Annex I, according to the layout of the model that corresponds to the animals concerned. They shall contain, in the numbered order that appears in the model, the attestations that are required for any third country and, as the case may be, those supplementary guarantees that are required for the exporting third country or part thereof.

If so requested by the EU Member State of destination, for the animals concerned the additional certification requirements shall be also incorporated in the original form of the veterinary certificate.

(b) A separate and unique certificate must be provided for animals that are exported from a single territory appearing in columns 2 and 3 of Part 1 of Annex I which are consigned to the same destination and transported in the same railway wagon, lorry, aircraft or ship.

(c) The original of each certificate shall consist of a single page, both sides, or, where more text is required, it shall be in such a form that all pages needed are part of an integrated whole and indivisible.

(d) It shall be drawn up in at least one of the official languages of the EU Member State in which the inspection at the border post shall be carried out and of the EU Member State of destination. However, these Member States may allow another Community language instead of their own, accompanied, if necessary, by an official translation.

(e) If for reasons of identification of the items of the consignment (schedule in point 8.2 of the model of certificate), additional pages are attached to the certificate, these pages shall also be considered as forming part of the original of the certificate by the application of the signature and stamp of the certifying official veterinarian on each of the pages.

(f) When the certificate, including additional schedules referred to in (e), comprises more than one page, each page shall be numbered — (page number) of (total number of pages) — at the bottom and shall bear the code number of the certificate that has been designated by the competent authority at the top.

(g) The original of the certificate must be completed and signed by an official veterinarian within 24 hours prior to loading of the consignment for exportation to the Community. In doing so, the competent authorities of the exporting country shall ensure that principles of certification equivalent to those laid down in Council Directive 96/93/EC are followed.

The colour of the signature shall be different to that of the printing. The same rule applies to stamps other than those embossed or watermark.

(h) The original of the certificate must accompany the consignment until it reaches the EU border inspection post.

(i) The certificate shall be valid for 10 days from the date of issuing.

In the case of transport by ship the time of validity is prolonged by the time of the trip in the ship. For this purpose, a declaration by the master of the ship, drawn up in accordance with the addendum to Part 3 of Annex I to this Decision, shall be attached in its original form to the veterinary certificate.

(j) Animals shall not be transported together with other animals that either are not destined to the European Community or are of a lower health status.

(k) During their transport to the European Community, the animals shall not be unloaded in the territory of a country or part of a country that is not approved for imports into the Community of these animals.

I. They shall be supervised by an official veterinarian.

II. They shall each be situated at the centre of an area 20 km in diameter in which, according to official findings, for at least 30 days prior to their use as approved centres there has been no case of foot-and-mouth disease.

III. They shall, before each use as approved centres, be cleaned and disinfected with a disinfectant officially authorised in the exporting country as effective in the control of the disease mentioned in condition II above.

IV. They shall have, taking into account their animal capacity (a) a facility dedicated exclusively for this purpose; (b) appropriate facilities, easy to clean and disinfect, for loading, unloading and adequate housing of a suitable standard for the animals, for watering and feeding them, and for giving them any necessary treatment; (c) appropriate facilities for inspection and isolation; (d) appropriate equipment for cleaning and disinfecting rooms and trucks; (e) an appropriate storage area for fodder, litter and manure; (f) appropriate systems for collecting and disposal of waste water; (g) an office for the official veterinarian.

V. When operating, they shall have sufficient veterinarians to carry out all duties.

VI. They shall only admit animals that are individually identified so as to guarantee traceability. To this end, when animals are admitted the owner or person in charge of the centre shall ensure the animals are properly identified and accompanied by health documents or certificates for the species and categories involved. Moreover, this person shall record on a register or a database and retain for at least three years the name of the owner, the origin, date of entry and exit, number and identification of the animals or registration number of the herd of origin and their destination and the registration number of the carrier and the registration number of the lorry delivering or collecting animals from the premises.

VII. All animals passing through them shall fulfil the health conditions established for the importation of the relevant category of animal into the European Community.

VIII. Animals to be exported to the European Community which pass through an assembly centre must, within six days of arrival, be loaded and dispatched directly to the frontier of the exporting country: (a) without coming into contact with cloven-hoofed animals other than animals which fulfil the health conditions established for the importation of the relevant category of animal into the European Community; (b) segregated into consignments so that no consignment contains both animals for breeding or production and animals for immediate slaughter; (c) in transport vehicles or containers which have first been cleaned and disinfected with a disinfectant officially authorised in the exporting country as effective in the control of the disease mentioned in condition II above and which are so constructed that faeces, urine, litter or fodder cannot flow or fall out during transportation.

IX. Where the conditions for the export of animals to the Community require that a test be carried out within a specified period before loading, that period includes any period of assembly, up to six days, after the arrival of the animals at the approved centres.

X. The exporting country shall designate those approved centres which are approved for animals for breeding and production and those approved centres which are approved for animals for slaughter and shall notify the Commission and the competent central authorities of the Member States of the names and addresses of such premises and their regular updates.

XI. The exporting country shall determine the procedure for official supervision of approved centres and shall ensure that such supervision is carried out.

XII. They shall be regularly inspected in order to ascertain that the requirements for approval continue to be fulfilled. In case of failure and suspension, the approval may only be restored when the competent authority is satisfied the full compliance of the centre with all the provisions mentioned above.

A. The blocking or competitive ELISA test shall be carried out according to the following protocol:

Material and reagents:

Test format

Cc: conjugate control (no serum/ no monoclonal antibody); C++: strong positive serum control; C+: weak positive serum control; C-: negative serum control; Cm: monoclonal antibody control (no serum).

Test protocol:

Conjugate control (Cc)

:

Wells 1A and 1B is a blank control consisting of BTV antigen and conjugate. This may be used to blank the ELISA reader.

Mab control (Cm)

:

Columns 1 and 2, rows G and H are the monoclonal antibody control and contain BTV antigen, monoclonal antibody and conjugate. These wells represent maximum colour. The mean of the optical density readings from this control represents the 0 % inhibition value.

Positive control (C++, C-)

:

Columns 1 and 2, rows C-D-E-F. These wells contain BTV antigen, BTV strong and weak positive antiserum respectively, Mab and conjugate.

Negative control (C-)

:

Wells 2A and 2B are the negative controls, which contain BTV antigen, BTV negative antiserum, Mab and conjugate.

Test sera

:

For large-scale serological surveys and rapid screening, sera could be tested at a single dilution of 1:5 (Appendix 1). Alternatively, 10 sera can be tested over a dilution range from 1:5 to 1:640 (Appendix 2). This will give some indication of the titre of antibody in the test sera.

Procedure:

Analysis of results:

Using the software package print out the OD values, and the percentage inhibition (PI) for test and control sera based on the mean value recorded in the antigen control wells. The date expressed as OD and PI values are used to determine whether the test has performed within acceptable limits. The upper control limits (UCL) and lower control limits (LCL) for the Mab control (antigen plus Mab in the absence of test sera) are between OD values 0,4 and 1,4. Any plate that fails to conform to the above criteria must be rejected.

If a computer software package is not available, print out the OD values using the ELISA printer. Calculate the mean OD value for the antigen control wells, which is equivalent to the 100 % value. Determine the 50 % OD value and manually calculate the positivity and negativity of each sample.

Percentage inhibition (PI) value = 100 — (OD of each test control/Mean OD of Cm) × 100.

The duplicate negative control serum wells and the duplicate blank wells should record PI values between +25 % and -25 %, and between +95 % and +105 %, respectively. Failure to be within these limits does not invalidate the plate but does suggest that background colour is developing. The strong and weak positive control sera should record PI values between +81 % and +100 %, and between +51 % and +80 %, respectively.

The diagnostic threshold for test sera is 50 % (PI 50 % or OD 50 %). Samples recording PI values > 50 % are recorded negative. Samples that record PI values above and below the threshold for the duplicate wells are considered doubtful; such samples may be retested in the spot test and/or titration. Positive samples may also be titrated to provide an indication of the degree of positivity.

Visual reading: Positive and negative samples are easily discernible by eye; weakly positive or strong negative samples may be more difficult to interpret by eye.

Preparation of BTV ELISA antigen:

Titration of BTV ELISA antigen:

Bluetongue ELISA antigen is titrated by the indirect ELISA. Twofold dilutions of antigen are titrated against a constant dilution (1/100) monoclonal antibody 3-17-A3. The protocol is as follows:

In the competitive assay, the monoclonal antibody must be in excess, therefore a dilution of antigen is chosen which falls on the titration curve (not on the plateau region) which gives approximately 0,8 OD after 10 minutes.

B. The agar gel immuno-diffusion test shall be carried out according to the following protocol:

Antigen:

Precipitating antigen is prepared in any cell culture system that supports the rapid multiplication of a reference strain of bluetongue virus. BHK or Vero cells are recommended. Antigen is present in the supernatant fluid at the end of virus growth but requires 50 to 100-fold concentration to be effective. This may be achieved by any standard protein concentration procedure; virus in the antigen may be inactivated by the addition of 0,3 % (v/v) beta-propiolactone.

Known positive control serum:

Using the international reference serum and antigen a national standard serum is produced, standardised for optimal proportion against the international reference serum, freeze-dried and used as the known control serum in each test.

Test serum

Procedure

:

1 % agarose prepared in borate or sodium barbitol buffer, pH 8,5 to 9,0, is poured into a petri dish to a minimum depth of 3,0 mm. A test pattern of seven moisture-free wells, each 5,0 mm in diameter, is cut in the agar. The pattern consists of one centre well and six wells arranged round it in a circle of radius 3 cm. The central well is filled with the standard antigen. Peripheral wells 2, 4 and 6 are filled with known positive serum, wells 1, 3 and 5 are filled with test sera. The system is incubated for up to 72 hours at room temperature in a closed humid chamber.

Interpretation

:

A test serum is positive if it forms a specific precipitin line with the antigen and forms a complete line of identity with the control serum. A test serum is negative if it does not form a specific line with the antigen and it does not bend the line of the control serum. Petri dishes should be examined against a dark background and using indirect illumination.

A. The serum neutralisation test shall be carried out according to the following protocol:

Serum

:

All sera are heat-inactivated at 56 °C for 30 minutes before use.

Procedure

:

The constant virus-varying serum neutralisation test on microtitre plates employs MDBK or other susceptible cells. The Colorado, Oxford or any other reference strain of the virus is used at 100 TCID50 per 0,025 ml; inactivated undiluted serum samples are mixed with an equal volume (0,025 ml) of virus suspension. The virus/serum mixtures are incubated for 24 hours at 37 °C in the microtitre plates before the MDBK cells are added. Cells are used at a concentration which forms a complete monolayer after 24 hours.

Controls

:

(i) virus infectivity assay, (ii) serum toxicity controls, (iii) uninoculated cell culture controls, (iv) reference antisera.

Interpretation

:

The results of the neutralisation test and the titre of the virus used in the test are recorded after three to six days incubation at 37 °C. Serum titres are considered negative if there is no neutralisation at a dilution of 1/2 (undiluted serum).

B. Any other test recognised in the frame of Commission Decision 93/42/EC concerning additional guarantees to infectious rhinotracheitis for bovines destined for Member States or regions thereof free from the disease.

A. Collecting oesophageal/pharyngeal samples and testing shall be carried out according to the following protocol:

Reagents

:

Prior to sampling, transport medium is prepared. Two ml volumes are dispensed in as many containers as there are animals to be sampled. The containers used should withstand freezing over solid CO2 or liquid nitrogen. Samples are obtained by the use of a specially-designed sputum collector or ‘probang’. To obtain a sample the probang cup is passed through the mouth, over the dorsum of the tongue and down into the upper part of the oesophagus. Attempts are made to scrape the surface epithelium of the upper oesophagus and pharynx by movements directed laterally and dorsally. The probang is then withdrawn, preferably after the animal has swallowed. The cup should be full and contain a mixture of mucus, saliva, oesophageal fluid and cellular debris. Care should be taken to ensure that each specimen contains some visible cellular material. Very rough handling which causes bleeding should be avoided. Samples from some animals may be heavily contaminated with ruminal contents. Such samples should be discarded and the mouth of the animal flushed with water, or preferably physiological saline, before repeat sampling.

Treatment of samples

:

Each sample collected in the probang cup is examined for quality and 2 ml added to an equal volume of transport medium in a container which can withstand freezing. The containers are tightly closed, sealed, disinfected and labelled. The samples are kept cool (+4 °C) and examined within three to four hours or placed over dry ice (-69 °C) or liquid nitrogen and kept frozen until examined. Between animals the probang is disinfected and washed in three changes of clean water.

Testing for FMD virus

:

Samples are inoculated into cultures of primary bovine thyroid cell cultures using at least three tubes per sample. Other susceptible cells e. g. primary bovine or porcine kidney cells can be used but it should be kept in mind that for some strains of FMD virus they are less sensitive. The tubes are incubated at 37 °C on a roller apparatus and examined daily for 48 hours for the presence of a cytopathic effect (CPE). If negative, cultures are blind passaged onto new cultures and re-examined for 48 hours. The specificity of any CPE must be confirmed.

Recommended transport media:

B. The virus neutralisation test shall be carried out according to the following protocol:

Reagents

:

Stock FMDV antigen is prepared in cell cultures or on cattle tongues and stored at -70 °C or less or at -20 °C after the addition of 50 % glycerol. This is the stock antigen. FMDV is stable under these conditions and titres vary little over a period of months.

Procedure

:

The test is carried out in flat-bottomed tissue culture grade microtitre plates using susceptible cells such as IB-RS-2, BHK-21 or calf kidney cells. Sera for the test are diluted 1/4 in serum-free cell culture medium with the addition of 100 IU/ml neomycin or other suitable antibiotics. Sera are inactivated at 56 °C for 30 minutes and 0,05 ml amounts are used to prepare a twofold series on microtitre plates using 0,05 ml diluting loops. Pretitrated virus also diluted in serum-free culture medium and containing 100 TCID50/0,05 ml is then added to each well. Following incubation at 37 °C for one hour to allow neutralisation to take place, 0,05 ml of suspension cells containing 0,5 to 1,0 × 106 cells per 1 ml in cell culture medium containing serum free of FMD antibody is added to each well and the plates are sealed. Plates are incubated at 37 °C. Monolayers are normally confluent within 24 hours. CPE is usually sufficiently advanced at 48 hours for a microscopic reading of the test. At this time a final microscopic reading may be made or the plates may be fixed and stained for macroscopic reading, for instance using 10 % formol-saline and 0,05 % methylene blue.

Controls

:

Controls in each test include homologous antiserum of known titre, a cell control, a serum toxicity control a medium control and a virus titration from which the actual amount of virus in the test is calculated.

Interpretation

:

Wells with evidence of CPE are considered to be infected and neutralisation titres are expressed as the reciprocal of the final dilution of serum present in the serum/virus mixtures at the 50 % end point estimated according to the Spearman-Karber method. (Karber, G., 1931, Archiv fuer Experimentelle Pathologie und Pharmokologie, 162, 480). Tests are considered to be valid when the actual amount of virus used per well in the test is between 101,5 and 102,5 TCID50 and when the titre of the reference serum is within twofold of its expected titre, estimated from the mode of previous titrations. When the controls are outside these limits the tests are repeated. An end point titre of 1/11 or less is taken as negative.

C. The detection and quantification of antibody by ELISA shall be carried out according to the following protocol:

Reagents

:

Rabbit antisera to 146S antigen of seven types of foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV) used at a predetermined optimum concentration in carbonate/bicarbonate buffer, pH 9,6. Antigens are prepared from selected strains of virus grown on monolayers of BHK-21 cells. The unpurified supernatants are used and pretitrated according to the protocol but without serum, to give a dilution which after the addition of an equal volume of PBST (phosphate buffered saline containing 0,05 % Tween-20 and phenol red indicator) would give an optical density reading of between 1,2 and 1,5. The viruses can be used inactivated. PBST is used as a diluent. Guinea-pig antisera are prepared by inoculating guinea pigs with 146S antigen of each serotype. A predetermined optimum concentration is prepared in PBST containing 10 % normal bovine serum and 5 % normal rabbit serum. Rabbit anti-guinea-pig immunoglobulin conjugated to horseradish peroxidase is used at a predetermined optimum concentration in PBST containing 10 % normal bovine serum and 5 % normal rabbit serum. Test sera are diluted in PBST.

Procedure:

The plates are read spectrophotometrically at 492 nm on an ELISA reader linked to a microcomputer.

Controls

:

For each antigen used 40 wells contain no serum but contain antigen diluted in PBST. A duplicated twofold dilution series of homologous bovine reference antiserum. A duplicate twofold dilution series of negative bovine serum.

Interpretation

:

Antibody titres are expressed as the final dilution of tests serum giving 50 % of the mean OD value recorded in the virus control wells where test serum is absent. Titres in excess of 1/40 are considered positive.

References

:

Hamblin C, Barnett ITR and Hedger RS (1986) ‘A new enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for the detection of antibodies against foot-and-mouth disease virus. I. Development and method of ELISA.’Journal of Immunological Methods, 93, 115 to 121.11.

A. The serum neutralisation test shall be carried out according to the following protocol:

Serum

:

All sera are heat-inactivated at 56 °C for 30 minutes before use.

Procedure

:

The constant virus-varying serum neutralisation test on microtitre plates employs Vero or other sensitive cell systems. Aujeszky's disease virus is used at 100 TCID50 per 0,025 ml; inactivated undiluted serum samples are mixed with an equal volume (0,025 ml) of virus suspension. The virus/serum mixtures are incubated for two hours at 37 °C in the microtitre plates before the appropriate cells are added. Cells are used at a concentration which forms a complete monolayer after 24 hours.

Controls

:

(i) virus infectivity assay, (ii) serum toxicity controls, (iii) uninoculated cell culture controls, (iv) reference antisera.

Interpretation

:

The results of the neutralisation test and the titre of the virus used in the test are recorded after three to seven days incubation at 37 °C. Serum titres less than 1/2 (undiluted serum) are considered negative.

B. Any other test recognised in the frame of Commission Decision 2001/618/EC concerning additional guarantees to Aujeszky's disease for pigs destined for certain parts of the territory of the Community.

1. Animals imported into St Pierre and Miquelon must reside in an authorised quarantine station for a minimum period of 60 days preceding export to the European Community. This period may be increased due to testing requirements for individual species. In addition the animals must comply with the following requirements:

2. The quarantine premises must at least meet the minimum standards laid down in Annex B to Directive 91/496/EEC, and the following conditions:

(a) Test to be used: comparative intradermal reaction test using Bovine PPD and Avian PPD conforming to the standards for the manufacture of bovine and avian tuberculins as described in Annex B of Council Directive 64/432/EEC. The test has to be executed in the area behind the shoulder (axillary region) following the technique described in Annex B of Council Directive 64/432/EEC.

(b) Timing: the animals have to be tested within two days from their arrival in the quarantine station and after 42 days from the first test.

(c) Interpretation of tests:

the reaction has to be considered:

(d) Options for action following testing:

If an animal presents a positive result to the intradermal-reaction to the bovine PPD, this animal shall be excluded from the group and the other animals have to be re-tested starting at least 42 days after the first positive test was administered: this has to be considered as the first test described in b).

If more than one animal of the group presents a positive result, the whole group shall to be rejected for exportation to the EC.

If one or more animals of the same group present an inconclusive reaction, the whole group will be re-tested after 42 days considering it as the first test described in b).

(a) Test to be used:

(b) Timing: the animals have to be tested within two days from their arrival in the quarantine station and after 42 days from the first test.

(c) Interpretation of tests:

A positive reaction to the tests will be as defined in Annex C to Directive 64/432/EEC.

(d) Options for action following testing:

Animals tested positive to one of the tests shall be excluded from the group and the other animals have to be re-tested starting at least 42 days after the first positive test was performed: this has to be considered as the first test described in (b).

Only the animals that tested negative to two consecutive tests performed as described in (b) shall be allowed for exportation to the EC.

(a) Test to be used: AGID test as described in Part 3 (C) of Annex I to Council Decision 79/542/EEC.

In case of positive reaction the animals have to be tested with Competitive ELISA test as described in Part 3(C) of Annex I to Council Decision 79/542/EEC to discriminate between the two diseases.

(b) Timing:

The animals have to be tested with negative result to two tests: the first within two days from their arrival in the quarantine station and the second after at least 21 days from the first test.

(c) Options for action following testing:

(a) Test to be used: Diagnostic tests (probang and serology) using ELISA and NV techniques under the protocols described in Part 3 (C) of Annex I to Decision 79/542/EEC.

(b) Timing: the animals have to be tested with negative results to two tests: the first within two days from their arrival in the quarantine station and the second after at least 42 days from the first test.

(c) Options for action following testing: If any animal tests positive for FMD virus, then all animals present in the quarantine station are not considered eligible for entry into the EC.

Note: Any detection of antibodies to structural or not structural proteins of FMD virus will be considered as a result of previous infection of FMD irrespective of the vaccination status.

(a) Test to be used: The competitive ELISA test as described in the OIE manual is the prescribed test for international trade and is test of choice. Serum neutralisation test, or other recognised tests in accordance with the protocols described in relevant sections of the OIE manual can also be used.

(b) Timing: the animals have to be tested twice: the first within two days from their arrival in the quarantine station and the second after at least 42 days from the first test.

(c) Options for action following testing: If any animal tests positive for Rinderpest virus, then all animals present in the quarantine station are not considered eligible for entry into the EC.

(a) Test to be used: ELISA, virus neutralisation test, or other recognised test in accordance with the protocols described in relevant sections of the OIE manual.

(b) Timing: the animals have to be tested twice: the first within two days from their arrival in the quarantine station and the second after at least 42 days from the first test.

(c) Options for action following testing: If any animal tests positive for Vesicular Stomatitis virus, then all animals present in the quarantine station are not considered eligible for entry into the EC.

(a) Test to be used: ELISA, virus neutralisation test, or other recognised test in accordance with the protocols described in relevant sections of the OIE manual.

(b) Timing: the animals have to be tested twice: the first within two days from their arrival in the quarantine station and the second after at least 42 days from the first test.

(c) Options for action following testing: If any animal displays evidence of exposure to Rift Valley Fever agent, then all animals present in the quarantine station are not considered eligible for entry into the EC.

(a) Test to be used: Serology using ELISA, virus neutralisation test, or other recognised test in accordance with the protocols described in relevant sections of the OIE manual.

(b) Timing: the animals have to be tested twice: the first within two days from their arrival in the quarantine station and the second after at least 42 days from the first test.

(c) Options for action following testing: If any animal displays evidence of exposure to Lumpy Skin Disease, the whole group shall be rejected for exportation to the EC.

(a) Test to be used: ELISA, virus neutralisation test, Immunofluorescence test or other recognised test.

(b) Timing: the animals have to be tested twice: the first within two days from their arrival in the quarantine station and the second after at least 42 days from the first test.

(c) Options for action following testing: If any animal displays evidence of exposure to Crimean Congo Haemorrhagic fever agent, then that animal shall be excluded from the group.

(a) Test to be used: The parasitic agent can be identified in concentrated blood samples in accordance with the protocols described in relevant sections of the OIE manual.

(b) Timing: the animals have to be tested twice: the first within two days from their arrival in the quarantine station and the second after at least 42 days from the first test.

(c) Options for action following testing: If T. evansi is detected in any animal, then that animal shall be excluded from the group. The remaining group should then undergo internal and external antiparasitic treatment using suitable agents that are effective against T. evansi.

(a) Test to be used: Detection of viral DNA is the preferred method, based on identification by immunofluorescence or immunocytochemistry using the protocols described in relevant sections of the OIE manual.

(b) Timing: the animals have to be tested twice: the first within two days from their arrival in the quarantine station and the second after at least 42 days from the first test.

(c) Options for action following testing: If any animal displays evidence of exposure to MCF, then the whole group shall be rejected for exportation to the EC.

(a) Test to be used: AGID or blocking ELISA, in accordance with the protocols described in the OIE manual.

(b) Timing: the animals have to be tested twice: the first within two days from their arrival in the quarantine station and the second after at least 42 days from the first test.

(c) Options for action following testing: animals tested positive to the test shall be excluded from the group and the other animals have to be re-tested starting at least 21 days after the first positive test was performed: this has to be considered as the first test described in (b).

(a) Veterinary certificates shall be produced by the exporting country, based on the models appearing in Part 2 of Annex II, according to the layout of the model that corresponds to the meats concerned. They shall contain, in the numbered order that appears in the model, the attestations that are required for any third country and, as the case may be, those supplementary guarantees that are required for the exporting third country or part thereof.

(b) A separate and unique certificate must be provided for meat that is exported from a single territory appearing in columns 2 and 3 of Part 1 of Annex II which is consigned to the same destination and transported in the same railway wagon, lorry, aircraft or ship.

(c) The original of each certificate shall consist of a single page, both sides, or, where more text is required, it shall be in such a form that all pages needed are part of an integrated whole and indivisible.

(d) It shall be drawn up in at least one of the official languages of the EU Member State in which the inspection at the border post shall be carried out and of the EU Member State of destination. However, these Member States may allow other languages, if necessary, accompanied by an official translation.

(e) If for reasons of identification of the items of the consignment (schedule in point 8.3 of the model of certificate), additional pages are attached to the certificate, these pages shall also be considered as forming part of the original of the certificate by the application of the signature and stamp of the certifying official veterinarian, in each of the pages.

(f) When the certificate, including additional schedules referred to in (e), comprises more than one page, each page shall be numbered — (page number) of (total number of pages) — at the bottom and shall bear the code number of the certificate that has been designated by the competent authority at the top.

(g) The original of the certificate must be completed and signed by an official veterinarian. In doing so, the competent authorities of the exporting country shall ensure that the principles of certification equivalent to those laid down in Council Directive 96/93/EC are followed. The colour of the signature shall be different to that of the printing. The same rule applies to stamps other than those embossed or watermarked.

(h) The original of the certificate must accompany the consignment at the EU border inspection post.