African Horse Sickness is an infectious disease of great diffuse power, in which the ecological conditions in which it appears have to be taken into account in particular, and the measures to be taken must be accommodated in areas Geographical areas that meet certain epizootiological risk factors.

The Epizootic Law of 20 December 1952, in its Article 9. °, empowers the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food to establish the appropriate provisions, to consider as an official declaration those diseases. Infectious-contagious of an exotic character, of serious gravity and great diffusive power. Such a declaration has led to the adoption of special and urgent measures.

Furthermore, the International Animal Health Code of the International Office of Epizootics (OIE) recommends that in order to declare a country or a certain area free, the disease in question must be included among those of official statement.

The current international regulation excludes from the exchange of equipment to the countries in which this disease appears, being of great importance both the regulatory regulations, and the measures that in each case are adopted, by the economic and social consequences for the sectors concerned.

The presence in Spain of this disease, advises to adopt a regulation of ordination and coordination, with the greatest urgency, to contribute effectively to its eradication in the shortest possible time.

In this sense, in the additional provision the articles that have the character of basic regulation are concretized for the purposes of the competence of the competence of article 149.1.13 and 149.1.16 of the Constitution. They are also precepts with coordination content, in whole or in part, Articles 9. °, 10, 13 and 19 to 24, inclusive.

On the other hand, certain rules of coordination are established, mainly aimed at avoiding the spread of the disease to other Autonomous Communities and to regulate in a homogeneous way the movement of the animals.

For obvious reasons of urgency, such regulations must be adopted through this provision.

Under its virtue, consulted by the Autonomous Communities, according to the Council of State on the proposal of the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, and after deliberation by the Council of Ministers,

DISPONGO:

Article 1. °

The purpose of this provision is to establish the bases of management and the rules of coordination throughout Spain for the prevention, control and eradication of African horse sickness.

Art. 2. °

The equine plague is included within the official disease group.

Art. 3. °

For the purposes of this Royal Decree,

following definitions shall apply:

a) Animal of the susceptible species: All equine, domestic or wild.

(b) Infected animal: Any animal of the susceptible species in which the presence of African horse sickness has been officially tested after a laboratory test.

(c) Animal suspected of being infected: Any animal of the susceptible species presenting clinical symptoms or "postmortem" lesions to suspect the disease called African horse sickness.

(d) Animal suspected of being contaminated: any animal of the susceptible species or other non-susceptible species which, on the basis of the epizootiological information collected, may be known or suspected to have been in direct contact or indirectly with the African horse sickness virus, or its transmission vectors.

(e) sentinel horse: Any horse that has not been vaccinated against African horse sickness, nor has specific antibodies against this virus, is introduced into an area or holding considered to be infected, in its day, for the purpose of detect the presence or absence of the African horse sickness virus.

(f) Operation: Agricultural holding, stable or place where animals of the susceptible species are maintained or produced for any type of fitness or purpose.

g) Infected area: The area in which there has been a case of African horse sickness, officially confirmed by the National Reference Centre. This area shall be clearly defined and shall have a minimum radius of 25 kilometres around the foci.

h) Security zone: Aquella that is located within a perimeter of at least 25 kilometers away from the infected zone.

i) Vaccination zone: Aquella in which vaccination of species susceptible to the equine plague virus has been officially declared mandatory outside the infected and safety zones.

j) Free zone: Aquella not included in the infected area, in the area of safety, or in the vaccine.

k) Extinction of the Focus: An equine plague outbreak is officially considered to be extinguished when at least 40 days have elapsed since the death of the last infected animal, diagnosed positive by the National Centre of Reference, and no clinical or epizootiological fact to suspect the presence of African horse sickness shall be revealed.

l) Quarantine: It is a period of time during which sensitive animals are subjected to isolation.

Art. 4. °

The suspicion of an outbreak of African horse sickness in any part of the Spanish territory shall be notified to the competent authority of the respective Autonomous Community immediately and immediately, and is, with the same urgency, to the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, using the model set out in Annex I.

In addition, and with the same urgency, the precautionary measures related to the following article shall be taken preemptively by the competent authority of the Autonomous Community, and the appropriate samples shall also be taken for their referral to the Laboratory of Animal Health and Production of the State, located in Algette (Madrid), which is designated as the National Reference Centre, in order to proceed with the diagnosis of the suspected pathological process, and, where appropriate, to assist and to Disease-producing virus.

Art. 5. °

At the same time as the sampling procedure, the competent authority of the Autonomous Community concerned shall take the following precautionary measures:

(a) Isolation of the exploitation and separation of clinically ill and suspected animals from the healthy, housing them in different shelters, with the sacrifice and burial of the sick.

b) Censate and individual identification of all animals of the susceptible species that exist on the holding, noting the number of the dead, if any, and of the sick and suspected of the same species.

(c) Prohibition of the departure or entry of animals or bodies of the susceptible species from the isolated holding, unless the competent authority of the Autonomous Community is authorised, for the purpose of study, and taking the measures appropriate sanitary hygiene.

(d) Regulation of sanitary measures relating to the movement of persons and vehicles within or outside the isolated holding, and the conditions under which it may be established by the competent authority of the Autonomous Community be performed.

e) Development of a program to fight the vector insects in the suspicious exploitation and in an area of 25 kilometers of radius around it.

f) Mobilization and sequestration of animals of susceptible species from holdings included in an area of 25 kilometres around the suspicious holding.

g) Suspension and prohibition of the holding of any livestock concentration (fairs, markets, exhibitions, certamenes, rosemeries, shows in which horses are performed, etc.), and prohibition of any movement of sensitive animals within a radius of 50 kilometres, around the suspicious holding.

Art. 6. °

The precautionary measures set out in the previous article will automatically be left without effect when the suspicion is not confirmed by the official diagnosis.

Art. 7. °

The National Reference Centre shall confirm, where appropriate, the existence of African horse sickness and the competent authority of the Autonomous Community shall declare the disease and communicate it to the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, using Annex II for the ratification, where appropriate. This ratification will mean the validity of its effects across the national sphere and its communication at international level.

Art. 8. °

1. Officially ratified the disease, the competent authority of the Autonomous Community shall adopt the following additional measures in the affected area:

(a) Preventive vaccination as soon as possible of the entire equine population by identifying the same.

b) Immediate slaughter of animals suspected of being infected, when they manifest clinical symptoms of the disease that make them suspicious, with "in-situ" burial.

(c) Intensification of disinfection and disinterment measures in holdings and in vehicles intended for the transport of animals.

(d) Registration and census of all farms in the area that host susceptible species, individually identifying equines and regularly visiting them until the disease is extinguished.

(e) Where appropriate, the sensitive population on the premises of the holdings, especially late in the evening and evening, avoiding by physical or chemical procedures the action of the vectors on the sensitive animals.

(f) Realization of an epidemiological survey on the origin of the epidemiological survey, its extent in the area and movement of animals on the infected or suspected holdings at least in the 40 days preceding the occurrence of the disease, communicating to the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the result, in order to coordinate the actions to be taken in the whole of the national territory.

g) Compulsory Revunting in all susceptible species, where technically appropriate, with vaccine having only the disease focus-producing serotype.

(h) Realization of a special laboratory monitoring of all sick or dead animals occurring in the area, as well as the catches of vectors that are periodically performed.

2. The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food shall, where appropriate, request the extension of the zone infected to the Autonomous Communities, in accordance with the ecological and climatic conditions, for the consequences it may have on other Autonomous Communities and international repercussions.

Art. 9. °

The following control measures shall be adopted by the competent authority of the Autonomous Community:

(a) Vaccination and identification of the entire equine population.

(b) Censing and recording of all holdings in the area which have animals of the susceptible species.

(c) Prohibition of the movement of animals of the susceptible species by public roads, which may be authorized exclusively for the use of pasture, always under official control and with due identification.

(d) Prohibition of the exploitation of the animals of the species until the outbreak of the outbreak, except for immediate slaughter in a nearby slaughterhouse.

(e) Prohibition of roaming on roaming, as well as any livestock concentration in which susceptible animals are to participate.

f) Realization of a special monitoring with laboratory control of all sick or dead equines that occur in the area.

Art. 10.

The competent bodies of the Autonomous Communities shall communicate to the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, in accordance with the model set out in Annex III, all the incidences of the disease, as they may be for the adoption of the measures which fall within the scope of its powers. Where the situation so requires, the Agency may request the referral of the information on a daily basis.

Art. 11.

The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food will be able to urge the Autonomous Communities to establish a mandatory vaccination zone outside the infected and safe areas, when circumstances National or international epizootiological advice.

Art. 12.

Vaccination against African horse sickness outside the infected areas is prohibited. for safety and vaccination, except in the cases provided for in Article 20.

Art. 13.

Animals of the susceptible species that have left the infected and safety zones for the minimum period of 40 days immediately prior to the date of confirmation of the disease shall be frozen in their location points or sites designated for that purpose by the competent authority of the Autonomous Community and subject to veterinary observation for at least 40 days after their location.

Art. 14.

The Autonomous Community will declare in each case the disease-free area, once officially extinguished, and will immediately inform the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, using the of Annex IV, for ratification, where appropriate.

Art. 15.

The measures referred to in the preceding articles shall be maintained at least 40 days after the official outbreak of the outbreak.

Art. 16.

Officially extinguished the disease outbreak shall be carried out by the competent authority of the Autonomous Community an epizootiological surveillance programme on the infected and safety zones for a minimum period of six to two years. months, respectively.

This program will cover at least the following aspects:

(a) Monitoring and laboratory control of animals of the susceptible species that subsequently die, for which samples must be sent to the National Reference Centre.

(b) Study on the presence or absence of African horse sickness virus in the population of potential vectors transmitting the disease, referring samples to the National Reference Centre.

c) Track and control of sentinel horses, introduced in the mentioned area, at least one per municipality. The entry of these horses shall not be allowed until at least 40 days after the official outbreak of the outbreak has occurred, provided that the virological traces on the vector population in the area have negative results. During at least the following days after their introduction, the sentinel horses shall be controlled sanely.

Art. 17.

In the areas that were declared infected, safety and vaccination, vaccination shall be carried out for all young unvaccinated horses and those born between the first vaccination practiced and the 40 days after the outbreak of the focus.

Art. 18.

Only the final restocking of the affected holdings may be initiated when negative results are obtained in the control of sentinel horses.

Art. 19.

Once the focus has been officially extinguished, in the infected, safety and vaccination zones, the equines will not be allowed to leave until two years after the declaration of extinction of the outbreak and the end of the outbreak. vaccination operations, except under the conditions laid down in the following Article.

Art. 20.

From the ratification of the official declaration of the disease, and up to two years after the official extinction of the outbreak of African horse sickness, the movement and movement of animals of the species susceptible to the disease, in the entire national territory shall be governed by the following rules:

1. From free zones to other free zones animals of susceptible species shall circulate with:

(a) An individual identification document or complete review of the animal for this purpose shall be valid for the international passport.

b) Interprovincial guidance.

(c) Certificate issued by the competent authority of the Autonomous Community stating the itinerary to be followed in the transport and that the animal does not present a clinical sign of infectious-contagious disease preventing its transfer on the day of departure.

2. From free zones to areas that were infected or safe. In addition to the requirements laid down in points (a), (b) and (c) of paragraph 1 of this Article, the animals must have been vaccinated at least 21 days in advance of the date of departure within 40 days of the date of entry into force. from the extinction of the disease.

3. From the free zone to the vaccinated zone, the same requirements as laid down in points (a), (b) and (c) of paragraph 1 of this Article and veterinary certificate of vaccination shall be required.

4. From an area that was infected to a free zone or a vaccinated zone: In addition to the requirements set out in points (a), (b) and (c) of paragraph 2, the following requirements shall be met:

(a) The horses to be moved shall remain under official surveillance, in a place of isolation, for forty days, subjected to clinical observation, daily temperature takes and virological controls, all with results negative.

b) They will remain in isolation facilities beyond the reach of the vectors, because they have been unsited on a continuous basis. Such disinterment shall also extend to the vehicle carrying out the transport.

c) In order to allow the transfer of other horses other than the horse, the transport must also be carried out during periods of inactivity of the vectors.

5. From an area which has been infected to a safety zone, the same requirements as provided for in paragraph 4 of this Article shall be required for both horses and other equines, with a quarantine of 20 days, during which period they shall be subject to Clinical observation and daily temperature intake and virological controls, all with negative results.

6. From zone which was infected to another infected area: The requirements of paragraph 1 (a), (b) and (e) of this Article shall be required.

7. From safety zone to free zone or vaccinated zone: The same requirements as provided for in paragraph 5 of this Article shall be required.

8. From a security zone to an area which was infected, or to another security zone: the requirements laid down in points (a), (b) and (c) of paragraph 1 of this Article shall be required to be met and, in addition, to accompany the health documentation, certificate vaccination veterinarian.

9. From vaccinated zone to free zone: The same requirements as provided for in paragraph 5 shall be required.

10. From vaccinated zone to infected area, safety or vaccination: the requirements of paragraph 2 of this Article shall be required.

Art. 21.

If the route to be carried out by land means crossing one or more areas with classification other than those of origin and destination, the requirements laid down in the Article shall be observed in full. previous for each of the zones.

Art. 22.

When the transport of equidae affects the territory of two or more Autonomous Communities on their itinerary, the following coordination rules shall be observed:

(a) The competent authority of the Autonomous Community of origin shall communicate to the competent authority five days in advance at least the dispatch of each consignment of animals of susceptible species.

(b) The competent authority of the Autonomous Community of destination shall inform the competent body of the arrival of each of the items, as well as the measures taken to comply with the provisions of this Royal Decree, in order to avoid the transport of undocumented equidae in some cases and changes of destination in others.

(c) Where the transport of equidae is to be carried out continuously and rapidly affecting more than two Autonomous Communities, the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food shall coordinate such a shipment, for which the Community Autónoma de origen will notify the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food of the itinerary to follow, with the different destinations and dates on which each one of them is expected to arrive.

Art. 23.

The fulfillment of the forecasts of this Royal Decree will be a necessary requirement for the inter-community transit of equines, not being able to hinder the transit when these forecasts are satisfied.

Art. 24.

The entry of equidae from other States shall, according to their origin and origin, comply with the requirements laid down for the different apizootiological areas established in this Royal Decree, as well as to the the rest of the applicable international animal health rules. In any case, they shall be subjected to clinical observation at destination and isolated installation for the period of 20 days.

Art. 25.

The compulsory slaughter of sick and suspected animals in the infectious outbreak shall entitle the owner of the livestock to compensation in accordance with the provisions of Chapter XIV of the Epizootic diseases in force.

Art. 26.

The violations committed in violation of the provisions of this Royal Decree shall be sanctioned in accordance with the laws in force.

TRANSIENT DISPOSITION

The time limits and rules laid down in Article 20 shall apply and shall be consistent with this provision for those outbreaks of African horse sickness after 1 January 1989.

ADDITIONAL DISPOSITION

Articles 2, 3, 4, 5, 7 to 20, 22 and 23 will have the status of basic state regulations.

REPEAL PROVISION

The Order of 17 March 1989 laying down provisional rules for coordination with regard to African horse sickness is hereby repealed.

FINAL PROVISIONS

First.

The Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food is empowered to lay down the provisions necessary for the development and enforcement of this Royal Decree in the field of its powers.

Second.

The Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food is empowered to amend or adapt the Annexes mentioned in this Royal Decree and to amend Article 20 on movement according to the situation. epizootiological disease.

Third.

This Royal Decree shall enter into force on the day following that of its publication in the "Official Gazette of the State".

Given in Madrid at December 29, 1989.

JOHN CARLOS R.

The Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food,

CARLOS ROMERO HERRERA

ANNEX I

Notification of Suspicion

Autonomous Community:

Affected Province:

Affected municipality:

Suspected disease:

First sick or suspect occurrence date:

Is this primary or secondary focus?:

Number of affected sites or farms:

Affected species:

For each focus or exploitation:

Census of exploitation, by species:

Number of animals affected, by species:

Number of dead animals, by species:

Number of animals slaughtered, by species:

Control measures taken:

Disease source:

Distance to other receptive holdings:

ANNEX II

Declaration of Disease

Autonomous Community:

Affected Province:

Affected municipality:

Suspected disease:

First sick or suspect occurrence date:

Is this primary or secondary focus?:

Number of affected sites or farms:

Affected species:

For each focus or exploitation:

Census of exploitation, by species:

Number of animals affected, by species:

Number of dead animals, by species:

Number of animals slaughtered, by species:

Disease confirmation date:

Used diagnostic method:

Center that performed the tests and gave compliance:

Control measures taken:

Distance to other receptive holdings:

Disease source:

ANNEX III

Daily information

Date:

Autonomous Community:

Province:

Township:

Diagnosed disease:

Focus Number:

Evolution of focus:

Census of exploitation, by species:

Number of animals affected, by species:

Number of dead animals, by species:

Number of animals slaughtered, by species:

Control measures taken:

Forecast on focus evolution:

ANNEX IV

Getting the focus

Autonomous Community:

Province:

Township:

Declared Disease:

Statement Date:

Focus Number:

Extinction date: