Division 8.5 Article 15(1) and (3) — Measures to be applied in contact holdings

When an official veterinarian inspects a contact holding, the following measures must be carried out:

1. (a)

   A check of the production and health records of the holding, if such records exist. The daily mortality data and daily data on feed- and/or water intake, if available, for the period beginning one week before the date of contact with the flock suspected of being infected with AI until the date of the inspection of the holding by the official veterinarian must be documented in the farm inspection-report by the official veterinarian.

2. (b)

   A clinical inspection in each production unit, including an evaluation of its clinical history and clinical examinations of poultry or other captive birds, in particular those that appear sick.

3. (c)

   If there are clinical signs present in poultry or other captive birds or indications of an increase in daily mortality (> 3 times normal mortality rate of the flock) or a depression in daily egg-production (> 5 %) or a decrease in daily feed and/or water intake (> 5 %), the standard samples must be taken immediately from each production unit.

4. (d)

   If there are no signs as referred to in points (b) and (c), the standard samples must be taken 21 days following the date of the last suspected contact with an infected holding or when the poultry or other captive birds are killed.