Article 17

Each Member State shall draw up a contingency plan, specifying how it will implement the measures laid down in this Directive.

This plan should allow access to facilities, equipment, personnel and all other appropriate materials necessary for the rapid and efficient eradication of the disease.

The criteria to be applied for drawing up the plans referred to in paragraph 1 are laid down in Annex IV.

Plans drawn up in accordance with these criteria shall be submitted to the Commission not later than three months after this Directive takes effect.

The Commission shall examine the plans in order to determine whether they permit the desired objective to be attained and shall suggest to the Member State concerned any amendments required, in particular to ensure that they are compatible with those of the other Member States.

The Commission shall approve the plans, if necessary amended, in accordance with the procedures laid down in Article 19.

The plans may subsequently be amended or supplemented in accordance with the same procedure to take account of developments in the situation.