Annex VII Criteria and requirements relating to contingency plans

The Member States are to ensure that contingency plans meet the following criteria and requirements at least:

1. (a)

   provision must be made to ensure that the legal powers necessary for the implementation of contingency plans exist and make it possible to carry out a rapid and effective eradication campaign;

2. (b)

   provision must be made to ensure access to emergency funds, budgetary means and financial resources in order to cover all aspects of the fight against an epizootic of classical swine fever;

3. (c)

   a chain of command must be set up to ensure that the decision-taking procedure for an epizootic is rapid and effective. If necessary, the chain of command must be placed under the authority of a central decision-taking unit responsible for directing all the strategies for the fight against an epizootic. The director of the veterinary services must be a member of that unit and effect the liaison between the central decision-taking unit and the national disease control centre provided for in Article 23;

4. (d)

   provision must be made for appropriate resources to be available to ensure a rapid and effective campaign, including laboratory staff, equipment and infrastructure;

5. (e)

   an instruction manual must be provided. It must give a full, practical description in detail of all the procedures, instructions and measures to be employed in the event of an outbreak of classical swine fever;

6. (f)

   if necessary, detailed plans for emergency vaccination must be provided;

7. (g)

   the staff must regularly take part in:

   1. (i)

      training in the clinical signs, epidemiological enquiries and combating classical swine fever;

   2. (ii)

      alarm drills organised at least twice a year;

   3. (iii)

      training in communications techniques in order to organise information campaigns concerning an epizootic in progress aimed at the authorities, farmers and veterinarians.