Annex VI Criteria and requirements relating to contingency plans

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

1. (a)

   the adoption of measures 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)

   the adoption of measures that will ensure access to emergency funds, budgetary means and financial resources in order to cover all aspects of the fight against an epidemic outbreak of African swine fever;

3. (c)

   a chain of command must be set up to ensure that in the event of the outbreak of an epidemic 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 the disease. The director of the veterinary services must be a member of that unit and act as a link between the central decision-taking unit and the national disease control centre provided for in Article 22;

4. (d)

   the adoption of measures to ensure that appropriate resources are available for a rapid and effective campaign, including laboratory staff, equipment and infrastructure;

5. (e)

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

6. (f)

   the staff must regularly take part in:

   1. (i)

      training schemes covering the clinical signs of African swine fever, epidemiological surveys and the control of the disease;

   2. (ii)

      alarm drills organised at least twice a year;

   3. (iii)

      training in communications techniques in order to organise information campaigns concerning the current outbreak of the epidemic disease, aimed at authorities, farmers and veterinarians.