Section 1 Granting of the status as regards kept bovine animals

The status free from infection with Brucella abortus, B. melitensis and B. suis as regards kept bovine animals may only be granted to a Member State or a zone if:

1. (a)

   for at least the past 3 years there has been no confirmed case of infection with Brucella abortus, B. melitensis and B. suis in kept bovine animals;

2. (b)

   general surveillance requirements have been carried out for the past 3 years in accordance with point (a) of Article 3(1) for the early detection of infection with Brucella abortus, B. melitensis and B. suis in kept bovine animals, which included at least:

   1. (i)

      the regular submission of samples from abortion cases for laboratory testing;

   2. (ii)

      the timely investigation of abortion cases that may have been caused by infection with Brucella abortus, B. melitensis and B. suis;

3. (c)

   during the past 3 years, at least 99,8 % of the establishments keeping bovine animals, representing at least 99,9 % of the bovine population, have maintained their status free from infection with Brucella abortus, B. melitensis and B. suis without vaccination;

4. (d)

   vaccination of bovine animals against Brucella abortus, B. melitensis and B. suis has not taken place at least for the past 3 years and no bovine animal introduced into the Member State or zone has been vaccinated during the past 3 years prior to its introduction.