Notification within Member States
Article 18
1. Member States shall ensure that operators and other relevant natural or legal persons: (a) immediately notify the competent authority where there are any reasons to suspect the presence in animals of a listed disease as referred to in point (a) of Article 9(1), or where the presence of such a disease is detected in animals; (b) as soon as practicable notify the competent authority where there are any reasons to suspect the presence in animals of a listed disease as referred to in point (e) of Article 9(1) other than those referred to in point (a) of Article 9(1), or where the presence of such a disease is detected in animals; (c) notify a veterinarian of abnormal mortalities and other signs of serious disease or significant decreased production rates with an undetermined cause, for further investigation, including sampling for laboratory examination when the situation so requires. 2. Member States may decide that the notifications provided for in point (c) of paragraph 1 may be directed to the competent authority. 3. The Commission shall be empowered to adopt delegated acts in accordance with Article 264 concerning: (a) criteria to determine whether the circumstances requiring notification described in point (c) of paragraph 1 occur; (b) detailed rules for the further investigation provided for in point (c) of paragraph 1.