Rules for the categorisation of Member States in view of their eligibility for preventive health measures
Article 2
1. Member States may apply to the Commission for the categorisation with respect to preventive health measures under the conditions laid down in paragraphs 2, 3 and 4. 2. Where a Member State can demonstrate that the infection with the Echinococcus multilocularis parasite has not been established because of the absence of wild red foxes in the whole of its territory, it shall submit to the Commission documentation attesting compliance with the following conditions: (a) it has implemented for three consecutive 12-month periods prior to the date of application, a national observation programme, which describes: (i) the techniques allowing the detection of a species' presence, the type and frequency of surveys implemented, the different categories of actors involved and record-keeping of results of surveys, (ii) the procedures for monitoring the implementation of the programme; (b) it has not recorded the presence of wild red foxes in any part of its territory. 3. Where a Member State can demonstrate that wild definitive host animals likely to harbour the Echinococcus multilocularis parasite are present in the whole or parts of its territory and that occurrence of the infection with this parasite has not been recorded in those animals, it shall submit to the Commission documentation attesting compliance with at least one of the following conditions: (a) it has declared, in accordance with the procedures for self-declaration set out in the Terrestrial Animal Health Code of the World Organisation for Animal Health, the whole or part of its territory free from Echinococcus multilocularis infection in wild definitive host animals, and rules are in place for Echinococcus multilocularis infection in wild definitive host animals to be compulsorily notifiable under national law; (b) during the 15 years prior to the date of application and without applying a pathogen-specific surveillance programme it has not recorded any occurrence of Echinococcus multilocularis infection in wild definitive host animals provided that during the 10 years prior to the date of application the following conditions have been met: (i) rules have been in place for Echinococcus multilocularis infection in wild definitive host animals to be compulsorily notifiable under national law, (ii) an early detection system for Echinococcus multilocularis infection in wild definitive host animals has been in place, (iii) appropriate measures to prevent the introduction of the Echinococcus multilocularis parasite through domestic definitive host animals have been in place, (iv) infection with the Echinococcus multilocularis parasite has not been known to be established in the wild definitive host animals on their territory; (c) it has implemented, for three consecutive 12-month periods prior to the date of application, a pathogen-specific surveillance programme which complies with the requirements of Annex I to this Regulation and has not recorded any occurrence of Echinococcus multilocularis infection in wild definitive host animals, and such occurrences are compulsorily notifiable under national law. 4. Where a Member State has drawn up a compulsory programme for the eradication of Echinococcus multilocularis infection in wild definitive host animals within a defined timescale for the whole or parts of its territory, it shall submit to the Commission documentation outlining in particular: (a) the rules that are in place for Echinococcus multilocularis infection in wild definitive host animals to be compulsorily notifiable under national law; (b) the distribution of the infection in its territory; (c) the reasons for undertaking the programme, taking into account the significance of the disease in humans and its impact on public health; (d) the geographical area in which the programme is to be implemented; (e) the programme monitoring procedures, including the extent of the hunters' involvement in implementing the programme; (f) the measures to be taken if the results of the tests carried out under the programme are positive.