1 To ensure that the expert group provides The expert group on ASF (hereinafter: assistance in all areas covered by the sub-indents expert group ) referred to in Article 15(2)(a) of Article 15.2(a) of Directive 2002/60/EC and in of Council Directive 2002/60/EC was particular, in the verification of effectiveness of all appointed in Poland by the Chief Veterinary control measures, as required by the last subindent. Officer (CVO), i.e. at the central level of the Recommendation based on conclusion No. 112. CA. Given the absence of any basis in Polish Associated finding No. 107. law for the group (or its individual members) as a controlling body (lack of statutory control powers), it does not directly oversee the actions of Veterinary Inspection authorities on the ground, focusing instead on verifying the efficacy of the strategies or measures adopted with a view to controlling ASF in wild boar populations. The expert group was appointed in accordance with the provisions of the above-mentioned Directive and the Regulation of the Minister for Agriculture and Rural Development of 6 May 2015 on the control of African swine, which implements that Directive, in order to support the measures taken by the CVO and to assess their effectiveness. In the light of the above, the CVO convenes a meeting of the expert group both periodically (in order to W odniesieniu do kontroli w gospodarstwach, w których utrzymywane są świnie pod kątem spełniania przez te gospodarstwa wymagań bioasekuracji, określonych w przepisach prawa, jak informowano poprzednio, w Polsce prowadzone są następujące działania: 1. Realizowana jest kolejna tj. III edycja (kontynuacja edycji z 2015 i 2016 r.) programu bioasekuracji na terenach najbardziej zagrożonych wystąpieniem ASF we wschodniej Polsce. W gospodarstwach położonych na obszarze, na którym realizowany jest program. obowiązują dodatkowe, podwyższone wymagania w zakresie zabezpieczenia gospodarstw (rozporządzenie MRiRW z dnia 12 lipca 2017 r. zmieniające rozporządzenie w sprawie wprowadzenia Programu bioasekuracji mającego na celu zapobieganie szerzeniu się afrykańskiego pomoru świń na lata 2015-2018 (w załączeniu). W 2017 r. IW przeprowadziła I fazę realizacji programu, tj. kontrole gospodarstw, których właściciele złożyli oświadczenia, że ich Page: 1
provide ongoing analysis of the epizootic situation and assess the effectiveness of the measures taken) and whenever the need arises (in order to discuss or consult on solutions adopted). In particular, the CVO consults the expert group on strategic solutions. For example, on 31 May 2017, a meeting of the expert group was held in order to review and amend the strategy for the culling of wild boar and to improve the rules for its implementation as a measure aimed at reducing wild boar populations in areas subject to restrictions and within WAMTA, and - following the occurrence of ASF in the Czech Republic - along the major east-west transport routes which cross Polish territory. As regards the forwarding of data on the results of official controls on biosecurity on pig holdings to the expert group for the purposes of analysis and evaluation (finding No 107 of the draft report), data from holdings in areas subject to restrictions owing to ASF (areas listed in the Annex to Commission Decision 2014/709/EU) will be sent in their entirety to the expert group to gospodarstwa, w których utrzymywane są świnie nie spełnią wymagań bioasekuracji określonych w programie, a następnie wydanie decyzji z nakazem uboju/zabicia świń utrzymywanych w tych gospodarstwach oraz zakazem utrzymywania świń w tych gospodarstwach do końca 2018 r. Ostatecznie, w tej fazie realizacji, ubojowi/zabiciu poddano 29 470 świń w 2 190 gospodarstwach (z 264 011 świń, utrzymywanych w 3 602 gospodarstwach w tym obszarze). Druga faza programu jest realizowana od początku września 2017 r. do chwili obecnej. Dotychczas PLW skontrolowali w ramach II fazy programu 1271 gospodarstw (z czego 373 gospodarstwa posiadały świnie, natomiast 898 gospodarstw nie posiadało świń w dniu kontroli). W wyniku tych kontroli w stosunku do 86 gospodarstw toczą się postępowania administracyjne w sprawie likwidacji świń w tych gospodarstwach, natomiast w stosunku do 56 gospodarstw PLW wydali decyzje o nakazie uboju/zabicia świń i zakazie ich utrzymywania do końca 2018 r. Z uwagi na fakt, iż obowiązkowym elementem zabezpieczenia gospodarstw Page: 2
enable it to carry out a comprehensive analysis following implementation of the measures described below. At the end of 2016 and in 2017, the following legislative initiatives were taken to strengthen the rules on biosecurity on pig holdings located in areas with the highest risk of ASF: At the end of 2016, a new legislative act entered into force - the Act of 23 September 2016 amending certain acts in order to facilitate the control of infectious animal diseases (Journal of Laws, item 1605). That Act (attached hereto) amended the provisions of the following acts, among others: the Animal Protection Act of 21 August 1997 - as regards the scope for district veterinary officers to order the killing or slaughter of animals where, as a result of orders, prohibitions or restrictions resulting from the provisions on the control of infectious animal diseases, it is not possible to meet animal welfare requirements on holdings located in położonych na obszarze obowiązywania programu jest ogrodzenie gospodarstwa, w przepisach programu uwzględniono czas do końca 2017 r. na realizację tego wymogu. W związku z powyższym, począwszy od stycznia 2018 r. rozpoczęły się na tych terenach kontrole w zakresie spełniania wymogów zawartych w programie, w tym również tego elementu zabezpieczenia gospodarstwa. 2. Realizacja kontroli bioasekuracji w gospodarstwach, w których utrzymywane są świnie na obszarach wymienionych w części I, II i III załącznika do decyzji Komisji 2014/709/UE (poza obszarem obowiązywania programu bioasekuracji). Jak wspomniano wcześniej, począwszy od września 2017 r. rozpoczęto kontrole gospodarstw w związku z wprowadzeniem zmian do rozporządzenia z dnia 6 maja 2015 r. w sprawie środków podejmowanych w związku z wystąpieniem afrykańskiego pomoru świń (Dz.U. z 2017 r. poz. 1333), polegających na podwyższeniu wymagań bioasekuracji w gospodarstwach, w których utrzymywane są świnie na ww. obszarach. Zgodnie z przepisami ustawy z dnia 11 marca 2004 r. o ochronie zdrowia zwierząt oraz zwalczaniu chorób Page: 3
the areas subject to such prohibitions, orders or restrictions; the Act of 11 March 2004 on the protection of animal health and control of infectious animal diseases - as regards, amongst other things, the scope for Veterinary Inspection authorities to impose administrative penalties on entities which fail to comply with the prohibitions, orders and restrictions applicable in connection with a risk or occurrence of an infectious animal disease subject to mandatory control measures (including not adhering to biosecurity requirements on holdings). The purpose of these amendments is to improve the effectiveness of controls carried out by introducing the possibility of imposing administrative fines, and of ordering the killing or slaughter of animals and a prohibition on keeping animals for the duration of such orders, prohibitions or restrictions, including in respect of entities which fail to comply with the abovementioned restrictions (including biosecurity zakaźnych zwierząt, w przypadku niespełniania przez gospodarstwo wymagań bioaskuracji, o których mowa w rozporządzeniu, PLW może wydać decyzję z nakazem usunięcia uchybień w określonym terminie lub wszcząć postępowanie administracyjne w celu wydania decyzji nakazującej ubój lub zabicie świń utrzymywanych w gospodarstwie oraz zakazującej utrzymywania świń do czasu obowiązywania zakazów, nakazów lub ograniczeń wynikających z wystąpienia ASF na danym terenie. W okresie od września 2017 r. do końca 2017 r. w obszarach wymienionych w części I, II i III załącznika do decyzji 2014/709/UE skontrolowano łącznie 13 634 gospodarstwa, w których utrzymywanych było łącznie 421 928 świń. W przypadku 978 gospodarstw PLW wydali decyzje z nakazem usunięcia uchybień w określonym terminie, natomiast w 205 gospodarstwach wydano decyzje z nakazem uboju/zabicia świń oraz zakazem ich utrzymywania do czasu obowiązywania ograniczeń związanych z ASF. W styczniu 2018 r. przeprowadzone zostały kontrole w 3 124 gospodarstwach, w których utrzymywano łącznie 102 729 Page: 4
requirements); the Act of 2 April 2004 on the animal identification and registration system - in order to bolster supervision of the traceability and tracking of pig movements - detailed information on the subject of legislative changes introduced is included in the reply to Recommendation No 3. The data on inspections of holdings as regards compliance with biosecurity requirements were submitted for initial analysis in the General Veterinary Inspectorate, and the carrying out of inspections and results of these inspections were discussed during consultations with the provincial veterinary officers from the areas at risk, which were held on 10 July 2017. Given that the provisions of the amending Act have been in force since October 2016, during the consultations with the provincial veterinary officers, a summary of the inspections carried out between November 2016 and May 2017 (i.e. the period of applicability of the above-mentioned świń, wydano decyzje nakazujące usunięcie uchybień dla 142 gospodarstw, a w 38 gospodarstwach nakazano ubój/zabicie świń i zakazano ich utrzymywania do czasu obowiązywania ograniczeń. Sprawozdawczość w zakresie wykonania ww. kontroli (z pkt 1 i 2) zawiera ponadto informacje o najczęściej stwierdzanych nieprawidłowościach. W związku z powyższym GLW zwróci się do GE o poddanie analizie powyższych wyników kontroli, tak, aby ewentualne wnioski z tej analizy mogły zostać wykorzystane przed występującym w okresie letnim wzrostem ryzyka wystąpienia ASF w gospodarstwach, w których utrzymywane są świnie. Powyższe sprawozdania z kontroli zostaną przekazane Grupie Ekspertów ds. ASF. Po dokonaniu analizy przekazanych materiałów (z uwzględnieniem czasu na ewentualne dodatkowe pytania ekspertów), planowane jest spotkanie GE, podczas którego wyniki ww. kontroli zostaną omówione (marzec/kwiecień 2018 r.). Ponadto, informuję, że w dniu 13 lutego 2018 r. zostało opublikowane rozporządzenie MRiRW z dnia 9 lutego 2018 r. zmieniające rozporządzenie w Page: 5
amended legal provisions) was discussed. In addition, in order to reduce the risk of ASF spreading, in connection with the extension in Poland of the scope of the zones indicated in the Annex to Commission Decision 2014/709/EU, the third edition of the Biosecurity programme has been implemented in the highest-risk areas (the municipalities listed in Part III of that Annex and the neighbouring municipalities) since July 2017. The Biosecurity programme was introduced by means of the Regulation of the Minister for Agriculture and Rural Development of 12 July 2017 amending the Regulation concerning the introduction of a 'Biosecurity programme to prevent the spread of African swine ' for 2015-2018 (text of the Regulation attached). Additional requirements relating to antiepizootic safeguards on holdings were introduced on pig holdings in order to limit the spread of the ASF virus. This edition of the programme, like previous editions, sprawie środków podejmowanych w związku z wystąpieniem afrykańskiego pomoru świń, wprowadzające dodatkowe wymagania bioasekuracji w gospodarstwach, w których utrzymywane są świnie na pozostałym terytorium Polski (poza obszarami wymienionymi w części I, II i III załącznika do decyzji Komisji 2014/709/UE. Przepisy tego rozporządzenia wchodzą w życie po 14 dniach od jego ogłoszenia, tj. w dniu 28 lutego br. Obecnie GLW przygotowuje akcję informacyjną dla posiadaczy świń dotyczącą wymagań bioasekuracji określonych w ww. przepisach (ulotki), a także wzory niezbędnej dokumentacji, która będzie wykorzystywana podczas przeprowadzania kontroli gospodarstw (wzory protokołu kontroli, wzór raportu). Planuje się, iż kontrole prowadzone przez IW w gospodarstwach, w których utrzymywane są świnie w powyższym zakresie rozpoczną się w kwietniu 2018r. (rozporządzenie w załączeniu). Jeśli chodzi o kontrole przestrzegania zasad bioasekuracji przez myśliwych, Główny Lekarz Weterynarii otrzymał informację od Zarządu Głównego Polskiego Związku Łowieckiego (PZŁ), iż zarządy okręgowe Page: 6
provides scope for holdings which do not meet the additional requirements to voluntarily stop keeping pigs (with financial aid from the State budget). The deadline for the submission of declarations of cessation of pig farming was 14 August 2017. On 5 934 holdings, where 271 090 pigs were kept, located in the areas covered by the programme (AMRA data as at 12 June 2017), 2 638 breeders keeping a total of 31 191 pigs voluntarily gave up pig farming. Biosecurity inspections on those farms have already begun and will be completed not later than the end of October 2017. Thereafter, inspections of the remaining holdings located in the areas covered by the programme will begin in order to check whether they meet the requirements set out in the programme. Where biosecurity requirements are not met, a temporary suspension of pig production will also be ordered (pending completion of the programme). The results of these inspections will also be sent to the expert group to enable it to analyse the situation and to assess the measures taken, the effectiveness of the inspections carried out on holdings and the PZŁ na podstawie ustawy z dnia 13 października 1995 r. Prawo łowieckie, koordynują i nadzorują działalność kół łowieckich. Kontrolę przestrzegania zasad bioasekuracji, a także zakazu dokarmiania dzików na obszarach występowania ASF, zarządy okręgowe prowadzą na podstawie statutu PZŁ. Jednocześnie, Zarząd Główny PZŁ poinformował, że rocznie przeprowadzanych jest ok. 400 kontroli w kołach łowieckich. Podczas każdej kontroli weryfikowana jest realizacja obowiązków prawnych nałożonych na dzierżawców obwodów łowieckich, a także w ramach zaleceń pokontrolnych wskazywane są wykryte nieprawidłowości oraz termin ich usunięcia. Główny Lekarz Weterynarii zwrócił się do Przewodniczącego PZŁ z prośbą o przekazanie wyników kontroli w powyższym zakresie, przeprowadzonych w sezonie łowieckim 2017/2018 (do dnia 31.01.2018 r.), w tym wyszczególnienie ile kontroli przeprowadzono, jak również informacji o stwierdzonych nieprawidłowościach, a także jakie działania naprawcze wprowadzono w przypadku stwierdzenia takich uchybień (pismo GLW z dnia 21 lutego 2018 r. -kopia pisma w załączeniu). Po otrzymaniu odpowiedzi na powyższe pismo, wyniki tych kontroli Page: 7
degree to which the provisions have been implemented on holdings, including an assessment of the impact in terms of reducing the risk of ASF in the region in question. zostaną również przekazane do analizy przez GE i omówione podczas posiedzenia GE ds. ASF w marcu/kwietniu br. In July 2017 amendments to the Regulation of the Minister for Agriculture and Rural Development of 6 May 2015 on measures to be taken in connection with the occurrence of African swine were also introduced in order to step up biosecurity requirements on pig holdings located in the zones listed in the Annex to Commission Decision 2014/709/EU (amended text of the Regulation attached). Checks on compliance with these requirements will begin in September 2017. As regards the concerns in relation to the analysis of the assessment of the effectiveness of the biosecurity measures implemented by hunters, I would inform you that the Hunting Act governs the supervisory hierarchy within the organisational structure of the Polish Hunting Association (PZŁ) and the rules for supervising and inspecting the activities of the association s organisational Page: 8
units (clarification provided in the response to recommendation No 6). In the light of the above, the CVO asked the PZŁ to send the findings of supervision by the PZŁ district boards of hunting clubs in this respect, including as regards assessing the effectiveness of biosecurity rules and their correct application by hunters when hunting or culling animals. This information will then be submitted to the expert group for evaluation. 2 To ensure the standards defined in Articles 3, 4 and 8 of Commission Implementing Decision 2014/709/EU for sampling procedures are applied when the relevant derogation is used for movements of live animals. Recommendation based on conclusion No. 53. Associated finding No. 13. The CVO, in cooperation with the National Reference Laboratory for ASF (the State Veterinary Institute - State Research Institute [PIWet PIB] in Puławy), prepared a second edition of the Procedure for sampling and sending samples for laboratory diagnostic testing for African swine, which the CVO sent to the local Veterinary Inspection bodies on 10 October 2016. That procedure outlines a scheme for collecting samples for laboratory testing in order to be able to make use of the derogation under Article 3(1) of Decision 2014/709/EU. As regards finding W związku z koniecznością zapewnienia stałego szkolenia w zakresie sposobu pobierania, pakowania i transportowania próbek do badań w kierunku ASF (w oparciu o procedurę, o której wspomniano w odpowiedzi na ww. rekomendację), PIWet- PIB w Puławach (krajowe laboratorium referencyjne ds. ASF) we współpracy z GLW, zorganizował teoretyczne i praktyczne szkolenie dla lekarzy weterynarii w zakresie prawidłowego pobierania próbek materiału biologicznego do badań w kierunku ASF, Page: 9
No 13 in connection with conclusion No 53 of the inspection report and this recommendation, the procedure contains guidelines on both the quantitative and qualitative aspects of sampling for the purposes of testing pigs prior to their movement from the zones indicated in Parts II and II of the Annex to the Decision to other parts of the country and from the zone indicated in Part I of that Annex to other MS (procedure attached). 3 To improve the accuracy and quality of the tools for the traceability of pigs, in order for them to be effective tools for animal health controls. Article 3 of Directive 2008/71/EC, Article 18 of Directive 64/432/EEC, Article 15/2(b) of Directive 2002/60/EC. Recommendation based on conclusion No. 49. Associated finding Nos. 1, 2 and 9. In order to improve the accuracy and quality of tools for the traceability of pigs and to ensure that there are effective tools for controls on animal health, according to information sent by the AMRA, it is now conducting a public procurement procedure for the design and development of a new IRZ prawidłowego pakowania, opisywania i transportu przedmiotowego materiału do laboratorium. Dotychczas zorganizowano jedną turę szkolenia, a w celu zapewnienia jego efektywności, w szczególności w jego części praktycznej (dotyczącej sposobu pobierania materiału do badań laboratoryjnych), przeszkolonych zostało 17 osób. Jednakże, GLW zwrócił się do WLW z prośbą o przekazanie liczby osób, które wyraziły zainteresowanie uczestnictwem w takim szkoleniu. Z uwagi na fakt, iż zainteresowanie tym szkoleniem i chęć podnoszenia kwalifikacji w tym zakresie jest bardzo duża (zgłosiło się ponad 700 osób z całego kraju), planowane są 3-4 tury analogicznego jak powyższe szkolenia w PIWet-PIB w Puławach w tym roku, a następnie będą przeprowadzane szkolenia kaskadowe w poszczególnych województwach. Page: 10
system (e-irz). According to data as at August 2017, the AMRA has sent the requirements to potential contractors with an invitation to tender for the development of the system. The AMRA will select the most advantageous tender submitted and sign a contract with the selected contractor. The implementation timetable envisages the development of an information system (the e- IRZ system) over a period of 15 months from the date of signature of the contract with the contractor. Moreover, it should be noted that at the end of 2016 amendments to the Act of 2 April 2004 on the animal identification and registration system (Journal of Laws 2015, item 1172, as amended) were introduced, as indicated in the response to recommendation No 1. The purpose of the amendments is to enhance supervision of the traceability of pigs and to improve the system for the identification and registration of animals, in particular ensuring that the location of pigs can be identified as accurately and swiftly as Page: 11
possible and that their movement records can be obtained from the central database of the ARMA, taking into consideration the specific additional regulations applicable in areas subject to restrictions in connection with an occurrence or risk of an infectious disease, such as ASF, for instance. The following amendments, amongst others, have been introduced in the above-mentioned legislation (concerning the animal identification and registration system): - In the case of pigs born on a particular herd site, an obligation has been introduced to mark the pigs within 30 days of their date of birth by attaching an ear tag bearing the number of the herd site on which they were born to the left auricle. The marking of these animals must be notified to the manager of the AMRA district office within seven days of the date on which they were marked. site other than that on which they were born and remain there for at least 30 days, an additional obligation has been introduced to Page: 12
tattoo pigs with the number of the herd site on which they have been kept for at least 30 days. Given that the Act does not specify a deadline for this marking, it can be assumed that it must be done before a pig leaves the herd site. The additional marking of these animals must be notified to the manager of the AMRA district office within seven days of the date on which they were marked. AMRA within seven days of any event leading to an increase or reduction in the number of pigs on the herd site. an infectious animal disease subject to mandatory control measures in the protection or surveillance zones or in another area subject to restrictions, a requirement has been introduced to report any increase or decrease in the number of animals in the herd or the slaughter of livestock, including pigs, within 24 hours. prepare by 31 December each year a census Page: 13
of all animals (including pigs) on a given herd site and to send the information on the results of this census to the AMRA within seven days of the date on which it was carried out. - A pig s identification number is the number of the herd site on which it was born, or that of another herd site on which it remained for at least 30 days. The documentation accompanying a pig (health certificate) contains the number of the most recent herd site on which the pig remained for at least 30 days and on which it was marked. I would point out that checks on pig identification and registration requirements are carried out during every biosecurity inspection of pig holdings located in the municipalities listed in the Annex to Decision 2014/709/EU. Where instances of noncompliance are identified, the penalties provided for in the Act of 2 April 2004 on the animal identification and registration system may be applied to the non-compliant holdings. In addition, the CVO asked the Page: 14
provincial veterinary officers of Podlaskie, Mazowieckie and Lubelskie provinces to send him lists of pig holdings containing information on the number of animals identified in the course of surveys of holdings in the protection and surveillance zones in connection with an outbreak of ASF. Moreover, by way of supplement to recommendation No 3 of audit DG (SANTE)/2014-7294 concerning cooperation between the AMRA and the VI in order to improve the accuracy and quality of the tools for traceability of pigs and in order for them to be effective tools for animal health controls, I would inform you that as part of the cooperation between these two bodies, the current agreement between the CVO and the President of the AMRA was replaced by the Agreement of 13 July 2017 between the Agency for Restructuring and Modernisation of Agriculture and the Chief Veterinary Officer on cooperation between the Agency for Restructuring and Modernisation of Agriculture and the Veterinary Inspection bodies. The AMRA has updated the IRZ Page: 15
database for the period from 2014 to 31.7.2017 in respect of 11 051 herd sites located in the areas subject to restrictions owing to ASF. It should also be stressed that, in the course of inspections on holdings, and during surveys of such holdings under the programme for the control of ASF in pigs, the district veterinary officers use information on these holdings from the AMRA database, but also crosscheck these data against their own data in the registers (as confirmed by finding No 40 of the draft report). Moreover, 4 of the Agreement between the President of the ARMA and the CVO signed on 13 July 2017 states that the Agency will provide the data contained in the central database by enabling certain data from the SIRZ (animal identification and registration system) to be transmitted to another IT system used by the Veterinary Inspection (VI) service. The VI has IT systems enabling such data to be used for supervision purposes and which have features that can be used in the event of campaigns to control infectious animal Page: 16
diseases, such as ASF. The possibility of directly transmitting source data from the AMRA database to the VI systems enables them to be used for the purposes of controlling infectious animal diseases, for instance by indicating protection and surveillance zones, carrying out epizootic investigations, etc. 4 To ensure that practical arrangements required by Commission implementing Decision (EC) No 2014/709 have been put in place for the collection and transport of ABPs from Part III in order to reduce the risk of the spread of disease through potentially contaminated products. Recommendation based on conclusion No. 93. Associated finding No. 92. The CVO has ordered that, from 15 July 2017, the collection, transport and processing of dead livestock from the areas at risk listed in Part III of the Annex to Commission Decision 2017/1196/EU be carried out exclusively by rendering establishments located in the close vicinity of these areas. Rendering plants have been specially designated to collect dead livestock in the individual areas at risk: In Podlaskie Province (service: EKO-STOK): grajewski district (also ENERGOUTIL); Page: 17
moniecki district; the municipalities of Czyże, Białowieża, Hajnówka, including the town of Hajnówka, Narew, Narewka and the parts of the municipality of Czeremcha and Kleszczele located to the west of road number 66 in hajnowski district; the municipalities of Mielnik, Milejczyce, Nurzec-Stacja, Siemiatycze, including the town of Siemiatycze, in siemiatycki district. In Mazowieckie Province (service: Bacutil, EKO-STOK, STANS): the municipalities of Sarnaki, Stara Kornica and Huszlew in łosicki district. In Lubelskie Province (service: Bacutil, STANS, UTIRES): the municipalities of Konstantynów, Janów Podlaski, Leśna Podlaska, Rokitno, Biała Podlaska, Zalesie and Terespol, including the town of Terespol, in bialski district; Page: 18
the district town of Biała Podlaska. The CVO has also ordered that: - all biosafety and biosecurity rules must be observed during the collection and transportation of dead livestock in order to minimise the risk of the ASF virus spreading; - vehicles used to collect dead livestock in the above-mentioned areas must be notified to the competent local district veterinary officer. Furthermore, such vehicles must be as airtight as possible and must be washed, cleaned and disinfected after each use and dried before use; - vehicles must also be equipped with a mobile sprayer containing a biocidal solution to enable the driver to disinfect the wheels and other external parts of the vehicle which have been in contact with the dead animals. The disinfection should be carried out after the dead animals have been loaded; - to the extent possible, the dead animals should be collected from outside the farm Page: 19
gates without entering the holding. Dead animals should be brought to the gates by the owner and then loaded into the vehicle by the rendering company; - after completing collection in the areas at risk, the vehicles must be driven directly to the processing plant/incineration plant without collecting any further animals in other areas. Dead animals should be processed immediately after being delivered to the plant; - every vehicle transporting animals from areas at risk of ASF must be equipped with a GPS system enabling them to be located during transport. However, the person responsible for transport is required to allow the official veterinarian to check the movements of the vehicle during transport and keep records of the transport for at least two months; - the district veterinary officers must check the records of the above-mentioned equipment to ensure that dead animals are properly transported from areas at risk of Page: 20
ASF to the plants where they will be disposed of; - each consignment must be accompanied by a commercial document for animal byproducts. In addition to standard information, it contains a supplementary declaration by the animal owner that he has notified the competent local district veterinary officer of the death of the pigs. The declaration is completed and signed by the animal keeper. Drivers should not transport dead pigs without a signed declaration. In addition, the CVO has also written to local rendering associations, asking them to send other rendering undertakings information on the new rules introduced with regard to the collection of dead animals in areas at risk and requesting that they refrain from sending transport vehicles into these areas. 5 To ensure that all measures under the ASF approved programme, including the feed ban are The prohibition on feeding wild boar in the areas listed in the Annex to Commission Page: 21
subjected to official controls in order to ensure Decision 2014/709/EU has been provided for their effective implementation. in Polish law in 2(2)(4) of the Regulation of Approved programme for ASF. the Minister for Agriculture and Rural Recommendation based on conclusion No. 50. Development of 6 May 2015 on measures to Associated finding No. 31. be taken in connection with the occurrence of African swine. That prohibition, as an obligation arising from specific provisions, applies directly to hunting clubs, i.e. the organisational units of the PZŁ, one of the basic tasks of which is to feed wild game (pursuant to Article 13 of the Hunting Act). Implementation of the recommendation of the expert group, the representative of which is a member of the PZŁ, as regards prohibiting the feeding of wild boar in WAMTA too, implements Article 34(12) of the Hunting Act of 13 October 1995. The PZŁ district boards supervise the performance of tasks by hunting clubs. The supervisory structure of the PZŁ is set out in the above-mentioned Hunting Act. Odpowiedź została zawarta w wyjaśnieniach odnośnie zalecenia nr 1 niniejszego planu działań. Pursuant to Article 33(4) of the Hunting Act, the PZŁ district boards coordinate and supervise the performance of tasks by the basic organisational units of the PZŁ, i.e. the Page: 22
hunting clubs. The district boards carry out checks on compliance with the prohibition pursuant to 133(6) and (8) of their Articles of Association. Failure to implement the prohibition due to the fault of leaseholders of hunting districts infringes Article 34(12) of the Hunting Act and 34(1) and (8) of the Articles of Association. Failure to implement the prohibition may constitute grounds for excluding a club from the association on the basis of 76 of the Articles of Association of the PZŁ. Given that the supervisory hierarchy and structure within the PZŁ is set out in the above-mentioned Act, the CVO has no supervisory or control powers over the units of the PZŁ and asks the PZŁ management board to submit the full results of its supervision at the end of the 2017/2018 hunting season. 6 To ensure that all feral pigs found dead, killed on The CVO, in cooperation with the National Page: 23
the road, or shot in restricted areas, are Reference Laboratory for ASF (the State serologically tested for ASF, as stated in ASF Veterinary Institute - State Research Institute approved programme. [PIWet PIB] in Puławy), prepared a SANTE/7113/2015-Rev 4 ASF Strategy for second edition of the Procedure for sampling Eastern Part of the EU. Recommendation based on conclusion No. 78. and sending samples for laboratory diagnostic Associated finding No. 65. testing for African swine, which the CVO sent to the local Veterinary Inspection bodies on 10 October 2016. This procedure covers information on the need to take samples for serological testing from shot wild boar and, to the extent possible, from dead wild boar (found dead or roadkill) - point 4.1.2 of the procedure, in accordance with the Programme for the early detection of infection with African swine and raising awareness of the disease and how to control it, referred to in the procedure. Moreover, in connection with the reports from PIWet PIB in Puławy concerning the sending of incorrect or inadequately secured samples for laboratory testing for ASF, in letter No GIWz-401-85/2017 of 21 April 2017 to the PIWet PIB in Puławy (copy of the letter attached), the CVO requested information on such cases and on the quality Page: 24
of material sent for testing, possibly with an indication of the districts from which the inadequate samples were taken, in order to enable direct action to be taken in response to such situations. Up to now, the CVO has received one letter from the PIWet PIB in Puławy concerning incorrect sampling of wild boar by the district veterinary officer in Warsaw; the competent provincial veterinary officer and - in order to avoid similar mistakes - the other provincial veterinary officers were informed of this. Page: 25