A country may be considered free from VHD when it has been shown that the disease has not been present for at least one year, no vaccination has been carried out in the previous 12 months, and virological or serological surveys in both domestic and wild rabbits have confirmed the absence of the disease. This period may be reduced to six months after the last case has been eliminated and disinfection procedures completed in countries adopting a stamping-out policy, and where the serological survey confirmed that the disease had not occurred in the wild rabbits.

Article 3.7.3.1.

For the purposes of this Code, the infective period for viral haemorrhagic disease (VHD) is 60 days.

Article 3.7.3.2.

For the purposes of this Code:

VHD free country

A country may be considered free from VHD when it has been shown that the disease has not been present for at least one year, no vaccination has been carried out in the previous 12 months, and virological or serological surveys in both domestic and wild rabbits have confirmed the absence of the disease. This period may be reduced to six months after the last case has been eliminated and disinfection procedures completed in countries adopting a stamping-out policy, and where the serological survey confirmed that the disease had not occurred in the wild rabbits.

VHD free establishment

An establishment may be considered to be free from VHD when it has been shown, by serological testing, that the disease has not been present for at least one year and no vaccination has been carried out in the previous 12 months. Such establishments should be regularly inspected by the Veterinary Authority.

A previously infected establishment may be considered free when six months have elapsed after the last case has been eliminated, and after:

1) a stamping-out policy has been adopted and carcasses have been disposed of by burning;

2) the rabbitry has been thoroughly disinfected and kept empty for at least six weeks;

3) the rabbitry is properly fenced to prevent the straying of wild lagomorphs into the rabbitry.

Article 3.7.3.3.

Veterinary Administrations of VHD free countries may prohibit importation or transit through their territory, directly or indirectly, from countries considered infected with VHD of live rabbits, semen, meat and non treated pelts.

Article 3.7.3.4.

When importing from VHD free countries, Veterinary Administrations of importing countries should require:

for domestic rabbits destined for breeding

the presentation of an international animal health certificate attesting that the animals:

1) showed no clinical sign of VHD on the day of shipment;

2) were kept in a VHD free country for at least the past 60 days or since birth;

for day-old rabbits destined for breeding

the presentation of an international animal health certificate attesting that the animals:

1) showed no clinical sign of VHD on the day of shipment;

2) are born from female rabbits which had been kept in a country free from VHD for at least the past 60 days.

Article 3.7.3.5.

When importing from countries considered infected with VHD, Veterinary Administrations of importing countries should require:

for domestic rabbits destined for breeding or pharmaceutical or industrial use

the presentation of an international animal health certificate attesting that the animals:

1) showed no clinical sign of VHD on the day of shipment;

AND

2) were kept in a VHD free establishment where no clinical case of VHD was found when inspected by an Official Veterinarian immediately prior to shipment;

OR

3) were kept in an establishment where no case of VHD was reported during the 60 days prior to shipment and no clinical case of VHD was found when inspected by an Official Veterinarian immediately prior to shipment; and

5) were kept in an establishment where a survey of breeding rabbits (at least 10% of the animals) were subjected to the serological test for VHD with negative results during the 60 days prior to shipment; and

6) have not been vaccinated against VHD; or

7) were vaccinated against VHD immediately before shipment (the nature of the vaccine used and the date of vaccination shall also be stated in the certificate);

for day-old rabbits destined for breeding

the presentation of an international animal health certificate attesting that the animals:

1) were kept in a VHD free establishment where no clinical case of VHD was found when inspected by an Official Veterinarian immediately prior to shipment;

OR

2) were kept in an establishment where no case of VHD was reported during the 30 days prior to shipment and no clinical sign of VHD was found when inspected by an Official Veterinarian immediately before shipment; and

3) have not been vaccinated against VHD; and

4) are born from female rabbits which were subjected to the serological test with negative results during the 60 days prior to shipment;

for domestic rabbits destined for immediate slaughter

the presentation of an international animal health certificate attesting that the animals:

1) showed no clinical sign of VHD on the day of shipment;

2) were kept in an establishment where no case of VHD was reported during the 60 days prior to shipment;

for semen

the presentation of an international animal health certificate attesting that the donor animals:

1) showed no clinical sign of VHD on the day of collection;

2) were subjected to the serological test for VHD with negative results during the 30 days prior to collection.

Article 3.7.3.6.

When importing from countries considered infected with VHD, Veterinary Administrations of importing countries should require:

for domestic rabbit meat

the presentation of an international sanitary certificate attesting that the meat originates from animals which:

1) were kept in establishments where no case of VHD was reported during the 60 days prior to transport to the abattoir;

2) were found healthy before slaughter;

3) showed no lesion of VHD at post-mortem inspection.

Article 3.7.3.7.

When importing from VHD free countries, Veterinary Administrations of importing countries should require:

for non treated pelts

the presentation of an international animal health certificate attesting that the pelts come from rabbits which had been kept in a country free from VHD for at least 60 days before slaughter.

Article 3.7.3.8.

When importing from countries considered infected with VHD, Veterinary Administrations of importing countries should require:

for pelts