The Diseases of Swine Regulations 2014

18 Restocking and testing with sentinel pigs on infected or contact premises

(1) On infected premises or contact premises once a veterinary inspector has certified in accordance with regulation 14(4) that secondary cleansing and disinfection have been satisfactorily completed, sentinel pigs may be introduced (at the expense of the occupier) for monitoring for the resurgence of disease in accordance with this regulation as a precursor to full restocking of the premises with pigs. (2) Other than in the situation in paragraph (7), the number of sentinel pigs introduced by the occupier must be such restricted number as is deemed to be sufficient by a veterinary inspector to test for the continuing presence of disease on all parts of the premises where disease was formerly present. (3) The sentinel pigs may only be introduced to premises (other than premises in England) in accordance with a licence granted by a veterinary inspector, and not before the following prescribed number of days, equivalent to the incubation period for the virus, after the secondary cleansing and disinfection has been certified as being satisfactorily completed in accordance with regulation 14(4)— (a) 40 days in the case of African swine fever; (b) 30 days in the case of classical swine fever; and (c) 28 days in the case of swine vesicular disease. (3A) The sentinel pigs may only be introduced to premises in England in accordance with a licence granted by a veterinary inspector and not before— (a) at least 15 days have elapsed since the day on which the secondary cleansing and disinfection was certified as satisfactorily completed in accordance with regulation 14(4); or (b) where secondary cleansing and disinfection cannot be carried out— (i) at least 90 days have elapsed since the day on which preliminary cleansing and disinfection was completed; and (ii) a risk assessment has been carried out. (4) The sentinel pigs must have— (a) come from premises not subject to any controls or restrictions under these Regulations; or (b) been tested at the expense of the occupier before being brought on to the premises and found to be negative for the presence of antibodies against disease. (4A) Where the sentinel pigs are to be introduced to premises in England, the testing carried out for the purposes of paragraph (4)(b) must be such testing as a veterinary inspector considers necessary in accordance with the relevant Diagnostic Manual. (5) After the time limits set down in the following table a veterinary inspector must clinically examine all sentinel pigs on the premises (other than premises in England) and take a statistically valid number of samples deemed necessary for the serological testing for the presence of antibodies to the disease— African swine fever (where disease has not been linked to vectors) | Classical swine fever | Swine vesicular disease Number of days after the arrival of the last sentinel pig onto the premises | 45 | 40 | 28 (5A) Where the premises are in England, a veterinary inspector must— (a) at least 15 but no more than 30 days after the last sentinel pig arrived at the premises, visit those premises; and (b) during that visit, clinically examine the sentinel pigs and take a statistically valid number of samples for such testing for disease as the veterinary inspector considers necessary in accordance with the relevant Diagnostic Manual. (6) A person must not allow a sentinel pig to leave premises (other than premises in England) until negative results of the serological tests taken in accordance with paragraph (5) are obtained by the veterinary inspector. (6A) A person must not allow a sentinel pig to leave premises in England unless— (a) the results of the tests taken in accordance with paragraph (5A)(b) are such that a veterinary inspector is satisfied that disease is not present in the sentinel pigs introduced to the premises and has not been present in the sentinel pigs during the time on which they have been on the premises; and (b) the movement from the premises is licensed by a licensing officer. (7) For premises that only have pigs entirely enclosed in buildings, as an alternative to the veterinary inspector restricting the number of sentinel pigs in accordance with paragraph (2), the veterinary inspector may license the introduction of an unlimited number of sentinel pigs into enclosed buildings on the premises, but in such circumstances— (a) paragraphs (3), (4), (5) and (6) apply in relation to the introduction of the unlimited number of sentinel pigs on premises other than premises in England; (aa) paragraphs (3A), (4), (4A), (5A) and (6A) apply in relation to the introduction of an unlimited number of sentinel pigs on premises in England; (b) the conditions in the following table apply— African swine fever (where disease has not been linked to vectors) | Classical swine fever | Swine vesicular disease All the sentinel pigs must arrive on the premises within the following periods from the date of arrival of the first sentinel pig | 20 days | 20 days | 8 days ; and (c) in the case of swine vesicular disease, a person must not allow a pig to leave the premises , other than premises in England, until at least 60 days after the arrival of the last sentinel pig. (8) In the case of African swine fever where the disease has been linked to spread by vectors, restocking with sentinel pigs cannot take place for a period of six years. (9) The period of six years may be reduced where a veterinary inspector has supervised vector eradication measures on infected premises and is satisfied that— (a) the vector eradication measures have been successfully carried out under the supervision of a veterinary inspector; or (b) the persistence of the vector no longer presents a significant risk of transmitting African swine fever. (10) Where restocking of premises, other than premises in England, has taken place in accordance with paragraphs (8) or (9), a person must not allow a pig to leave the premises after full repopulation until serological examinations with negative results for African swine fever have been taken at least 60 days after full repopulation in accordance with the Diagnostic Manual. (10A) Where restocking of premises in England has taken place in accordance with paragraph (8) or (9), a person must not allow a sentinel pig to leave the premises after full repopulation unless— (a) the sentinel pigs have been monitored for a period of at least 60 days beginning with the day on which the last sentinel pig arrived at the premises; (b) after the end of that period, a statistically valid number of samples for such testing for disease as a veterinary inspector considers necessary in accordance with the relevant Diagnostic Manual have been taken by the veterinary inspector at the occupier’s expense; and (c) the results of those tests are such that a veterinary inspector is satisfied that disease is not present in the sentinel pigs and has not been present in the sentinel pigs during the time on which they have been on the premises. (10B) The restocking of premises in England with sentinel pigs must— (a) subject to sub-paragraph (c), involve all parts of the premises where pigs are kept; (b) be carried out at the same time or within a period of 15 days beginning with the day on which the first sentinel pig arrives at the premises, unless otherwise authorised in writing by a veterinary inspector; (c) where restocking all parts of the premises is impracticable, be in such locations and with such number of sentinel pigs as are authorised in writing by a veterinary inspector.