Return to Equine Regulations or WPCS

Verwysing   :    

Reference               14/2/7/B

Isalathiso

Navrae/ Enquiries/ Imibuzo :  Dr. G. Bührmann - 083 642 0602:  Dr. M. Sinclair - 083 642 0610:  Lizelle Nutt - 082 907 1137            

Telefoon/Telephone/Ifowun    :   021 808 5253 (office)

African Horse Sickness (AHS) Control Policy

The policy regulating AHS control and control over the movement of equines (horses, donkeys and mules as per definition) and zebra into and within the AHS Controlled Area of the Western Cape Province (WCP), has been revised. This was necessitated in part by the recent changes in the boundaries of the AHS Protection Zone (EU Decision 2001/622/EC of 27^th July 2001 and Animal Diseases Regulations No. R885 of 21^st September 2001) and amendments to the :-

A. Vaccination protocol :

1.                   All registered equines in the Republic of South Africa wanting to enter the AHS Control Areas must be vaccinated by a Veterinarian or

2.                   a specifically authorised Animal Health Technician (AHT) in the employ of the Veterinary Authority, under direct supervision of the State Veterinarian concerned.

3.                   Vaccination must be done annually with AHS I and AHS II vaccine .

4.                   There must be a minimum of 3 weeks between I and II and the horse may not move into the AHS Control Area less than 60 days after the second vaccine.

5.                   All horses must be registered and identified by means of a passport . If not a competing horse, then a certificate of identification acceptable to the State Veterinarian Boland may be considered following consultation with this office .

B. The requirements for moving equines have also been modified :

1.                   Health Certification by a Veterinarian (in passport or separate certificate) and ,

2.                   Pre-notification of the movement to State Veterinarian Boland  within 48 hours prior to movement ;

3.                   In addition to the above, the owner/conveyor must obtain an official Movement Permit from the local State Veterinarian (SV) in area of origin ;

4.                   The State Veterinarian will only issue such a permit if the risk is deemed by him/her to be acceptable, taking into consideration the prevalence and incidence of AHS in the area, the locality and density and composition of the equine and zebra populations, the time of year, reigning weather conditions, midge numbers, etc.

5.                   This permit is valid for 14 days, and can be recalled at any stage should there be a change in the AHS disease situation.

6.                   The Movement Permit will only be valid if accompanied by a valid AHS Health Certificate issued by a Veterinarian within 48 hours preceding a movement to the AHS Control Area.

7.                   Faxed copies of the Movement Permit, showing the SV office’s fax number, would be acceptable.

8.                   Please Note : a total embargo is usually placed on all horse movements into the AHS Control areas from as early as March (at latest April) through June every year due to the high incidence of AHS throughout the infected zone (rest of SA) and the risk it poses to maintaining our AHS free status for export purposes .

9.                   Please make allowance for this when planning movements , exports, shows, etc. as it usually entails a minimum of 3 weeks quarantine in the Protection Zone. 

C. Boundary changes :

 1. Implies that  the following magisterial districts of the WCP are now excluded from the AHS Protection Zone, thus allowing free movement of equines to- and from these districts and the rest of the RSA (Infected Zone) : Vanrhynsdorp; Vredendal; Heidelberg; Riversdale; Calitzdorp; Mossel Bay; George; Knysna; Uniondale; Oudtshoorn; Laingsburg; Ladismith; Beaufort West; Prince Albert; Murraysburg.

The above districts are now part of the Infected Zone.

 2. The new, smaller, AHS Protection Zone, now comprises the following magisterial districts:

Clanwilliam; Piketberg; Ceres; Tulbagh; Worcester; Robertson; Montagu; Caledon; Hermanus; Bredasdorp and Swellendam.

This corresponds to the jurisdictional areas of the Overberg and Boland District Municipalities and the Clanwilliam and Piketberg districts of the West Coast District Municipality.

 The new entry/exit points on the main routes are:

N7        Between Clanwilliam and Klawer at Trawal

            N1        Between Touwsriver and Matjiesfontein

            N2        Between Swellendam and Heidelberg

 All of the following movements of equines and zebra are subject to movement control:

            Infected Zone                 -->        Protection , Surveillance or Free Zones

            Protection Zone             -->        Surveillance or Free Zones

            Surveillance Zone           -->        Free Zone

 Movements that could previously take place without any requirements, eg. movements within the previous Protection Zone, now require certification and permits.

 NB : Please direct any queries to the relevant persons as listed in the letterhead.

 Website:www.elsenburg.com