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African swine fever is a viral disease of domestic and feral pigs that can have serious socioeconomic consequences. Movements of infected animals, contaminated pig products and the illegal disposal of carcasses are the most significant means of spreading that disease. It is extremely important to avoid the diffusion of African swine fever related to human activity. Accordingly, in order to ensure that information on the animal health control measures laid down in Implementing Decision 2014/709/EU, including restrictions on movements of pigs and pig products, are effectively brought to the attention of travellers, including travellers by road, Member States should ensure that passenger transport operators and postal services bring those animal health control measures to the attention of travellers moving from the areas listed. These messages should be tailored to the level of risk of introduction of the disease. In addition, coordinated action by the competent authorities of the concerned Member States should ensure that information disseminated through specific public awareness campaigns is fit for purpose.
Implementing Decision 2014/709/EU is amended as follows:
Article 15a, is replaced by the following:
‘Article 15a
Information obligations of the Member States
1. The Member States concerned shall ensure that passenger transport operators, including airport and port operators, travel agencies (including hunting trip organisers) and postal services operators are required to draw the attention of their customers to the control measures laid down in this Decision, in particular by providing information on the main prohibitions laid down in this Decision to travellers moving from the areas listed in the Annex to this Decision and customers of postal services in an appropriate way.
For that purpose, the Member States concerned shall organise and carry out regular public awareness campaigns to promote and spread information on the control measures laid down in this Decision.
2. All Member States shall ensure that on all major land infrastructure routes, such as international communication roads, and related road networks, appropriate information on the risks of the transmission of African swine fever and on the control measures laid down in this Decision are brought to the attention of all travellers in a visible and prominent manner.
In particular, that information shall be presented in a way that is easily understood by travellers coming from, and going to, the areas listed in the Annex to this Decision or from third countries at risk of the spread of African swine fever.
3. The Member States concerned shall coordinate their efforts to ensure that the information referred to in paragraph 1 is effectively disseminated by the transport operators and postal services operators to specifically identified target audiences.’
Thursday February 22, 2018/ OJEU/ Europeann Union.
http://eur-lex.europa.eu
