Ministerial Decision 2473/98135 on Bovine brucellosis control and eradication programme and surveillance programme for dairy equine brucellosis.

This Decision authorizes the compulsory implementation of the bovine brucellosis control and eradication programme and the equine brucellosis surveillance programme for milk production. The purpose of the Program is to: a) reduce the prevalence of brucellosis in the country's bovine population; b) ensure the hygiene of dairy products intended for human consumption; and c) protect public health from disease. The programme is compulsorily implemented throughout Greece by the Veterinary (PO) Directorate of each Region, the Veterinary Divisions and the Local Veterinary Authorities (POAs) of the Rural Economy and Veterinary Offices (VET) of the Regional Units (IP). It may be designated by the Directorate-General for Veterinary Medicine of the Ministry of Health, in accordance with the provisions in force, in which case the policy for the treatment of brucellosis may be reset. Treatment with brucellosis is prohibited. The grubbing-up scheme may exclude bovine animals from holdings: (a) semi-fattened bovine animals and (b) fattened bovine animals (as defined in Article 16). The exemption necessarily includes all holdings housed in the same epizootic unit. Specifically for the Thessaloniki, Pella and Elassona municipalities of Larissa, the application of the bovine vaccination programme to dairy farms with the RB-51 vaccine is approved. Vaccination with the RB-51 may also be carried out on cow farms in those IPs where this is deemed necessary by the competent Department of Veterinary Medicine (Regional Unity Committee) and if any laboratory results confirming the contamination of these holdings by Br. abortus.