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Legislation
Since 1998, the OIE has the mandate from the WTO to officially recognise disease-free areas of countries for trade purposes. The procedure for the official recognition of animal health status by the OIE is voluntary and applies currently to six diseases, including African horse sickness.
At EU level, the European Parliament and the Council adopted the Regulation (EU) 2016/429 on transmissible animal diseases ("Animal Health Law") in March 2016. It is applicable from 21 April 2021. Together with Foot and mouth disease, Classical swine fever, African swine fever and Highly pathogenic avian influenza; African horse sickness is specifically included in the art. 5(a) of Reg. 2016/429 for the higher protection.
Therefore Implementing Regulation lists these five diseases, including African horse sickness, as a category A disease for immediate eradication measures as soon as they are detected. Of course category D and E measures are applicable too. It means that measures are needed to prevent it from spreading on account of its entry into the Union or movements between Member States and there is a need for surveillance within the Union.
Definition of AHS confirmed case (Reg 689/2020 art.9):
a) the disease agent, excluding vaccine strains, has been isolated in a sample from an animal or from a group of animals; or
b) an antigen or nucleic acid specific to AHSV that is not a consequence of vaccination has been identified in a sample from an animal or from a group of animals showing clinical signs consistent with BT or an epidemiological link with a suspected or confirmed case; or
c) a positive result from an indirect diagnostic method that is not a consequence of vaccination has been obtained in a sample from an animal or from a group of animals showing clinical signs consistent with the disease or an epidemiological link with a suspected or confirmed case.
https://ec.europa.eu/food/animals/health/regulation_en